This is the first IEEP UK newsletter after the UK (and EU) elections, and hot off the heels of the King’s Speech laying out the new Government’s legislative agenda for the next Parliamentary session. In the coming months we, at IEEP UK, will be looking at the five key priorities for the environment laid out by new secretary of State for EFRA, Steve Reed OBE MP, and what good practice might be taken from the rest of Europe to help achieve these. And we will be analysing what the new Government’s desire for closer ties with the EU might mean for alignment on environmental policy. 

Shortly before the election we wrote blogs for UK in a Changing Europe and the Independent Commission on UK-EU relations outlining how the environment could be a good starting point for rebuilding that relationship. This built on our recent report, a Fresh Direction, launched at our Spring Parliamentary reception and a parallel briefing which explored the case for the UK rejoining the European Environment Agency. We would love to hear your thoughts on the merits and practicalities of this and hope to track any developments in this space in the coming months. In this issue we dig deeper into the Pre-election flurry of European Green Deal laws lead to divergence with UK environment policy.

To read more, including articles on ecodesign, sandeels and Scottish climate targets download the July Newsletter.

If you would like to find out more about divergence and stay informed on the most important green issues, subscribe to our newsletter.

To read past editions, see here.