Brexit and Environmental Law

When
August 24, 2016 12:00 pm — 1:30 pm

An ELI Public Seminar

The United Kingdom’s recent vote to leave the European Union will have wide-ranging political, economic, and legal impacts, many of which will not be determined until the formal process to leave is completed. The majority of environmental standards and protection regimes in the UK are derived from EU directives, with national law mostly focused on enforcement. Should an agreement to withdraw from the EU be reached, current EU treaties, directives, and regulations will no longer apply to the UK, which could have a profound impact on environmental, energy, and climate legislation and policy on the national level.

Some experts argue that the Brexit will give the UK more flexibility to enact environmental laws that are targeted to its own domestic concerns. Others believe that leaving the EU will spur environmental deregulation and have a negative impact on investments in clean energy. As the UK enters this period of transition and uncertainty, questions are raised regarding the UK’s future role in the EU emissions trading system, Brexit’s impact on the Paris Agreement and changes to national-level environmental laws.

Panelists:
Ambereen Shaffie, Staff Attorney, Environmental Law Institute (moderator)
Paul A. Davies, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
Alan Horowitz, Vice President of Global Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) & Operations Compliance, AstraZeneca
Damilola Olawuyi, Deputy Director for International Environmental Law, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)

Materials:
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