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1/8 New Report from @Unchecked_UK & @Paul_Hatchwell
looks back over recent years at the way our environmental protections have been weakened, and what this has meant for our society, economy and environment…THREAD
looks back over recent years at the way our environmental protections have been weakened, and what this has meant for our society, economy and environment…THREAD
2/8 The report finds that curbing genuinely excessive regulation is sensible. But the research has found that successive waves of #deregulation has all too often been driven more by knee-jerk reaction to recession and dogma than pragmatism…
3/8 And that, despite promises of ‘cost reduction, simplification and policy efficiency’, deregulatory initiatives have often added procedural complexity & created a ‘shadow’ economy of societal costs…
4/8 Meanwhile, key environmental policy goals - water quality, air quality, the decarbonisation of the housing sector and the protection of nature conservation sites - have been undermined….
5/8 While environmental watchdogs have had their budgets slashed, their workforces decimated and their functions undermined by free-market ideologues in ministerial roles, leaving them unable to enforce the protections that remain in place.
6/8 The Report finds that future indicators are flashing red too, with UK REACH far from ready, the OEP lacking true independence, and agreement on ambitious targets still far off. In excess, regulation can stifle business and jobs. But the report concludes that the pendulum has
7/8 has swung too far, leaving regulatory infrastructure weakened & our environment dangerously exposed. This despite strong public support for environmental protections (Ipsos MORI polling finds most younger Conservative Leave voters want to keep or increase environmental rules)
8/8 The report concludes that good regulation underpins much environmental progress in the UK. @Unchecked_UK urges the government to learn the lessons from the past & commit to a protective approach to environmental policy making. Read the report here: https://unchecked.uk/research/our-better-nature/
