The Environmental Case for Brexit

The recent Brexit debates present leaving the European Union largely as a threat to environmental protection, and to environmental law. This exciting and important new work argues that Brexit represents a real opportunity for environmental protection in the United Kingdom, freeing it from a pan-European framework not necessarily fit for UK domestic purposes. Central to the argument is the belief that environmental protection, in the United Kingdom, can most effectively be pursued through established domestic institutions, looking inwards at 'local' challenges and outwards at more global ones, all the while drawing on considerable historical experience. The book is designed to address rather than dismiss those concerns raised by environmental lawyers after the outcome of the referendum. Provocative and compelling, it offers an alternative vision of the UK environmental law framework outside of the European Union.

1. Introduction
2. The British Way of Environmental Protection
I. British Way and 'Regulatory Style'
II. Property in Land and the British Way
III. The British Way on the Leader-Laggard Spectrum
IV. The British Way and International Environmental Law
V. Challenges to the British Way Argument
VI. Conclusion
3. Waste
I. The British Way of Waste 1945–73
II. The British Way of Waste During EU Membership
III. Conclusion
4. Rivers
I. The British Way of River Quality Protection 1945–73
II. The British Way During EU Membership
III. Conclusion
5. Air Quality
I. The British Way of Air Quality Management 1945–73
II. The British Way During EU Membership: Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Regulation
III. Conclusion
6. Habitat Conservation
I. The British Way of Habitat Conservation 1945–73
II. The British Way During EU Membership
III. Conclusion
7. Conclusion

“fascinating… I can well imagine [this] book stimulating much debate.” –  Nigel Haigh, Honorary Fellow and former Executive Director of the Institute for European Environmental Policy

“Ben Pontin's iconoclastic book has much to commend it. In particular, his environmental case in favour of Brexit is a characteristically fluidly written and fascinating piece of historical scholarship, which brings out the enormous complexity of environmental law and policy.” –  Maria Lee, Journal of Environmental Law