Environment and Trade

Abstract

This chapter examines the implications of Brexit for environmental protection in Northern Ireland, focusing primarily on the Protocol but taking into account other developments in EU-UK relationships and internal UK developments. It outlines (i) the extent to which EU environmental law continues to apply in Northern Ireland, before considering (ii) the potential for regulatory divergence (impacting on both trade and the environment), and (iii) the impacts of border controls. Due to the significance of agriculture for the environment and of the Protocol for agri-food supply chains across the UK and Ireland, the chapter draws on policy examples from both environment and agriculture. Overall, while some protection continues, it is typically linked to trade. This piecemeal approach has led to a fragmentation of Northern Ireland environmental rules and governance with profound implications for environmental protection. This is especially important in light of the poor environmental record on both sides of the border: neither Ireland nor Northern Ireland has historically been an environmental leader.