Thread by @BestForBritain

Post-Covid19 recovery and the environment in the context of Brexit - A THREAD

This is a pivotal moment regarding the UK's direction in its post-Covid19 recovery. The difference between EU and US approaches could not be starker. The UK will have to pick a side on this. ~AA 1/

Barnier's remarks after the latest round of negotiations were scathing on this. He accused the UK of talking the talk, but refusing to walk the walk.

UK needs to understand that for the EU environmental protections are not an optional extra, but an article of faith. ~AA 2/

Because of principles of subsidiarity, the coordination of environmental standards is seen by the EU as core jurisdiction.

This isn't some anti-UK agenda. Environmental protection and sustainability provisions are central to Japan and Canada deals.~AA 3/

trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/i…

This is of vital importance, in a post-Covid19 world. It is a key moment to ask, what is our direction of travel.

The US and the EU could not have adopted more different stances. The EU is set to announce a $500bn Green New Deal next week. ~AA 4/

oilprice.com/Alternative-En…

Meanwhile the US is trying to stimulate its economy by giving tax breaks to oil firms and slapping retroactive tariffs on renewables.

The two big economic blocs have each charted a course and the UK much choose with which it will align. ~AA 5/

washingtonpost.com/business/2020/…

At the moment the UK is trying to speak out of both sides of its mouth. Offering the EU aspirations but very little in the way of commitments.

The UK's draft energy agreement could not be thinner on the subject, offering a single paragraph. ~AA /6

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

UK sees environmental issues as ancillary to trade and assumes the same of everyone. Greenpeace leaks of damaging extracts were a key reason TTIP lost public support, eventually collapsing. EP and state parliaments can veto an agreement. Climate clauses will be key to some.~AA 7/

Nor is this a frivolous debate to have right now. Pivoting to more resilient and more environment friendly industries post-Covid19 is a different strategy to unimaginatively restoring, as fast as possible, precicely the same dysfunctional economy one had before lockdown. ~AA 8/

This isn't just protest movements like Extinction Rebellion saying this anymore. This is orthodoxy. Both the IMF and the IEA have called for recovery to be rooted in considering emissions targets and environmental impact. ~AA 9/

climatechangenews.com/2020/04/29/imf…

oilprice.com/Alternative-En…

A group of 150 companies worth $2.4tn, incl. Unilever and Adobe, have asked gov'ts to ensure their response to the pandemic is “grounded in bold climate action” and to prioritize “a green economy" by "aligning recovery plans with climate science.” ~AA 10/

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

It certainly isn't a matter of sovereignty either. If the EU can mention whaling in the deal with Japan, it can mention carbon emissions to the UK without us losing our mind. Especially since we already agree with the targets, as a Paris cosignatory. A deal should be easy.~AA 11/

It is simply a matter of wanting to know that your direction of travel is compatible with that of your biggest fellow travellers. The EU would demand no less of anyone right now. Sustainable or gas-guzzling? The two are not compatible. We must pick a side. ~AA 12/12 END