Environmental Groups Urge UK & EU To Strengthen Climate And Environmental Cooperation
Ahead of the upcoming UK-EU Summit on 19th May, 28 environmental and public health organisations from both sides of the Channel have jointly called for a renewed partnership that strengthens climate and environmental cooperation. Led by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), the coalition is urging UK and EU leaders to ensure that the reset in political relations delivers tangible progress on shared environmental goals.
In an open letter to political leaders, the signatories emphasise the urgent need for joint action on the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. They argue that closer alignment, particularly in areas such as product and chemical standards, circular economy policies and emissions trading, would not only benefit the environment but also unlock a more ambitious trade relationship.
Key recommendations include UK alignment with higher EU product regulations, particularly on harmful chemicals; convergence on circular economy policies around packaging waste, batteries and critical raw materials; and the formal linking of the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes to strengthen joint climate ambition. The organisations also called for collaboration to tackle commodity-driven deforestation and promote sustainable resource extraction.
On the fisheries front, the letter suggests EU to take inspiration from recent UK marine protection measures to help safeguard the future of its coastal ecosystems and the fishing communities that depend on them.
The groups further urge the UK to re-engage with key European scientific bodies, such as the European Chemical Agency and the European Environment Agency, to bolster cross-border research and scientific collaboration on environmental challenges.
Francesca Carlsson of the EEB said the summit is a “historic moment” to reaffirm shared ambitions and values, stressing that the climate and environmental crises require coordinated action. Chloe Alexander of CHEM Trust criticised UK’s previous rejection of a ‘common rule book’ on environmental regulation, warning that failure to align with evolving EU chemical protections risks long-term damage to public health and the environment.
Ben Reynolds, Executive Director of IEEP UK, highlighted the UK’s historic role in shaping EU environmental policy and said the path to reducing trade barriers lies in regulatory alignment, particularly as environmental standards are deeply embedded in the products traded across borders.
Environmental groups believe that closer UK-EU cooperation on climate and environmental governance can restore trust, trigger a “race to the top” on standards, and ensure resilience in the face of escalating global ecological challenges.
