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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Helena Horton Environment reporter

From clean air to pesticides: how UK has lagged behind EU on the environment

People walking past a sewage outflow pipe on a beach
The UK has also failed to put into practice new, stronger obligations the EU has levied on water companies to keep sewage and pollution out of rivers and seas. Photograph: Avpics/Alamy

Keir Starmer’s government has continued to diverge from EU environmental laws since the Labour party won the 2024 general election, meaning the UK’s environmental protections are weaker than before Brexit.

From putting rare species at risk by ditching the habitats directive to failing to keep up with chemicals regulations that keep people and wildlife safe, here are some of the areas in which the UK has fallen behind.

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