Greenpeace is reporting that leaked documents show the UK government lobbied Brussels to water down key EU climate and energy rules on the day Theresa May triggered Article 50.
The environmental organisation said that draft legislation it had obtained shows the Ministers attempted to weaken crucial EU goals to slash energy waste and boost renewable power despite the rules not coming into force until after Britain has left the EU.
The intervention, which took place on 29 March, was led by a British delegation that is formally part of the Department for Exiting the EU, headed by secretary of state David Davis.
According to Greenpeace, the timing of the move will add to concerns that the UK government could weaken European climate and environment safeguards once they are transposed into British law.
Commenting on the documents, Greenpeace UK’s Head of energy Hannah Martin said:
“The government is trying to lock the rest of the EU into weaker energy policies, just as we are leaving. The message ministers seem to be sending is that Brexit could trigger a race to the bottom and be used as cover for getting rid of key environmental safeguards.”
“Cutting energy waste and boosting some of the cheapest power sources like wind and solar is crucial to keep bills under control and slash carbon emissions. Theresa May should resist any attempts to hamper Britain's progress towards a clean, affordable energy future and its promise of lasting jobs and economic growth.”
The leaked documents carry comments from UK government officials to the effect that key renewable and energy efficiency targets proposed by the European Commission should be reduced, made non-binding, or even scrapped altogether.
One of the laws the UK was lobbying to weaken is the revised Energy Efficiency Directive, a key component of the EU’s plan to tackle climate change by reducing fossil fuel use. The European Commission’s proposal would set a binding target of 30% increased energy efficiency by 2030 (compared to the ‘business as usual’ scenario), but the UK recommended it be reduced to 27% and made non-binding.
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