UN warns Gove not to back-track on ‘Green Brexit’ pledge over standards

Weakening environmental protections after Brexit would damage Britain’s reputation internationally, the United Nations has warned.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove must keep his promise to deliver a “green” exit from the European Union, senior official Erik Solheim urged.

Campaigners warned earlier this month that the environment and countryside will have less protection after Brexit under plans unveiled by the government.

Mr Solheim,

executive 0 Michael Gove warned that he must keep ‘green’ promise director of the UN’S environment programme, said it was “incredibly important that the UK keeps the environmental standards it has had under the European Union”.

In an interview with the Observer, he said: “Michael Gove promised that would happen – that there would be no reduction of standards of any sort.

“He even added that any change would be to better standards.

“There was a strong commitment to that from the government.

“Any dilution and the UK reputation would be damaged. People in government need to make sure that does not happen.

“We need to make sure they have those standards or improve them, or meet the ones under the European Union.”