More than 80% of environment and sustainability professionals believe the electorate have had too little information to be able to take environmental issues into account when they cast their vote.
Members responding to an IEMA poll this week believe that both sides of the campaign have poorly addressed environment and sustainability issues in the lead up to the referendum, with 87% believing these should receive a higher profile in the remaining time before the vote on 23 June.
More than half of the 1,200 respondents (51%) report having to provide information to friends and family on the potential environmental implications of the UK leaving the EU because of shortcomings in the information provided by the Vote Leave and Britain Stronger in Europe campaign groups.
Martin Baxter, IEMA’s chief policy advisor, said: ‘Whatever the outcome of the ballot, it is essential that voters have sufficient information to be able to factor these issues into deciding how they cast their vote.’
The survey also asked members about aspects of European environmental policy. Two-thirds (67%) believe that the transition to a circular economy would best be achieved by implementing the European Commission’s circular economy package, rather than developing UK-specific measures (33%).
The majority (71%) of respondents believe that opportunities for business collaboration on the circular economy would be reduced if in the event of Brexit.
Half of environment and sustainability professionals believe that legal standards for air quality would be reduced if the UK were to leave the EU, with 88% of respondents saying a pan-European approach is required to complement and support national level policies in addressing air pollution.
On chemicals, 94% of members with experience of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals (REACH) say the regulation has been very or moderately effective in controlling the use of chemical substances.
One-third (34%) of respondents think the overall environmental benefits of REACH outweigh the costs to business and consumers; 44% believe the benefits are balanced by the costs; and 22% say the costs outweigh the benefits.