Poster: Perceptions of climate change and environmental law in the UK and France: A comparison

The poster is based on a small-scale survey conducted as part of an undergraduate internship and was presented at the WISERD conference in 2023. It raises interesting questions about the changes in environmental law following Brexit by comparison with France as an EU member. Information from the poster can be seen below:

Perceptions of climate change and environmental law in the UK and France: A comparison

Thora Tenbrink and Diane Forey, Bangor University

Differences in environmental laws

UK (after Brexit)	France (as part of EU)
Less stringent as a tendency UK Environment Act 2021: Plans without accountability mechanism Citizens’ complaints to Office for Environmental Protection possible but notices by OEP not binding UK rewards donations of food that can no longer be sold	Enforcement mechanisms in place Highly specified plans with requirements to be effective Citizens can appeal to European courts whose judgements are binding France imposes fines for failures to adhere to standards around food waste

Survey on perceptions of climate change and environmental law

Participants were asked about their views on the threat of climate change, media coverage, impact on their lives, readiness to support their country to become a global leader in the fight against climate change – and about their views on the legal issues where the countries differ

Of the 26 English-language respondents, 15 were UK residents (11 with UK nationality) and the others residing elsewhere. • The 23 French-language respondents were all residents of France and of French nationality.

Environmental law was seen as an efficient tool to combat climate change, and respondents agreed that citizens should be able to issue legal proceedings because of their government’s failure to act against climate change.

Although France (in line with the EU generally) has more stringent laws than the UK, there is on the French side considerable consensus that such laws are necessary. Responses from the UK reflect more distrust in the government and a tendency to deem existing laws insufficient.

Results

Respondents agreed:

that climate change poses an extreme threat to the planeth
that it does not receive sufficient attention
that they want their country to become a global leader in the fight against climate change even if it meant some sacrifices on their part
that their governments should be held accountable for their failures in environmental matters

Stringent environmental laws may not be viewed as a threat to freedom if people recognise their value and necessity for the planet's future.