83% of environment and sustainability professionals say UK benefits from EU membership: IEMA survey

A new survey of environmental and sustainability professionals by the Institute of Environmental and Management Assessment shows that an overwhelming majority—83%—believe that European membership has been a positive for UK business.

The poll of over 1,500 professionals found that 78% of respondents believe that the UK is influential in the development of EU environment and climate policy, and 82% believe that being part of the EU gives the UK more international clout, with the ability to exert greater international influence on environmental outcomes by working within the EU block of 28 countries.

IEMA members agree that operating within the EU provides a policy landscape that is more stable, and therefore potentially more effective for both businesses and the environment over the medium to longer term. 

IEMA’s Chief Policy Advisor Martin Baxter said: “Environment and sustainabilityprofessionals frequently cite policy certainty as being a key enabler of investment for long term improvement programmes.  Whichever way the vote goes, it is crucial to maintain long-term policy stability and continuity in the areas of environment and climate change”.

Overall, 70% of respondents feel that the UK voting to leave the EU would have a negative effect on their organization, 10% a positive effect, and 20% no effect.

Source: IEMA

Photo: Creative Commons / Ssolbergi / MPDO1605