Brexit: science, environment and transport
What are the implications of exiting the European Union on the UK's involvement in the scientific community and energy and environmental issues? How will Brexit affect the UK's transport system? Read research and analysis from Parliament's libraries and committees on the impact of Brexit.
Science and research
Delivering STEM skills for the economy
Public Accounts Committee report, 22 June 2018
Warns of potential Brexit impact on the supply of STEM skills and calls for action on gender imbalances
What can artificial intelligence reveal about Brexit?
Commons Library Insight, 15 June 2018
Research on how a deep learning algorithm can recognise patterns in the words used in Brexit-related debates in the House of Commons
Research and development funding
Public Accounts Committee report, 20 April 2018
Highlights concerns over the impact of Brexit, leadership effectiveness and safeguarding of benefits
Brexit, science and innovation
Science and Technology Committee report, 21 March 2018
Calls for an early deal for science and research with the EU to set a positive tone for other elements of the Brexit negotiations
Science diplomacy
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 8 February 2018
Explains what science diplomacy involves and considers the role science diplomacy could play post-Brexit
What can research tell us about Brexit?
Commons Library Insight, 13 December 2017
Overview of how researchers are engaging with Brexit and what they are discovering
Industrial Strategy: science and STEM skills
Science and Technology Committee report, 12 April 2017
Welcomes the Government's industrial strategy Green Paper but it could give more room for discussing its links with Brexit
EU membership and UK science after the referendum
Lords Science and Technology Committee report, 20 December 2016
Says bold steps are needed to ensure UK science has a prominent place in the global economy after Brexit
Exiting the EU and science and research
Commons Library research briefing, 14 December 2016
Information on the impact of exiting the EU on science and research, listing related press articles and Parliamentary material
Support for science
Commons Library research briefing, 23 November 2016
Looks at public funding for research and how the scientific community responds to the UK's decision to the leave the EU
Implications and opportunities for science and research
Science and Technology Committee report, 18 November 2016
Urges the Government to exempt EU scientists and researchers already working in the UK from immigration controls
Leaving the EU: funding for universities and scientific research
Lords Library research briefing, 27 October 2016
Looks at current university and research funding in the UK and some of the key issues raised following the referendum result
Energy
Brexit: energy and climate change
Commons Library research briefing, updated 5 September 2019
Discusses key energy and climate change policy in the UK and the possible impact of Brexit, including in relation to a no-deal scenario
Euratom
Commons Library research briefing, updated 29 March 2019
Overview of the work of Euratom and the potential impact of leaving the EU on Britain's current nuclear operations
The Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
Commons Library research briefing, updated 17 August 2018
Discusses the background and content of the Bill, which makes provision for nuclear safeguards after the UK leaves Euratom
Overseas electricity interconnection
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 9 February 2018
Discusses the benefits of interconnection between electricity markets, proposals for future increases and potential impact of Brexit
Nuclear Safeguards Bill: briefing for Lords stages
Lords Library research briefing, 1 February 2018
Overview of the purpose of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill and its passage through the House of Commons
Brexit: energy security
EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee report, 29 January 2018
Argues that Brexit will put the UK's current frictionless trade in energy with the EU at risk
European Atomic Energy Community
European Scrutiny Committee report, 15 January 2018
Calls on the Government to explain how it will ensure there is a secure supply of medical radioisotopes used to detect cancer
Leaving the EU: implications for the civil nuclear sector
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee report, 13 December 2017
Calls on the Government to retain a close association with Euratom to minimise risk of disruption to nuclear research and trade
Negotiation priorities for energy and climate change policy
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, 2 May 2017
Warns that the Government has left the UK nuclear industry at risk and must act to ensure its continued operation post-Brexit
Leaving the European Union: Euratom
Lords Library research briefing, 23 February 2017
Overview of Euratom and the possible implications of leaving Euratom for the future of the nuclear industry and research in the UK
Environment
Brexit and chemicals regulation (REACH)
Commons Library research briefing, updated 19 September 2019
Discusses the EU REACH regulation for chemicals and the potential impacts of Brexit, including in relation to a 'no deal' scenario
Brexit and air quality
Commons Library research briefing, updated 21 May 2019
Overview of how EU air quality legislation and policy is enshrined in the UK legal framework and possible changes after Brexit
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report, 30 April 2019
Calls on the Government to make significant revisions to the Bill before presenting it to Parliament
Scrutiny of the Draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill
Environmental Audit Committee report, 25 April 2019
Identifies serious concerns with proposed legislation to protect the environment after the UK leaves the EU
Environmental principles and governance: the draft Bill
Commons Library research briefing, 30 January 2019
Provides information about the draft bill, which sets out how the UK will maintain environmental standards after leaving the EU
EU environmental principles
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 29 November 2018
Summarises the environmental principles and considers potential opportunities and challenges surrounding their implementation
UK progress on reducing nitrate pollution
Environmental Audit Committee report, 22 November 2018
Says leaving the European Union presents the UK with both challenges and opportunities in its efforts to reduce pollution from nitrates
Brexit: chemical regulation
EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee report, 7 November 2018
Warns that the Government's preparations for regulating chemicals after Brexit are not progressing quickly enough
Brexit: plant and animal biosecurity
EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee report, 24 October 2018
Finds that the UK's biosecurity could be at risk after Brexit if it loses access to vital EU alerts on animal and plant pest and disease threats
Household recycling in the UK
Commons Library research briefing, 12 September 2018
Discusses trends in recycling and the applicable legislation at both EU and UK level as well as the impact of Brexit on recycling
Brexit and the environment
Commons Library research briefing, updated 8 August 2018
Discusses current environmental law and policy, preparations for Brexit and the possibility of a tailored approach to the environment
What does Brexit mean for the UK's beaches?
Commons Library Insight, 7 September 2017
Looks at how EU legislation has improved bathing water quality and concerns of the impact of Brexit
Brexit and the environment
Commons Library Insight, 12 July 2017
Examines the possible future approach to environmental policy in the UK post-Brexit
Leaving the European Union: UK climate change policy
Lords Library research briefing, 15 June 2017
Overview of EU legislation on climate change, its implementation in the UK and the implications of Brexit on targets in UK law
The future of chemicals regulation after the EU referendum
Environmental Audit Committee report, 29 April 2017
Urges the Government to provide clarity on the future of chemicals regulation after the EU referendum
Brexit: environment and climate change
EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee report, 14 February 2017
Highlights key actions that will be needed to ensure environmental protections are not eroded as a result of Brexit
The future of the natural environment after the EU referendum
Environmental Audit Committee report, 4 January 2017
Suggests that protections for wildlife and habitats could be weaker after Brexit if the Government doesn't take action
Leaving the EU: environment and climate change
Lords Library research briefing, 13 October 2016
Overview of EU legislation relating to the environment and climate change, and how it has been implemented in the UK
EU and UK environmental policy
Environmental Audit Committee report, 19 April 2016
Concludes that EU membership has been a crucial factor in shaping UK environmental policy on air and water pollution and biodiversity
Transport
Brexit and the UK border: out-of-court settlement with Eurotunnel
Public Accounts Committee report, 10 July 2019
Says the Department for Transport's rushed procurement of ferry freight capacity cost the taxpayer £85 million
Brexit: road, rail and maritime transport
EU Internal Market Sub-Committee report, 21 May 2019
Examines the need to maintain connectivity in the road, rail and maritime sectors under a new UK–EU relationship
Brexit: Impacts on holidays and travel
Commons Library Insight, 14 March 2019
Provides guidance on how Brexit could affect passports and visas, insurance, package holidays, pet passports and more
Department for Transport's implementation of Brexit
Public Accounts Committee report, 28 November 2018
Says there is a risk that the Department for Transport will not be ready in the event of the UK departing the EU without a negotiated deal
Brexit and transport
Commons Library research briefing, updated 8 November 2018
Discusses some of the pertinent issues in the four main transport policy areas: aviation, railways, roads and maritime
Effect on the aviation sector of the UK leaving the EU
Commons Library research briefing, updated 30 October 2018
Overview of the potential effects of Brexit on transport policy, industry, services and operations
Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018
Commons Library research briefing, updated 9 August 2018
Outlines the background and provisions of the Bill and explains the issues raised in the House of Lords
Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill
Constitution Committee report, 8 March 2018
Argues that the Bill's inclusion of broad delegated powers challenges the balance of power between Parliament and Government
Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages
Lords Library research briefing, 20 February 2018
Overview of the Bill, which aims to allow UK hauliers to continue operating internationally after the UK leaves the EU