A poll of environment and sustainability professionals has revealed that 82 per cent believe European Union membership has been positive for businesses and the environment in the UK.

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) carried out the online poll, the first in a series regarding the upcoming referendum planned by the organisation, to assess the views of its members on UK/EU environmental policy.

The ‘invitation only’ survey obtained around 1,500 responses between 5-9 May, with the majority believing the UK has benefitted from the environment and climate policy of the EU.

70 per cent say leaving EU will have negative effect

As part of the poll, respondents were asked about their views on different aspects of the environmental policies of the UK and the EU.

The majority of those polled were positive about EU membership, with 78 per cent believing that the UK is influential in matters of EU environment and policy development and 82 per cent agreeing that remaining in the EU allowed the UK to ‘exert greater influence on environmental outcomes’.

In addition, 82 per cent believe that the EU provides a more stable policy landscape than the UK on its own and that this would be more effective for businesses in the long run.

When asked what effect leaving the EU would have on the respondents’ individual organisations, 70 per cent said it would have a negative effect, 10 per cent said a positive effect and 20 per cent said it would have no effect at all.

In terms of the environment and sustainability profession as a whole, 74 per cent believed leaving the EU would have a negative effect, seven per cent said it would have a positive effect and 19 per cent claimed it would have no overall effect.

The majority (57 per cent) of those polled also believed that being a member of the EU would increase the ability of the UK to meet long-term climate change targets, with 14 per cent saying the UK could do this on its own and a further 29 per cent believing it makes no difference either way.

‘It is crucial to maintain long-term policy stability’

Commenting on the results, Martin Baxter, Chief Policy Advisor of IEMA, said: “Environment and sustainability professionals 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.”

‘Remain’ voices from industry growing

Last month, the heads of both the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and SUEZ recycling and recovery UK stated that the UK leaving the EU would threaten investment and reduce vision in the industry in the UK – a view previously put forward by the Resource Association.

The statements were made after the Environmental Audit Committee released its inquiry report on the effect of EU membership on the UK’s environmental policy. It concluded that the EU has been a ‘crucial factor’ in shaping the nation’s policy and that voting to leave would trigger a ‘long and tortuous negotiation’ that would leave businesses in long-term uncertainty.

Resource.co will have comment pieces from either side of the EU referendum debate next week.