The Environmental Audit Committee has produced a report stating that EU membership has been a crucial factor in shaping UK environmental policy. Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, who is a member of the cross party Committee, helped produce the report that concluded that EU and UK policy on such things as air and water pollution and biodiversity is inextricably linked. The Committee heard that EU environmental policy development has been a two-way street. On the one hand, EU membership has given the UK a platform to pursue its environmental objectives internationally, and influence the strategic, long-term direction of policy. On the other hand, EU membership has ensured that environmental action in the UK has been taken on a faster timetable and more thoroughly than would otherwise have been the case. Environmental Audit Committee Member, Rebecca Pow MP commented: “Over the course of the enquiry it became clear that being a member of the EU has helped to strengthen and shape UK policy in this area. As a wildlife champion and a Vice-President of the Somerset Wildlife Trust I could not ignore the evidence given by bodies such as the RSPB who have nothing but praise for the Nature Directives and explained that they provide more comprehensive protection than is afforded by national legislation alone. Our birds, wildlife and water do not respect borders so any threats to these must be tackled with our European neighbours.” The inquiry heard concerns that a UK outside the EU would still have to follow some EU environmental legislation, but with significantly less ability to influence how it is developed. Ministers told the Committee that a vote to leave would result in a “long and tortuous negotiation”. Business representatives felt a leave vote could remove long-term certainty. The overwhelming majority of witnesses said that there were benefits to solving some of our environmental problems multilaterally, and that the UK’s membership of the EU has ensured that the UK environment has been better protected. Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Mary Creagh MP said: “The UK has cleaned up its act since we were dubbed the ‘dirty man of Europe’ in the seventies. EU environmental laws have played a key part, and mean we bathe on cleaner beaches, drive more fuel-efficient cars and can hold Government to account on air pollution.”