Environmental policy in the UK is now inextricably linked with that of the European Union (EU). In the last thirty years, the EU has developed comprehensive policy measures across a extensive range of environmental issues. This has been done in response to the growing recognition of the value of coordinated action to solve common problems, and to ensure that the single market in Europe is based on common environmental standards. The EU is now the world leader in environmental legislation and an understanding of these policies and their effects on a UK practice is essential for anyone who is interested in or affected by environmental policy.
It is increasingly difficult to remain appraised of developments in EU legislation and the corresponding UK implementing legislation. However, the Manual of Environmental Policy: The EU and Britain provides more than 850 pages of in-depth analysis and evaluation of the implications for Britain of over 500 EU Directives and Regulations. It is an authoritative and unrivalled source of information written by a large team of experts. Its innovative loose-leaf format allows biannual updating, thereby enabling readers to keep pace with the rapid developments in this area.
The Manual includes chapters on water, waste, air, harmful substances, radioactivity, wildlife and countryside, noise, impact assessment and information, financial and economic instruments, international conventions and climate change. In addition, annexes provide chronological lists of all EU environmental legislation adopted, as well as summaries of proposed environmental legislation and details of environmental proposals under development.