The profession needs to pull together after the vote to leave the EU.
More than a month on from the vote in the UK referendum to leave the EU some dust has settled but much has yet to be explained. What will the future hold for environment and sustainability policy and practice? Will the legislation practitioners have come to know so well be repealed? What are the opportunities from Brexit, and who will shape the new policies? What is the worldwide impact?
It is clear that these are questions that concern IEMA members. The webinar that we hosted on the legal implications of Brexit four days after the vote attracted the highest volume of bookings ever. It has also been viewed thousands of times since the first broadcast, so it is obvious to me that getting answers about what happens next is important. That is why we are planning a series of workshops and webinars for members, which will aim to provide some clarity.
They will be presented by our chief policy advisor Martin Baxter, who will not only update you on what changes are to come but also on how IEMA and its members will work to help shape the new agenda. Keep a watch out for details of these events, as they will help you stay one step ahead of the changes and about what is planned to help the profession move forward.
We could tie ourselves up in knots about the impact, but it is important that, as a profession, we collectively pull together and look ahead. We must work to secure the best possible long-term result for environment and sustainability policy and professionals. You can read how IEMA Futures, the next generation of sustainability leaders, feel about the post-Brexit challenges and opportunities on p10. ‘A chance to make some noise’ is how they put it, with the intention of establishing inspirational and aspirational practice that benefits the environment, businesses, society and the economy. IEMA Futures is an exciting new group so stay tuned over the coming months to learn more about its work.
Looking to the immediate future, I would like to invite you to IEMA’s annual general meeting next month. All members are entitled to attend, and I very much hope that you can come along to this year’s AGM, in London on 21 September. Full details can be found on the inside front cover of this issue and you can also read the full explanatory notes at iema.net.
