WE LIVE in a time of greater interdependence than ever before, when no government can act in isolation from others.

Nowhere is this truer than in relation to one of the greatest challenges we face, climate change, which we are all in together.

The UK can be proud of its leading role in international efforts to curb carbon emissions.

Yet our leadership depends on our influence within the EU, and on confidence that our measures to reduce emissions are matched by our main trading partners.

Brexit would drastically reduce our say in international climate negotiations, where only big players, like the USA, China and the EU, are influential.

Within the UK, no-one knows what policies a post-Brexit government would follow. But given the stance adopted in the referendum debate, it seems that repeal of EU rules and regulations, many of which involve environmental protection, would be at the top of its agenda.

The president of the Eurosceptic Conservatives for Britain campaign, Lord Lawson, is also, ominously, chair of the climate sceptic Global Warming Policy Foundation.

The 2008 Climate Change Act, which has until now had cross-party support at home and been a model for other countries to emulate, could be an early casualty of leaving the EU.

Much depends on how we vote on Thursday.

ALAN NEALE

Poole

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