Earlier this year, the Society for the Environment and the ENDS Report teamed up to explore the thinking of environmental professionals on membership of the European Union. The survey results of almost 1,000 practitioners revealed, perhaps unsurprisingly, that they believe the EU has been a force for progress on environmental matters.

Although a significant majority of respondents indicated support for 'Remain' rather than 'Leave', the report does show that whatever the outcome of the referendum, it's clear that environmental professionals do not believe the EU has got everything right. The survey shows environmental professionals’ pro-Remain majority to be pragmatic rather than ideological.

The survey results, with analysis by The ENDS report, entitled 'An environmental union? What environmental professionals think about the European Union and EU referendum', is available now.

Commenting on the survey, ENDS Publisher Nick Rowcliffe said: “Our findings are based on a good cross section of the environmental profession. Environmental professionals have given a strong endorsement of the EU, not because they see it as perfect, but because they believe it is necessary. This is a pragmatic profession, united in a desire for further steps towards sustainability, calling for Britain to continue with what works, and for UK government institutions to do better.”