Country profile - Distinguishing factors (United Kingdom)

General characteristics

The United Kingdom is an island state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, and many small islands.  The total area of the UK is approximately 243,610 square kilometres (94,060 sq miles).

In 2008, natural population growth overtook net migration as the main contributor to population growth for the first time since 1998.  England is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with an estimated population density of 401 people resident per square kilometre. Density is considerably lower in Scotland (67 per sq km), Wales (145 per sq km) and Northern Ireland (133 per sq km).

The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons but seldom drops below −10 °C (14.0 °F) or rises above 35 °C (95 °F).  Atlantic currents, warmed by the Gulf Stream, bring mild winters, especially in the west. Summers are warmest in the south east of England, being closest to the European mainland, and coolest in the north. 

The United Kingdom is a leading global trading nation, being the second largest exporter and third largest importer of commercial services, and the tenth largest exporter and sixth largest importer of merchandise. 

The United Kingdom has low unemployment (with an unemployment rate well below the European Union average) and is one of the most competitive locations in Europe for business and personal taxation.  Despite suffering a deep and long recession, the United Kingdom remains the most attractive destination for FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) into Europe. Job creation only fell by 1 per cent between 2008 and 2009 and the UK attracted 16 per cent of the jobs created by FDI across Europe

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each has its own government or Executive, led by a First Minister, and a devolved, unicameral legislature. England, the largest country of the United Kingdom, has no devolved executive or legislature.

Environmental governance

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the Government department with responsibility for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities. Defra also leads for the UK within the EU on agriculture, fisheries, environment and sustainable development policies. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), was formed in 2008, and assumed responsibilities for climate change mitigation. Climate change adaptation remains a Defra responsibility. 

Environmental policy is a devolved issue, meaning that the responsibilities are handled separately by the Devolved Administrations- Scottish Government, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly, for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

‘Delivery bodies’ work with the Government departments to ensure the strategic environmental objectives are achieved. These are either owned or sponsored by Government, or separate but work in close partnership. 

Environmental research and monitoring

There are over 250 organisations in the UK that are involved with undertaking environmental observations. The National Environment Research Council (NERC) is a non-departmental public body funded by numerous government departments and the EU to instigate research that increases knowledge and understanding of the natural world providing independent research and training in environmental sciences.  The Environment Research Funders Forum (ERFF) is a group that aims to improve the effectiveness and coherence of environmental research and monitoring in the UK, and the UK Environmental Observation Framework (UK EOF) intends to produce a strategic view of UK investment in environmental research.