As the prospect of a “no deal” Brexit looms, green groups have warned of the devastating and far-reaching consequences such an outcome would have for the nation’s environment.

Everything from the ability to tackle climate change to the UK’s bird populations could be under threat, according to a new report.

A chaotic departure from the EU could also result in a dip in farming regulations that weakens environmental standards as farmers are flooded by cheap overseas imports.

The sudden lack of regulation could also make the UK a “dumping ground” for harmful chemicals banned in EU countries, threatening both human and environmental health.

Amid Brexit confusion, some MPs who want to leave the EU have supported the idea of a “no deal” option. But in their analysis, environmental coalition Greener UK said “there can be no green Brexit” in such a scenario.

The group, which includes WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, said barriers to trade, loss of access to vital EU agencies and weakened cooperation with Europe could all jeopardise Britain’s environment.

“A no deal Brexit is becoming more likely by the day. The EU is preparing for it and some backbench MPs seem to welcome the prospect,” said Shaun Spiers, chair of the Greener UK coalition.

Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: “We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries – nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. “And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union.” Ms Jenkyn’s also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliament’s influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of “unbalanced” reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: “As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commission’s sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. “At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. “I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely.” He went on to argue that the “general direction” of Ms May’s policies would leave the UK “in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one”. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Davis’s main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as ”courageous and principled” by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: “I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on.” Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did “not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide”. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: “The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. “The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn.” PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: “I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. “I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10.” PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: “I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. “I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form.” Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex

“But make no mistake, there can be no green Brexit if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal.”

As a member of the EU, the UK is currently bound by a system considered the gold standard for chemical regulation.

In their speculative report, Greener UK said it is “highly unlikely” Britain will be capable of replicating the European database, which covers 21,000 chemicals and took ten years to compile.

While the nation catches up with its European neighbours, it is therefore at risk of being flooded by products containing harmful chemicals. Recent examples of chemicals banned under EU rules include substances linked to poisoning aquatic creatures and harming pregnant women.

There are also concerns that British farmers will be under pressure as they are forced to adapt to a tide of international goods from countries with lower production standards.

“If we get a no deal Brexit and we are subject to the World Trade Organisation rules, it undermines our high environmental standards and high animal welfare standards in this country,” Jon Andrews, England chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network told The Independent.

“It’s going to put food production, farmers and rural business under severe pressure.”

The UK’s departure from the EU emissions trading scheme and the internal energy market could also make it harder for the government to meet its own domestic carbon emission targets, as well as increasing energy bills for consumers.

Greener UK warned that the loss of EU cooperation in efforts to conserve animals could place rare and threatened species like nightjars and harbour porpoise at risk.

Boris Johnson: 'It is not too late to save Brexit'

Environmental groups have previously expressed concern about accountability following Brexit, but they were somewhat placated when the government outlined its plans for a “green watchdog” to ensure laws and protections are followed.

However, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and there is no transition period, this new body will not be ready in time to hold the UK government and public authorities to account.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of Friends of the Earth agreed a no deal outcome would be “catastrophic for the environment”.

“As the economy suffers, the same politicians that argued for Brexit would then also start arguing for further deregulation to ‘get the economy moving’ and any pretence of Brexit Britain as a green and pleasant land would quickly disappear in a puff of toxic smoke.

“The withdrawal bill failed to cut and paste some of the most important aspects of European environmental legislation, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is nowhere near ready to leave without a deal, and we don’t have even the most basic enforcement mechanism in place.

“The government hasn’t so much dropped the ball on this one, as tossed it over the fence into a gully”.