United Kingdom: Environmental Law

The UK's Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) Phase 4 is approaching, with organisations needing to assess their compliance obligations by 31 December 2026. With the Environment Agency taking an increasingly robust enforcement approach and imposing civil penalties on over 160 businesses for Phase 3 non-compliance, understanding the scope thresholds and preparing early is crucial, particularly for complex corporate groups and alternative asset managers navigating intricate fund structures.

The United Kingdom government has extended UK REACH transitional registration deadlines to 2029-2031, providing companies additional time to comply with chemical manufacturing and import regulations. This extension allows the government to develop the Alternative Transitional Registration model aimed at reducing data and financial burdens on businesses while maintaining chemical safety standards.

Microplastic contamination from synthetic textiles poses a growing environmental threat, with fibres from man-made fabrics entering water systems through washing machine effluent. As countries like France mandate microplastic filters in washing machines and the EU implements new wastewater treatment rules, innovative companies are developing filtration technologies and novel removal methods to combat this pervasive pollution problem.

The Government has today published the updated suite of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (“NSIP”) planning guidance, including the keenly awaited guidance on pre-application consultation...

The Advertising Standards Authority has intensified its scrutiny of environmental claims in advertising, raising the stakes for brands making sustainability assertions. This development signals a stricter regulatory environment where green marketing messages face heightened examination and potential challenge. Companies must now navigate more rigorous standards when communicating their environmental credentials to consumers.

Climate change is reshaping Scotland's water landscape, making riparian rights—the legal rights of landowners over rivers flowing through their property—increasingly important for developers and property owners. This article explores the complex framework of Scottish water law, from ancient Roman origins to modern hydroelectric schemes, and examines how competing interests over this finite resource may lead to future legal reforms.

The ASA upheld the two complaints, one of which came from a chimney sweep, finding that the Council had failed to substantiate the direct causal link between the use of wood burners and open fires...

As mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) extends to nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) from 2 November, what challenges and opportunities does this present...

The Court of Appeal has refused an extension of time to appeal the Luton Airport DCO judicial review, marking the first enforcement of the Government's new shorter appeal deadlines for NSIP challenges.