Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Environment

This subtopic brings together content on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, relevant to environment lawyers.

COVID-19 toolkit

Organisations across different business types, sectors and sizes, found themselves in uncharted territory with the onset of COVID-19.

Impact of COVID-19 on environmental law

The COVID-19 outbreak affected a number of key areas of concern relevant to the environment. These are outlined below together with links to News Analyses

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Latest Environment News

Commission opens consultation on energy-product legislation omnibus

The European Commission has opened a consultation on the proposed amendments to energy-efficient product legislation, with the consultation period running from 12 February 2026 to 12 March 2026. The omnibus regulation seeks to simplify compliance with energy and tyre labelling rules, streamline registration in the EPREL database, and enhance surveillance frameworks. The initiative is expected to introduce amendments to Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 and Regulation (EU) 2020/740, with adoption by the Commission anticipated in H2 2026.

EA and Defra publish guidance on the process of applying for environmental permits

The Environment Agency (EA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have published guidance outlining the process for applying for an environmental permit in England for activities that could cause pollution, increase flood risk or affect land drainage. The guidance sets out that applicants must provide details of the proposed activity, the site location, evidence of technical competence, contact information and payment details. It also lists activities eligible for online applications, including metal recycling and car and vehicle dismantling, herbicide agreements, medium combustion plants and various waste storage or treatment operations, among others. Applications must be submitted online or by using the standard application forms.

Defra consults on proposed designation of 13 new bathing water sites in England

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation seeking views on proposals to designate 13 new sites in England as bathing waters in line with the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, SI 2013/1675. The proposed sites include coastal and inland waters across England, ranging from Little Shore in Northumberland to sections of the River Thames at Ham and Kingston. Defra invites stakeholders to comment on the practical suitability of each site for designation, including the availability of appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support bathing, whether any additional measures would be required and whether designation could result in specific environmental or local impacts. The consultation closes on 23 March 2026.

EA publishes consultation outcome on IBAA standard rules permit for construction

The Environment Agency (EA) has published the outcome of Standard Rules Permit Consultation No. 29 on a proposed new standard rules environmental permit for the use of unbound incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) in specified construction activities in England as a waste recovery operation. The EA will revise the draft permit and generic risk assessment and publish final versions in the first quarter of 2026. A new candidate waste exemption Regulatory Position Statement for activities up to 25,000 tons will be introduced at the same time, and RPS 247 will be withdrawn. The Agency will broaden the scope to allow IBAA use as sub-base beyond roads, including pavements, car parks and building platforms, and as bedding for all buried services. It will not include use as general fill or capping material because these uses were not assessed in the original groundwater modelling and would require a bespoke permit. It will clarify that the limits apply to 100% IBAA and to blends with non-waste aggregates, including hydraulically bound IBAA, and confirmed that the limits are based on risk.