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In this sub-topic we cover issues and trends relating to environmental law, the economic climate and general business environment which will be of interest to environmental lawyers and which may influence how businesses think about their strategy.

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Latest Environment News

Environmental enforcement round-up—8 January 2026

A round-up of the latest environmental enforcement, including a waste company fined for breaching fire safety conditions under its environmental permit.

Environment—key developments in 2025 and horizon scanning for 2026

Environment analysis: This News Analysis provides a round-up of key developments in the field of Environment in England and Wales in 2025 and looks ahead to what’s coming up in 2026. This edition focuses on air emissions and climate change, water, waste and producer responsibility, nature, biodiversity and habitat conservation, hazardous substances and chemicals, environmental regulation, EU-UK relations, energy efficiency and buildings, sustainability reporting and green claims and devolved nations.

ICSWG publishes climate investing framework to support sustainable investment decisions and real-economy outcomes

The Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group (ICSWG) has published a new climate investing framework to help investors evolve climate strategies from portfolio decarbonisation towards ‘real-world’ outcomes. The framework responds to concerns that current decarbonisation-focused approaches, such as investing in low-carbon assets, may not protect portfolios from wider financially-material systemic risks linked to climate change. It aims to support more complex investment decision-making as investors’ understanding of climate change and its development increases.

OEP issues information notices for suspected WFD Regulations breaches

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has confirmed that it has identified possible failures by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency to comply with the Water Framework Directive Regulations. Both authorities have been issued information notices detailing suspected breaches of environmental law and have two months to respond formally. The possible failures relate to the preparation, approval and implementation of programmes of measures under River Basin Management Plans published in 2022, exemption reasoning, public consultation processes, and requirements to prevent deterioration in water body status. For Defra, the OEP has identified possible failures to comply with regulations 3 and 12 of the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, while for the Environment Agency, possible failures relate to regulations 3, 12, 16, 17, 29 and 36. The investigation follows the OEP's May 2024 report on Water Framework Directive implementation and the April 2025 Court of Appeal judgment in Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs v R (Pickering Fishery Association).

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