Marine conservation and pollution

Marine conservation and pollution—content

Content in this subtopic on marine conservation and pollution includes the following Practice Notes:

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Marine species protection—considers the legislative framework for the protection of marine species in England and Wales at international, European and national level. It looks at marine species protection provisions found in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive) and Birds Directive 2009/147/EC (Birds Directive) and implementing national regulations, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001. It considers the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981) and some species specific legislation, and looks at the Environment Act 2021 including the power to set long term environmental targets, the general duty to enhance and conserve biodiversity, local nature recovery strategies and species conservation strategies. This Practice Note includes information about the national site

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Latest Environment News

DESNZ launches industry engagement for new Hydrogen Network Code development

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has announced the commencement of industry engagement on the development of a new Hydrogen Network Code (the Code) for hydrogen pipeline networks. Network codes are legal documents forming the basis of arrangements between network owners and users. As set out in the government’s response to the Hydrogen Economic Regulatory Frameworks Consultation, government will lead the development of the Code in partnership with industry and in close collaboration with Ofgem and other relevant stakeholders. DESNZ will host an introductory webinar in April 2026 to outline its proposed engagement approach and the process for developing the first issue of the Code. Industry engagement will take place at two levels: (1) a Code Engagement Forum, open to all Code-relevant stakeholders and intended to provide periodic updates on Code development; and (2) a smaller Code Advisory Group, comprising representatives of interests across hydrogen pipeline networks, with membership determined via an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to be launched during the webinar. The engagement is expected to be relevant to prospective hydrogen producers, transporters, storage providers and offtakers, including industrial users and hydrogen-to-power plants, as well as trade bodies, with further details on selection criteria and Terms of Reference to be provided at the first session.

DESNZ launches consultation on streamlining UK ETS rules for cross-boundary CCS pipelines

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the regulatory framework for cross-boundary carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipelines under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which is jointly administered by the UK ETS Authority, comprising the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland (DAERA). The consultation closes on 4 June 2026

Defra introduces strategic policy statements to accelerate environmental planning approvals

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MHCLG publishes response to environmental outcomes reports consultation and implementation roadmap

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published its response to its March 2023 consultation on Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs), which sought views on a proposed new system of environmental assessment. In the response, the MHCLG confirms its intention to use powers under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) to introduce a domestic, outcomes-based framework to replace the current Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regimes.

Marine conservation and pollution