This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis of battery deployment being key to meet global climate targets and relaunch of a UN insurance climate group after backlash, the European Parliament's approval of the Net Zero Industry Act, the new Environmental Crime Directive and Waste Shipments Regulation being published in the Official Journal and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)'s publication of two policy statements regarding a deposit return scheme for drinks containers. In addition this week, the Court of Appeal held that a local authority had no implied power to vary an abatement notice issued against a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Defra has published an independent report on the work carried out by the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: news analysis on the eight week consultation launched on modernising the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. In addition this week, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England have published the 2025 Heather and Grass Management Code, providing guidance on the safe and responsible management of rough vegetation, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has confirmed that two carbon capture projects in North Wales and North West England have signed final contracts with the Low Carbon Contracts Company and can now begin construction and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has published its 2025 Status Report, reviewing two years of progress since the publication of its guidance and recommendations in 2023. Further this week, the Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation on three proposed standard rules permits for small sewage discharges, intended to replace bespoke permits.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes a new Ofwat consultation on additional cost allowances for water companies and a new Environment Agency (EA) handbook on nature-based solutions for water resources. In addition this week, the EA has updated its guidance on the storm overflow assessment framework to improve clarity and consistency after its initial consultation, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has updated its Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guidance to reflect the application of its recommendations on irreplaceable habitat to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) from later this year.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: News Analysis on the ongoing EU-UK sandeel case which arose after the UK ordered a full ban on the commercial fishing of sandeels from UK waters in the North Sea in March 2024, the UK government’s launch of the land use consultation, and the Court of Appeal upholding the High Court’s analysis, concluding that there is ‘no legal distinction’ between the online planning practice guidance (PPG) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (Mead Realisations v SSHCLG). In addition this week, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) published its written submission for the Supreme Court case of CG Fry & Son Ltd v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Somerset Council [2024] EWCA Civ 730, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance on packaging data reporting periods and submission deadlines for large and small organisations under the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme and Ofgem releases the Renewables Obligation (RO) buy-out price and mutualisation threshold and ceilings for the 2025–26 obligation period. Further, Defra publishes fourth round of climate change adaptation reports.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis of the High Court decision in R (WWAG) v North Northamptonshire Council that felling of trees protected by tree preservation order did not benefit from exemption and the EU Nature Restoration Law being called into doubt again. In addition this week the Scottish Parliament has passed the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill, the Council of the EU has reached a general approach on the proposed Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law) and adopted the Green Claims Directive and the revised Waste Framework Directive.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: news analysis on Part III of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a first look at the EU omnibus package on sustainability, and the Court of Appeal decision in Orsted West of Duddon Sands (UK) Ltd and others v HMRC that capital allowances are available for environmental studies. In addition this week, HM Treasury (HMT) has published an action plan for environmental and planning regulatory reforms, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)'s first annual report on biodiversity net gain statutory credits for 2024–25 has been published, and Defra has also published guidance on determining fit and proper person status for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis of the High Court's ruling that BHP can be held liable in a US$47 million claim for the collapse of a dam in Brazil that triggered the country's worst environmental crisis, daily developments at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the European Parliament adopting its position on sustainability omnibus, including major change to CSRD scope, and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)'s formal enactment of legislation banning the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: news analysis on the case of Smar v Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs regarding planning considerations and felling control. In addition this week, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance on the new mandatory registration and voluntary accreditation process for packaging waste reprocessors and exporters under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for 2026 and the Welsh Government has launched a consultation on the implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. Further this week, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its 2025 post implementation review (PIR) of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Regulations 2014, SI 2014/1643.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis of the state of play with regard to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Insurance broker WTW’s work to launch an insurance facility that it hopes will remove risks associated with loans to private companies, a move to protect them from threats linked to climate change. In addition this week the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has published its assessment of the third National Adaptation Plan, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published a summary of responses to a call for evidence on the non-financial reporting (NFR) requirements UK companies need to comply with to produce their annual report, the Council of the EU has adopted the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced an increase in England Woodland Creation Offer payments to incentivise farmers to plant trees.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the introduction of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Definition of ‘Digital Sequence Information’) Regulations 2026 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Amendments etc) Regulations 2026, all of which relate to marine conservation matters. In addition this week, the Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed an implementation timeline for its proposed changes to the waste crime and controls regime (with further changes due in 2027) and Ofwat is consulting on its assessment framework for water companies’ delivery progress against the PR24 framework, the largest investment programme for the water sector in over 30 years.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis on the consultation on expanding tax conditionality to new sectors, the case of Smallbrook v BCC, considering the tension between proposals seeking to reuse and repurpose buildings and those seeking to demolish and rebuild them and will be of relevance to those involved in regeneration projects which consider the two alternatives, and what businesses need to know about ASA, AI and greenwashing. It also covers developments at the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) and Green Alliance (GA) being granted permission to intervene in the appeal of R (Rights Community Action Ltd) v the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2024] EWHC 1693 (Admin) and the launch of the Global Clean Power Alliance at G20 summit. In addition this week, the Department for Energy Security and Net zero (DESNZ) has announced of plans to introduce legislation aimed at restricting the future licensing of new coal mines in the UK the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into the legality of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s Statutory Guidance on applying the Farming Rules for Water, , the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister, Andrew Muir, has announced an independent review of environmental governance in Northern Ireland, Defra has announced an update on the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers, reaffirming its commitment to launching the DRS across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in October 2027 and the Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation titled ‘River basin planning: working together 2024’, as the first consultation in the process of reviewing and updating river basin management plans (RBMPs) for 2027.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)'s publication of extended producer responsibility fees for packaging producers, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)’s publication of its guidelines on fund names in all official EU languages, the Environment Agency (EA)’s warning to property and landowners to stay vigilant in stopping waste crime, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)'s publication of updates to its sustainability disclosure requirements and labels.