This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: news analysis on publication by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of guidance on environmental claims for fashion brands, the implications of a recently published report highlighting the extent of the PFAS contamination problem in England, the decision in Weston Homes v SSHULC, where the High Court granted an application for statutory review of an inspector’s decision refusing Weston Homes plc’s planning application on grounds related to consideration of biodoversity net gain (BNG), consistency in decision-making, failure to take into account an obviously material consideration and a failure to provide legally adequate reasons, and claims from a US paper lobby that EU Deforestation Regulation compliance is ‘not possible’. In addition, this week the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), a pilot version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard has been launched and the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the updated illustrative base fees for the first year of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging, and has announced new legislation, aimed at supporting precision breeding technology to boost food security.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis of green technology disputes and evolving practices: the case for English law and arbitration. In addition this week, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency (EA) have published waste crime heat maps and announced new enforcement reforms, Defra has issued guidance on mandatory biodiversity net gain for nationally significant infrastructure projects, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has confirmed that UK ETS expansion to waste incineration will not proceed in 2028 and updated ESOS phase 4 compliance requirements, and Ofwat has launched a consultation on changes to leakage reporting methodology .

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s new digital waste tracking service and guidance on the mandatory waste receipt reporting service, a new carbon benchmarking tool for local transport from the Department for Transport (DfT) and a Ministerial Direction on eligible fuels under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). In addition this week, the Environment Agency (EA) has published new guidance on the measurement of chemicals in soil and the Law Commission of England and Wales has announced a forthcoming project seeking to modernise and simplify environmental laws applicable to agricultural businesses. There have also been several decisions of the First-Tier Tribunal (FTT) and Upper Tribunal (UT) on environmental information.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’s (Defra) implementing of the Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/67, to establish a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England and Northern Ireland,scheduled to launch on 1 October 2027, the announcement of several key commitments to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) aimed at achieving the government's net zero targets and Defra’s announcement to extend the Ivory Act 2018 (IA 2018) to include four additional species. In addition, this week the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has provided guidance on addressing operational carbon emissions in buildings, explaining the causes of these emissions and outlining strategies for their reduction and Defra has announced its decision to deny emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB, a neonicotinoid pesticide containing thiamethoxam, on sugar beet in England for 2025.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: analysis regarding EU countries being expected to reach a common view on carbon market review by December 2026. This week also sees the enactment of the Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026, which bring waste controls and transport into the Environmental Permitting Regulations regime. In addition, Contaminated Land: Applications in Real Environments (CL:AIRE) has published site profiles for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following its participation in the Environment Agency (EA) PFAS Risk Screening Project, the EA has published the results of ‘Operation Unite’, its waste crime enforcement campaign, and Ofwat has launched a consultation on proposed new rules for the Water Governance Code covering independent non-executive directors (INEDs). This week we have also published a new starter guide on chemicals and hazardous substances.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)'s report on agricultural nutrient pollution and an announcement on measures to combat pollution and upgrade wastewater treatment works in areas affected by nutrient neutrality advice, the Environment Agency (EA)'s response to its consultation on proposed changes for water discharges and water quality permits and regulations to set the percentage reductions which will be applied to delinked payments in England for 2024. In addition this week, the UK Emissions Trading (ETS) Authority opened a consultation on expanding the ETS to further limit carbon emissions, the Council for the EU adopted new rules to track and reduce methane emissions as part of the Fit for 55 package, and the EU and Australia announced a new bilateral partnership on critical and strategic minerals between the two countries.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the Administrative Court's decision dismissing Natural England’s bid to increase the claimants’ Aarhus costs caps, upholding the importance of access to environmental justice, the Environment Agency (EA) has published its annual environmental performance report for 2024, assessing all nine water and sewerage companies operating in England, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced reforms to environmental permitting intended to reduce construction delays and the British Standards Institution (BSI) has published two international standards to support global biodiversity preservation. In addition this week, the Welsh Government has announced plans to fundamentally reform water management and regulation in Wales, following recommendations from the Independent Water Commission Report.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) publishing of the final versions of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Standard Terms and Conditions (ST & C's) and associated agreements for Allocation Round 7 (AR7), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) policy paper outlining principles for identifying and selecting compensatory marine protected areas (MPAs) to provide strategic compensation for the likely environmental effects of certain offshore wind developments on seabed habitats and the Environment and Climate Change Committee (ECCC) report calling for a more strategic approach to nitrogen management in the UK. In addition this week, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has submitted evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) inquiry into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: coverage of the mining giant BHP's announcement on 25 October 2024 that the Brazilian government has signed off a final US$31.7bn settlement package to compensate communities devastated by the collapse of a dam nine years ago, the Autumn budget 2024 and announcement of the several measures impacting the environment and energy sectors and the High Court's dismissal of the legal challenge brought by Friends of the Earth (FoE) and co-claimants, Doug Paulley and Kevin Jordan, in Friends of the Earth v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2024] EWHC 2707 (Admin), ruling that the government's National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) is lawful. In addition, this week the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has announced a pilot scheme for England's first heat network zone, aimed at assisting businesses and building owners to access low-cost, low-carbon heating, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs( Defra) has published a policy paper on criteria for England 30by30 target for land and the National Resources Wales (NRW) reports on enforcement action against illegal river works in South Wales.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)'s publication of the UK's 2023 greenhouse gas emission statistics and net zero progression data, a call for evidence by the House of Lords Committee on the impact and effectiveness of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and three consultation launches by the European Commission on the FuelEU Maritime regulation with the aim of decarbonising the shipping industry. This week's highlights also include a decision on whether confidentiality outweighed public interest in the Secretary of State's refusal to disclose information relating to an application to build a nuclear power station.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: news analyses on the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30)'s Global Mutirão’ deal uniting humanity in a global mobilisation against climate change and the court's decision in Oceana UK v Secretary of State for Energy Security that a staged approach to habitats assessment is lawful. In addition this week, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 alongside comprehensive delivery plans for Environment Act 2021 statutory targets, the Welsh Government has opened applications for an independent, not-for-profit Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) to operate the Welsh Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Defra and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee have published the UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy.

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes: a mid-year review from the Environment team at LexisNexis®, news analysis on the Court of Appeal decision in World Uyghur Congress, R (on the application of) v National Crime Agency, the Supreme Court decision in Finch v Surrey County Council that the grant of planning permission for commercial oil production was unlawful for failing to consider the downstream greenhouse gas emissions, and the increase in environmental claims that have been singled out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) as breaching advertising rules. In addition, the Supreme Court delivered its decision in The Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd v United Utilities Water Ltd, holding that the Water Industry Act 1991 does not prevent a nuisance or trespass claim being brought in an instance of pollution by discharge of foul water.