I am delighted to have started on 1 July 2024 a 6 month contract working at the Office for Environmental Protection (‘OEP’) – www.theoep.org.uk
CLIMATE LITIGATION - SWISS CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CASE
CHEMICALS REGULATION IN THE UK – MISSING KEY COMPONENTS
EU PLAN TO HALVE PESTICIDE USE WITHDRAWN IN FACE OF FARMERS OPPOSITION
On 6 February 2024, in the face of strong opposition from farmers in the EU and their trade bodies such as COPA COGECA, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the abandonment of the proposed Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation, which contained the Commission’s aim to halve pesticide use. This had been an important part of the Commission’s ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and its Green Deal.
WALES PROPOSES NEW LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES, GOVERNANCE AND BIODIVERSITY TARGETS
RETURN OF DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND
The re-establishment of devolved government in Northern Ireland was the subject of intense negotiations for months before conclusions were announced by the UK government and the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party ‘DUP’, and with the publication on 31 January 2024 of the Command Paper ‘Safeguarding the Union’ (CP 1021).
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM LICENSING BILL – PRINCIPLES, OR POLITICS?
On 8 January 2024, the UK Parliament will be asked to vote on the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill.
This will amend the UK’s Petroleum Act 1998, and require the Oil and Gas Authority, also known as the North Sea Transition Authority, to run an annual process inviting applications for new oil and gas production licences.
BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN – COMPANIES NEED A WIDE ANGLE FOR FULL BENEFITS
UNLIMITED FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CASES
On 11 December 2023, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Steve Barclay announced changes to the Variable Monetary Penalties that the Environment Agency can impose. This means that companies in breach of Environmental Permits in key areas could be subject to unlimited financial penalties, replacing the earlier cap of £250,000.
YORKSHIRE FISHERMEN WIN WATER QUALITY LEGAL CHALLENGE
INTRODUCING THE ENERGY ACT 2023
WALES’ ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND BIODIVERSITY TARGETS BILL
It was really welcome to be able to attend an online briefing this week by the Welsh Government Bill team working on proposals for the Environmental Governance and Biodiversity Targets Bill, along with representatives of the UK Environmental Law Association ‘UKELA’ Wales Working Party, NGOs and other stakeholders.