The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is the main EU instrument that regulates emissions from industrial installations (including power stations) and came into force on 6 January 2011.
Its objective is to achieve a...more
Last year, 86 % of the 24.5 GW of new generating capacity installed in the EU came from renewable energy sources, specifically from wind, solar, biomass and hydro, breaking the previous record of 79% in 2014. This new water...more
The year ahead presents a series of challenges and opportunities for the development of environmental law across Europe. Notably, the Paris Agreement came into effect on 4 November 2016 and is now binding upon the signatory...more
1/18/2017
/ Climate Change ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
France ,
Germany ,
Italy ,
Paris Agreement ,
Spain ,
UK Brexit ,
Winter Package
The launch of the Ecodesign Working Plan 2016-2019, covering the eco-design and energy labelling framework last month is another key milestone in the Commission’s plan to transition the EU to a more circular economy.
...more
A new pensions directive was passed by the European Parliament on 24 November securing 512 votes (only 77 votes against and 40 abstentions), requiring EU workplace pension funds to consider environmental, social and...more
The UK will need to revisit its strategy to improve air quality following a recent court judgment determining that the Government’s existing plans are insufficient. With air pollution reportedly responsible for 9,500...more
Unprecedented globalisation, coupled with significant concerns around climate change, has taken environmental and social responsibility from a voluntary concept to something more obligatory and enforceable. Consequently,...more
We have commented previously about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and its relationship with environmental obligations. Here, following Brexit, we turn our attention to future trade arrangements for...more
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union (EU), assuming the UK does not negotiate continued participation in the EU’s Internal Market and the Common Commercial Policy (on similar terms as now), will impact its existing...more
While the overwhelming majority of the UK’s environmental legislation is derived from EU legislation and UK climate change and energy policy is largely influenced by the EU, surprisingly, environment and energy has been the...more
Following the recent UK referendum result, attention is now turning to the legal implications for specific policy areas.
While the overwhelming majority of the UK’s environmental legislation is derived from EU...more
7/21/2016
/ Climate Change ,
EFTA ,
Emissions Trading System ,
Energy Market ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
EU Single Market ,
Permits ,
Pollution Control ,
Renewable Energy ,
UK ,
UK Brexit ,
UNFCCC
Barack Obama signed the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act on 22 June of this year. This Act, which came into immediate effect, amends the core provisions of the Toxic Substances Control...more
7/5/2016
/ Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act ,
Chemicals ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
EU ,
EU Single Market ,
European Economic Area (EEA) ,
Importers ,
Manufacturers ,
REACH ,
Registration Requirement ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
SVHCs ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
The European Commission published two evaluation and fitness check roadmaps in May this year. These roadmaps will assist the Commission in assessing whether the current legislative framework for chemicals, including REACH, is...more
6/16/2016
/ Chemicals ,
ECHA ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Health and Safety ,
Manufacturers ,
New Guidance ,
REACH ,
Workplace Safety
France adopted an ambitious energy transition package in August 2015 that sets out various targets designed to achieve the gradual de-carbonisation and increased sustainability of its economy.
The package includes...more
On April 17, 2016, China Central Television (CCTV), the country’s state-run broadcast network, aired a report claiming that nearly 500 students apparently developed illnesses (including leukemia) at a school built on...more
4/21/2016
/ CERCLA ,
China ,
Chinese Environmental Protection Laws ,
Contaminated Properties ,
EU ,
Groundwater ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Netherlands ,
Pollution Control ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Soil ,
Toxic Chemicals
In December 2015, world leaders met to negotiate the Paris Agreement. Setting aside whether the Paris Agreement goes too far, not far enough or is just right, one cannot dispute that government commitments to limit an...more
4/20/2016
/ China ,
Climate Change ,
Emissions Trading System ,
Energy Market ,
EU ,
Financial Markets ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Paris Agreement ,
Popular ,
Private Equity ,
Socially Responsible Investments ,
UK ,
World Bank
The Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 countries following the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP 21), is the first multilateral agreement on climate change that covers almost all of the world’s emissions. The Paris...more
4/18/2016
/ China ,
Climate Change ,
Emissions Trading System ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Energy Policy ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) ,
Investors ,
Paris Agreement ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has recently announced a revised version of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS 1), which will come into effect on July 1, 2016.
The revised...more
4/8/2016
/ Amended Legislation ,
China ,
Electronics ,
EU ,
Exemptions ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
MIIT Provisions ,
New Guidance ,
Product Labels ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
RoHS 2
The European Commission is currently consulting on how large public-interest entities should disclose environmental and other non-financial information, as required by Directive 2014/95/EU Corporate Social Responsibility...more
2/18/2016
/ Anti-Corruption ,
Consultation Periods ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Gender Equity ,
Human Rights ,
Popular ,
Public Interest ,
Sustainability ,
Working Conditions
Unwrapping the New Circular Economy Package -
The European Commission is driving the transition to a stronger and more circular economy by ensuring resources are used in a more sustainable way. On 2 December 2015, the...more
6 Answers From Around the Globe -
The historic COP-21 Paris Agreement on climate change is the first major development in the climate area at the international level since adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in...more
2/2/2016
/ China ,
Climate Change ,
Emissions Trading System ,
EU ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) ,
Investors ,
Paris Agreement ,
Renewable Energy ,
Spain ,
UK