Environmental legislation update

In recent years, the environmental landscape in the EU and UK has witnessed significant legislative changes aimed at addressing pressing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These regulatory developments reflect a growing recognition of the urgent need for transformative action to safeguard the planet, and businesses, for future generations. It can seem challenging to keep up with these ever-evolving changes, so in this blog we unpack some current trends and updates to bring you up to speed:

EU Green Deal: At the heart of the EU's environmental policy agenda is the European Green Deal, a comprehensive roadmap to make the EU's economy sustainable and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It encompasses ambitious targets across various sectors, including energy, transportation, agriculture, and circular economy. Key initiatives under the Green Deal include the European Climate Law, Farm to Fork Strategy, and Circular Economy Action Plan.

UK Environmental Bill: The UK government has introduced the landmark Environment Bill, which aims to address environmental challenges post-Brexit and set ambitious targets for air and water quality, biodiversity conservation, waste management, and resource efficiency. The bill also establishes the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to ensure robust enforcement of environmental laws and hold authorities to account.

Plastic Pollution and Single-Use Plastics Directive: Both the EU and UK have taken steps to tackle plastic pollution through legislation such as the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and the UK Plastic Packaging Tax. These measures aim to reduce plastic waste, promote recycling and circularity, and incentivise the use of sustainable alternatives.

Carbon Pricing and Emissions Trading: The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) remains a cornerstone of the EU's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon and incentivising emission reductions. The UK has also launched its own ETS post-Brexit, aligning with EU standards to ensure continuity in carbon pricing and trading mechanisms.

Nature-Based Solutions and Biodiversity Strategy: Both the EU and UK have committed to protecting and restoring biodiversity through nature-based solutions, reforestation projects, and biodiversity conservation strategies. These efforts aim to halt biodiversity loss, enhance ecosystem resilience, and promote sustainable land use practices.

The environmental legislative landscape in the EU and UK is evolving rapidly to address the urgent challenges of our time. These regulatory changes reflect a commitment to sustainability, resilience, and a transition towards a greener and more equitable future; and at Triangulate, we are here to support you on this journey.

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