The scaling up of low carbon hydrogen technologies will be crucial for achieving the UK’s Net Zero target by 2050 and a sustainable energy future. Historically, hydrogen has been produced from fossil fuels and utilised across...more
The UK government has launched a consultation to reform the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) regime, a crucial step towards achieving the nation’s ambitious net-zero targets by 2050. This extensive consultation, which...more
The decarbonisation of the built environment is likely to be on the UK Government’s agenda as it looks to make good on its commitment at COP29 to cut carbon emissions by 81% from 1990s level by 2035. How will this be...more
The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero has published a consultation paper on nature in net-zero transition plans, which supplements the guidance provided in its November 2022 financial institution net-zero transition...more
In the recent case of Friends of the Earth v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities & others; South Lakeland Action on Climate Change v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities & others...more
The U.K. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published an update in relation to an extension of the U.K. Emissions Trading Scheme's first free allocation period...more
In this week’s edition, we discuss the Swiss Government’s rejection of a landmark ruling that the country had violated the human rights of a group of its citizens by failing to take adequate action on climate change; a report...more
The UK government's decision to rollback and delay policy commitments designed to help achieve net zero by 2050 will be challenged in the High Court later this year....more
What is the Energy Act and why does it matter? In October 2023 the Energy Act 2023 (the “Act”), dubbed the “biggest piece of energy legislation in the UK’s history” received Royal Assent. The Act contains wide ranging...more
In December 2023, the United Kingdom's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ("DESNZ") launched two consultations to garner views on the efficient operation of the UK's Emissions Trading Scheme ("ETS")....more
In this Insight, first published in PLC, Freya Scott discusses the RICS Sustainability Report 2023, considers some of the barriers to achieving the carbon net zero goal by 2050 and what can be done to overcome these. ...more
As the aviation industry pins its hopes on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, Joe Clinton, Matthew Townsend, Richard Chamberlain and Ying-Peng Chin outline the regulatory, investment...more
Until now, however, no comprehensive estimate existed of the of that opportunity, (or, to put it another way, the size of the financing gap between committed spending and the investment needed to deliver Net Zero by 2050...more
The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) recently released its 2023 statutory report, evaluating the UK’s progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting carbon reduction targets. This report, mandated by the...more
The UK's former Energy Minister, Chris Skidmore MP, has conducted an independent review of the UK government's Net Zero Strategy. The strategy seeks to ensure that the UK reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% from 1990...more
On February 10, the UK’s advertising regulator, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), announced the publication of updated guidance for advertisers making environmental sustainability-related claims to consumers,...more
On January 13, an independent report was published into the UK government’s approach to delivering on its net zero obligations. The review, commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), was...more
Against the ambitious backdrop set by the Paris Climate Agreement to reach net-0 by 2050, there is a clear drive by corporations to move forward on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) or sustainability...more
In recent years there has been recognition within the UK construction industry of the importance of the reduction of carbon emissions. Major standard forms have responded to market demand and made provision for carbon...more
The High Court of England and Wales (the “High Court”) recently ruled1 that the U.K. government’s Net Zero Strategy (NZS) breached the detail and reporting requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008 (“CCA 2008”). In this...more
The Claims Code seeks to ensure the integrity of voluntary carbon markets to support achievement of the Paris Agreement goals. The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity (VCMI) Initiative is “a multi-stakeholder platform to...more
The Energy Security Bill, announced in the Queen’s Speech 2022, aims to facilitate the United Kingdom’s transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy. As part of the legislative agenda for the remainder of the...more
The U.K. Government has published the U.K. Infrastructure Bill, a piece of legislation designed to put the U.K. Infrastructure Bank on a statutory footing. The Bank was launched in interim form in June 2021 as part of the...more
With the clock ticking on the 2050 net zero target, what’s next on the sustainability agenda for building owners? As 2022 gets under way, the UK is another year closer towards the government’s target of achieving net zero by...more
Countries and companies are increasingly committing to net-zero goals that would require them to significantly reduce carbon emissions on relatively short timelines. The transition to a lower-carbon world won’t be easy, given...more