In Part 1 of this two part series of articles, we look at the background to the continued delays in the progress of the Environment Bill and what needs to be done to improve its governance provisions.
SIX KEY FACTORS FOR BUSINESS REGULATION IN 2021
EU-UK TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
On Christmas Eve, 24th December 2020, just one week before the end of the Transition Period, the EU and UK announced that they had reached an “agreement in principle” on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This covers tariff and quota free trade in most goods, and other aspects of cooperation on economic, social, environmental and fisheries issues.
Young Climate Activists Launch Mock COP Treaty
In the absence of world leaders, and with the UNFCCC climate conference at COP26 in Glasgow postponed until November 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, student climate activists decided to press ahead and hold their own online MOCK COP, which took place between 19th November and 1st December 2020. The full Declaration and Treaty can be read here.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTS CHEMICALS STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY
On 14 October 2020 the European Commission adopted the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Commission’s proposals, which will now be debated and negotiated with EU Member States and the European Parliament, set an ambitious new agenda for chemicals regulation within the Union as part of the EU Green Deal.
UK CHEMICALS REGULATION – RAPID DIVERGENCE FROM EU’S CHEMICAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY
AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES – WILL UK STANDARDS BE A HOUSE MADE OF STRAW?
On 12 October 2020 the Agriculture Bill returned to the House of Commons, which voted down the amendments added by the House of Lords. The Lords amendments would have required that food products imported into the U.K. under future trade deals meet U.K. standards. They would also have required that the new Trade and Agriculture Commission be given a statutory role in reviewing trade agreements.
COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS ON COP26, NATIONAL POLICIES, GREEN RECOVERY
On 25 November 2020 William Wilson will be speaking on "COVID-19 and Climate Change: Impacts on COP26, National Policies, Green Recovery" at the 2020 Journal of Environmental Law workshop "Environmental Law in the Time of COVID" run by Professor Liz Fisher at the University of Oxford.
COP26- KEY ISSUES AT A TURNING POINT FOR CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS
THE INTERNAL MARKET BILL AND RISKS TO THE UNION AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
UK GOVERNMENT CONSULTS ON NEW LAW TO MAKE LARGE COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DUE DILIGENCE ON “FOREST RISK” PRODUCTS
COP26 AND BEYOND
We have just launched a new website and blog - www.COP26andbeyond.com aiming to provide new ideas and resources to young people in particular, so as to enhance the value of their participation.