How UK Competition And Consumer Law Can Support Net Zero Goals: The CMA's Position

The climate change emergency has driven a worldwide response by governments and companies to set more ambitious sustainability targets. One of the UK Competition and Markets Authority's ("CMA") top priorities is to support a wider effort to make the UK economy cleaner and greener (see its Annual Plan for 2022/23 here). This has been reflected in its focus into electric vehicle charging both through a market study and subsequent investigation into the supply of electric vehicle charge points on or near motorways, which recently ended with formal acceptance of commitments.

The CMA has also published guidance aimed at helping businesses achieve environmental sustainability goals whilst complying with competition law. In its latest sustainability focussed efforts, the CMA has published advice to the UK Government based on three questions posed by the Government regarding the adequacy of existing UK competition and consumer law in supporting the UK's transition to net