Climate Change 101: Climate Disclosures And Target Setting (Podcast)

The European Union has introduced a comprehensive Sustainability Omnibus Package that will significantly impact how businesses across member states approach environmental, social, and governance reporting. Understanding these regulatory changes is crucial for companies operating in or with the EU to ensure compliance and adapt their sustainability strategies accordingly.

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) runs from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, under a UK presidency As governments seek to tackle the climate emergency with increasing urgency, employers too are considering how best to play their part.

As sustainability pressures mount and net-zero targets drive demand for carbon offsetting, UK landowners face a significant opportunity to generate income through carbon credit schemes. With the market contributing £1.2 billion to the UK economy in 2025 and carbon credits trading at £25-£35 per tonne, peatland restoration and woodland creation projects offer substantial returns while enhancing biodiversity and environmental protection.

The Environment Agency has released updated guidance for Phase 4 of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), introducing new reporting requirements and compliance changes. Organizations must now provide detailed information about implemented energy efficiency measures, including energy savings achieved and relevant categories, while Display Energy Certificates and Green Deal Assessments are no longer accepted as alternative compliance routes.

Microplastic contamination from synthetic textiles poses a growing environmental threat, with fibres from man-made fabrics entering water systems through washing machine effluent. As countries like France mandate microplastic filters in washing machines and the EU implements new wastewater treatment rules, innovative companies are developing filtration technologies and novel removal methods to combat this pervasive pollution problem.

The UK government has introduced a radical new National Planning Policy Framework alongside groundbreaking Nature Restoration Levy Regulations, fundamentally reshaping how development impacts on protected habitats are managed. This policy shift moves away from project-by-project environmental assessments toward strategic-scale nature restoration funded through a developer levy system. Will this new approach successfully balance the urgent need for housing and infrastructure with legal obligations to restore

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on significant reforms to its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy, introducing new civil penalty frameworks and automatic financial penalties for water companies under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025. The proposed changes expand enforcement mechanisms across multiple sectors including waste management, packaging regimes, and mercury controls, while establishing a fundamentally different regulatory approach for water sector operators that allows penalties

The ESG regulatory landscape continues to evolve rapidly in 2026, with significant developments including the EU Omnibus simplification amendments and ongoing UK Sustainability Reporting Standards efforts. This comprehensive timeline tracks key ESG developments across the UK and EU throughout 2026, providing essential horizon scanning support for sustainability practitioners navigating the complex regulatory environment.

On 20 June 2025, in a landmark decision, the High Court ruled that Shell plc and its former Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria...

In March 2026, Environment Agency (EA) officers worked alongside West Midlands Police to arrest a suspect in Birmingham for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering...