New Environment Agency Enforcement Approach To CRC And EU ETS

The Environment Agency has published a new annex to its Enforcement and Sanctions Guidance to cover breaches under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and climate change agreements (CCAs).

In considering whether to exercise its discretion to enforce a breach of one of these regimes, the EA will take into account public interest factors, including financial implications, whether there has been any previous non-compliance and the attitude of the offender.

The Guidance confirms that the EA will not normally impose financial penalties on individuals or corporate entities that are subject to an insolvency procedure and action taken by an organisation to correct its non-compliance will be taken into account.