Abstract
There have, over the last quarter, been several important cases involving fracking, environmental assessments and air quality. These are addressed in detail in this update. There are three cases worth noting here.
First, the High Court found that in determining policy on fracking, it was important to consider scientific evidence including the effects on climate change. The Court found that the government had failed to do just this after a judicial review brought by anti-fracking campaigners. It is probable that the High Court’s judgment will make it possible for future judicial review claimants to raise climate change as a reason to object to planning permission for fracking sites (see Stephenson v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, below).
Second, Friends of the Earth brought a judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to publish a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework on the grounds that the decision was flawed as it had not been subject of a Strategic Environmental Assessment. The Court refused the application and held that the revised National Planning Policy Framework did not require a strategic environmental assessment within the meaning of the governing legislation and was a voluntary measure.
Third, in Shirley, the appellant appealed a decision of the High Court refusing an application for judicial review of the respondent’s refusal to call in a planning application for a housing development of some 4,000 homes near Canterbury. It was argued on appeal that in line with their duties under the Air Quality Standards Regulation 2010, the respondent was obligated to call in the application. This was rejected. The Court found that the respondent had a broad discretion and the wording of the Regulation was not such as to demand a call in. It is notable, however, that during the case the High Court found that the Air Quality Directive does require Member States to adopt an air quality plan if the Regulations on limit values are breached.
Internationally, the European Parliament has taken bold action in March. The European Parliament resolved to impose a regulation to limit CO2 emissions for cars and vans by 2030. The Parliament further resolved to ban single-use plastic such as plates, cutlery and straws by 2021. This is undoubtedly a welcome and radical step forward in protecting the environment.
Update
TRINITY CHAMBERS: NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
Matthew R. Crowe, Rebecca Suttle and Alice Richardson
Anna McClean
EU legislation and texts
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 of 19 December 2018 determining transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances pursuant to Article 10a of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [2019] OJ L59/8
This Regulation comes into force on 28 February 2019. From 1 January 2012, it repeals Decision 2011/278 on harmonised free allocation of emission allowances. This Regulation on transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances sets out provisions that: (1) specify how operators of new and existing installations can apply for free allowances; (2) require operators of installation in receipt of free allowances to, among other requirements, monitor GHG emissions, energy use and other data; (3) specify the requirements for the national implementation measures; and (4) set out methodology for member states to determine levels of free allocation to eligible installations.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:JOL_2019_059_R_0002
European Parliament Legislative Resolution of 27 March 2019 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (COM(2018)0340 – C8-0218/2018 – 2018/0172(COD)) 27 March 2019
The European Parliament approved a new law banning single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton bud sticks by 2021. The European Parliament has proposed that the legislation provides new recycling targets and give extended responsibilities to producers of such plastics. Member states will have to achieve a 90 per cent collection target for plastic bottles by 2029 and plastic bottles will have to contain at least 25 per cent of recycled content by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030. The legislation finally stipulates that labelling on the negative environmental impact of throwing cigarettes with plastic filters in the street should be mandatory, as well as for other products such as plastic cups, wet wipes and sanitary napkins.
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0305_EN.html
European Parliament Legislative Resolution of 27 March 2019 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles as part of the Union’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 (recast) (COM(2017)0676 – C8-0395/2017 – 2017/0293(COD)) 28 March 2019
MEPs have approved plans to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from cars and vans by 2030. The plans include: a 37.5 per cent CO2 reduction target for new cars and 31 per cent for new vans by 2030; measures to address the social impact of low-carbon transition; and working towards a full life-cycle emissions assessment.
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0304_EN.html
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee COM(2019) 128 final, 11 March 2019
The European Commission has adopted a Communication outlining a set of actions addressing the multifaceted challenges that the release of pharmaceuticals poses to the environment. The Communication addresses the disposal and waste management of pharmaceuticals.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-dangersub/pdf/strategic_approach_pharmaceuticals_env.PDF
CASE LAW
DOMESTIC CASE LAW
Environmental crime
R v McIntosh (Edward) [2019] 2 WLUK 433 (Criminal)
The appellant, a director of a waste company, having pleaded guilty to being negligent as a director following various environmental offences including breaches of permit conditions, failure to comply with a voluntary improvement plan, failure to comply with Environment Agency enforcement notice, then appealed against the sentence which comprised a community order, director disqualification and prosecution costs. The appellant submitted that the judge had failed to take account of his inability to pay prosecution costs. The court dismissed the appeal and held that the community order was a just and appropriate punishment, that the disqualification was justified as the appellant showed a lack of understanding of his responsibilities as a director. The court also found that his relatively late decision to contest the charges had caused the prosecution to generate significant costs and it was right that the appellant pay these. However, it did allow him a further six months in which to do so.
Millmore v Environment Agency [2019] 1 WLUK 361 (Divisional)
The appellants were appealing their convictions under section 110(1) of the Environment Act 1995 for intentionally obstructing an authorized person in the exercise of his powers or duties to prevent pollution. Their appeal was allowed in part and the court held that an omission to act could constitute an obstruction under section 110(1), but only if the individual was under a duty to act.
Environmental impact assessment
R (on the application of Lakenheath Parish Council) v Suffolk CC [2019] 4 WLUK 124 (Admin)
Planning permission had been granted for 220 new homes and there had been a resolution to grant permission for hundreds more. The new housing would increase the demand for school places, so the county council had granted permission for a new school. The parish council opposed the new school on grounds that it was not the best site due to an adjacent military airfield. The parish council argued that the county council had failed to properly assess the alternative sites in accordance with the 2011 EIA Regulations. The court held that the alternatives had been properly assessed. Silence regarding any environmental aspects to be taken into account meant that they had no adverse environmental impacts and the parish council’s claim was refused.
Protected sites and species
R (on the application of Avery) v Natural England [2019] 3 WLUK 261 (Admin)
The claimants sought judicial review of Natural England’s decision to grant a licence to conduct a trial into brood management of hen harriers pursuant to section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1982. Hen harriers were identified under the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147 Annex 1) as being particularly threatened and Member States were required to designate Special Protection Areas for their protection. The claimants’ case was that the scheme which was licenced by Natural England was illegal because it would cause unnecessary disturbance and harm to hen harriers in their habitat and there were less-invasive ways to protect the species. They claimed that Natural England had misapplied section 16 by treating the purpose of the licence as research rather than conservation; should have carried out the investigation in Scotland where there was a bigger hen harrier population; had granted the licence at a point when the aims, methods, monitoring and evaluations were inchoate; and had failed to comply with regulation 63 of the the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. They also claimed that the scheme was contrary to SPA’s statutory purpose and that the trial was disproportionate and of doubtful benefit. The court held that Natural England’s interpretation of section 16 and the Birds Directive was correct; it had considered a test in Scotland but had lawfully decided against it; had identified the aim, methods, monitoring and evaluation before granting the licence; licence conditions gave adequate means of ensuring a methodological approach to the trial; the licence was not inconsistent with the purpose of SPAs because the purpose was conservation through research; the impact on the SPA concerned had been considered in enough detail to meet statutory requirements; and the decision to grant the licence was rational and proportionate.
R (on the Application of Langton) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2019] 3 WLUK 192 (Admin)
Natural England had exercised its power to grant badger control licences to prevent the spread of disease. The claimant claimed that Natural England had erred in its assessment of the possible impact of eight licences on SSSIs as it had failed to consider certain species of animals and plants of special interest that could be damaged or disturbed by the badger control operations. The court held that in interpreting a SSSI citation to determine whether Natural England had properly assessed the ecological impact of granting the licences within the site, the task was to identify the special features of the site to see if they had been taken into account. The court held that Natural England’s assessment was deficient in relation to five of the sites.
Planning
Friends of the Earth Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2019] 3 WLUK 58 (Admin)
Friends of the Earth sought judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to publish a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework on the grounds that the decision was flawed as it had not been subject of a Strategic Environmental Assessment pursuant Articles 2(a) and 3(a) of Directive 2001/42 and the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004. The court refused the application and held that the revised National Planning Policy Framework did not requires a strategic environmental assessment as it was not a plan or programme within the definition of Article 2(a) of Directive 2001/42.
Stephenson v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2019] 3 WLUK 60 (Admin)
The claimant sought judicial review of paragraph 209(a) of the National Planning Policy Framework relating to fracking based on the fact that the Secretary of State has not undertaken consultation at a formative stage and had no intention of changing his mind about the substance of the policy. Furthermore, he had failed to take account of scientific evidence put forward by the claimant that the policy was contrary to the government’s obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Change Act 2008. The court held that the consultation was unfair and unlawful, the defendant unlawfully failed to take account of the claimant’s evidence and the revisions of the National Planning Policy Framework could have no bearing on the defendant’s obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008.
R (on the application of Shirley) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2019] 1 WLUK 234 (Civil)
A planning application for 4,000 dwellings in relation to a site within an air quality management area for which an air quality plan had been established within the meaning of Article 23 of Directive 2008/50 and the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010. The Directive required Member States to ensure certain limit values in relation to ambient air. The planning committee was advised that the construction phase would have potential adverse impacts on air quality but that they were temporary and could be mitigated and that the housing was required in the area. Objectors urged the Secretary of State to call in the application on the grounds of national importance and material conflict with the National Planning Policy Framework. The case concerned an appeal against the dismissal of their claim for judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision not to call the application in. The court dismissed the appeal and held that neither the Directive nor the Regulations could be construed as constraining the Secretary of State’s wide discretion whether to call in an application for planning permission when the limit values under Article 13 had not been complied with or when the air quality plan had not been established or was defective and the Secretary of State had no general duty under the legislation to use his powers to avoid the worsening of breaches of limit values.
Environmental Permitting
R (on the application of Cleansing Service Group Ltd) v Environment Agency [2019] 2 WLUK 205 (Civil)
The claimant company’s business was separating out debris from sludge. The claimant company sought judicial review of policy guidance issued by the Environment Agency relating to its interpretation of the exemption in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 which exempts the storage of residual sludge from the requirement to hold an environmental permit. The Environment Agency’s guidance states that the screening of sludge to remove debris required a permit meaning that the claimant company’s screening of sludge from sceptic tanks to remove debris as the sludge was being transferred into storage tanks before being used as agricultural fertiliser amounted to treatment and therefore did not fall within the exemption in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. The claimant’s application was refused, holding that the term ‘residual sludge’ in the exemption referred to sludge which was ready to be used and ‘storage’ means storage and does not include treatment.
Water law
Fearon v Environment Agency [2019] 3 WLUK 555
This case concerned the owners of a mill which received power via a turbine. They sought compensation from the Environment Agency under paragraph 5 of Schedule 21 of the Water Resources Act 1991 on the grounds that its policy to raise penning boards during the winter to manage water levels and reduce the risk of bank collapse reduced the water flow so as to make their turbine inoperable. The reasonableness of the policy was not challenged. The claimant claimed that they were entitled to water flow in its natural state in flow, quality and quantity. The court held that, in light of the number of years that the penning boards had been used, natural flow meant flow without the penning boards or with them raised, therefore the compensation claim failed.
Nuisance
Hertsmere BC v Persons Unknown [2019] 1 WLUK 116
A local authority applied for a final injunction preventing persons unknown, namely travellers, from trespassing, causing nuisance and fly-tipping on various sites under the common law of trespass and nuisance and section 187B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The court had to determine where the balance lay in terms of fairness and justice. It held that this was a balance between residents and visitors’ right to use community spaces and the wishes of unknown persons to trespass, cause nuisance and damage to land and therefore, in light of the clear risk that if the site was not protected it would become even more vulnerable to infiltration for dumping and fly-tipping, the relief was granted.
EU CASE LAW
Commission v Italy (2019) Case C-498/17, ECJ (5th Chamber) 21 March 2019
The European Commission requested that the Court rule that Italy had failed to adopt, in relation to 44 landfill sites, the provisions of Direction 1999/31 on the landfill of waste but permitted the landfill sites to continue to operate. The Court agreed and found that Italy had failed to fulfil its obligations under the Landfill Directive pursuant to Directive 1999/31.
Judgment in Cases T-716/14 Anthony C. Tweedale v European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and T-329/17 Hautala and Others v EFSA, 25/19, General Court of the European Union, 7 March 2019
The General Court annulled the European Food Safety Agency’s (EFSA) decisions to decline access to toxicity and carcinogenicity studies on glyphosate. It states the public interest in having access to the information relating to emissions is specifically to know not only what is, or foreseeably will be, released into the environment, but also to understand the way in which the environment could be affected by the emissions in question.
http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=211427&pageIndex=0&doc&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=2888069 and https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2019-03/cp190025en.pdf
Advocate General’s Opinion in Case C-616/17: Procureur de la Republique v Blaise and others, 27/19, 12 March 2019
Several environmental activists, members of ‘Voluntary Reapers of GMOs, Ariège department’, were charged with causing criminal damage to containers of herbicidal products (specifically ‘Roundup’) containing the chemical glyphosate in premises in the towns of Pamiers, Saint-Jean du Falga and Foix (France). The activists were charged with degrading or deteriorating the property of another. At the hearing before the Tribunal correctionnel de Foix (Regional court, France), their request that questions be referred to the Court of Justice was not opposed by the public prosecutor on the basis that if it were found that the glyphosate-containing products potentially posed risks to human health and the environment, he could have chosen not to prosecute the activists and that such a finding might remove the legal foundation on which the prosecution was based. The Advocate General opined that as to the use of the active substance as an example of alleged failures in the overall system of plant protection product governance, the ECJ was required to consider whether any generic, systemic provisions of Regulation 107/2009 (Plant Protection Products Regulation) are flawed in such a manner as to render that Regulation invalid.
https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2019-03/cp190027en.pdf
Case M.9219 – Blackstone/Sretaw/Beauparc, Case M.9219, 18 February 2019
An acquisition has been cleared by the Commission. The Blackstone Group and Sretaw 2 Ltd acquired joint control over Beauparc – a waste recycling and utilities business in Ireland, the UK and Netherlands.
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/case_details.cfm?proc_code=2_M_9219
Advocate General’s opinion in case C-723/17, 21/19, 1 March 2019
Brussels and Paris took a stand recently for ambient air quality. They obtained judgment from the General Court declaring emission limits set by the Commission in respect of oxides of nitrogen for the new real driving emission tests for light passenger and commercial vehicles to be invalid. A number of residents and an environmental organisation took action against the Brussels Capital Region with regard to the assessment of ambient air quality. The dispute related to the measurements by which compliance with or breach of the ambitious limit values for ambient air quality under Directive 2008/50 (3) are to be determined. The Advocate General opined that the ECJ should rule that national courts must, on application by impacted individuals, examine whether air sampling points were sited in accordance with EU law.
CONSULTATIONS
NEWS AND MISCELLANEOUS
Waste
Commission Decides to Refer Greece to the Court of Justice and Asks for Financial Sanctions
In April 2015, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that Greece violated EU law by failing to protect its waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (C-149/14). Four years later, the problem is still not fully resolved. Therefore, the Commission is calling on the Court of Justice of the European Union to impose financial sanctions in the form of a lump sum of €2,639.25 per day with a minimum lump sum of €1,310,000 and a daily penalty payment of €23.753.25 from the day of the first judgement until full compliance is reached or until the second Court judgment.
European Parliament Adoption of New Rules on Single-Use Plastics to Reduce Marine Litter
On 27 March 2019, the European Commission announced that the European Parliament had agreed on the ambitious measures proposed by the Commission to tackle marine litter coming from the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on European beaches, as well as abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-19-1873_en.htm
Commission Takes Cyprus to the Court of Justice for Failure to Properly Treat Urban Waste Water
On 7 March 2019, the European Commission announced it was referring Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the EU over its failure to ensure that all agglomerations with a population of more than 2 000 inhabitants have adequate collection and treatment systems for urban waste water as required under EU rules (Council Directive 91/271/EEC).
Commission Takes Italy to Court Over Air Pollution and Failure to Properly Treat Urban Waste Water
On 7 March 2019, the European Commission announced its decision to refer Italy to the Court of Justice of the EU in two separate cases regarding environment legislation.
The first case concerns air pollution, and a failure to protect citizens against the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The second is regarding water pollution. Italy is failing to ensure that all agglomerations with a population of more than 2,000 are provided with collecting systems for urban waste water and that urban waste water entering collecting systems is adequately treated before discharge, as required by the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Council Directive 91/271/EEC).
Carbon and Emissions
European Parliament adoption of new CO2 emission standards for cars and vans to reduce pollution and improve air quality
On 27 March 2019, the European Commission announced that the European Parliament had agreed on CO2 emission standards for new cars and vans in the EU for the period after 2020.
UK carbon budgets
On 20 February 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper on the UK Carbon Budgets, including information on the Climate Change Act 2008, the Committee on Climate Change’s proposals for the fifth carbon budget, the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy and progress against carbon budgets. Information on the Paris Agreement and possible impact of Brexit is also included.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7555
EU standards to reduce pollution from trucks
On 18 February 2019, the European Parliament and the Council reached provisional agreement on a Regulation setting, for the first time in the EU, strict CO2 emission standards for trucks.
Clean Air Strategy 2019
On 14 January 2019, the government published a policy paper in relation to the Clean Air Strategy 2019 which sets out the actions plans for air pollution, protecting nature and boosting the economy.
Nuclear
Euratom
On 29 March 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper on Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8036
New nuclear power
On 17 January 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper summarising current progress on nuclear power, including conventional reactors, advanced designs, waste disposal and nuclear research.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8176
Habitats and Biodiversity
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Command Papers for Brexit
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office presented a series of command papers presenting agreements in which the UK was a member only by virtue of its EU membership. The following command papers propose to maintain the UK’s duties and obligations following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU:
International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no92019-convention-for-the-conservation-of-atlantic-tunas)
Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no62019-agreement-for-the-establishment-of-the-indian-ocean-tuna-commission)
Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no72019-convention-for-the-conservation-of-salmon-in-the-north-atlantic-ocean)
Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in North-East Atlantic Fisheries, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no52019-convention-on-future-multilateral-cooperation-in-north-east-atlantic-fisheries)
Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no82019-agreement-to-promote-compliance-with-international-conservation-and-management-measures-by-fishing-vessels-on-the-high-seas)
Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no102019-agreement-on-port-state-measures-to-prevent-deter-and-eliminate-illegal-unreported-and-unregulated-fishing)
Convention on Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 8 February 2019 (www.gov.uk/government/publications/ms-no112019-convention-on-cooperation-in-the-northwest-atlantic-fisheries)
Wildlife crime
On 19 March 2019, the House of Commons Library published a debate back ahead of the debate on wildlife crime held on Wednesday 20 March 2019.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2019-0070
Interdependence of modern farming and the environment
On 8 March 2019, the House of Commons Library published a debate back ahead of the debate on ‘Interdependence of Modern Farming and the Environment’ held on Tuesday 12 March 2019 in Westminster Hall.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2019-0062
The Fisheries Bill 2017–2019
The Second Reading of the Fisheries Bill 2017–2019 took place in the House of Commons on 21 November 2019. The Committee stage took place between 4–17 December 2018. In March 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper on the Bill including an overview of the Second Reading Debate and details of the amendments made at the Committee stage.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8442
Fisheries and Brexit
In March 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper covering the fisheries related Brexit negotiations, setting out the main areas of that need be addressed, what has been agreed so far together with the government’s aims for the negotiations, and finally the implications of a no deal for fisheries.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8396
Commission takes Spain to court for failure to protect the Doñana wetlands
On 24 January 2019, the European Commission announced it was referring Spain to the Court of Justice of the EU over a failure to take adequate measures to protect the groundwater bodies that feed the Doñana Wetlands, as required by EU water legislation Water Framework Directive, (Directive 2000/60/EC) and also for failing to take adequate steps to prevent the deterioration of protected habitats in these wetlands, in breach of EU nature legislation.
Commission takes Spain to court for failure to act on protection against flooding
On 24 January 2019, the European Commission announced it was referring Spain to the Court of Justice of the EU over a failure to comply with EU rules on flood prevention under the Floods Directive (Directive 2007/60/EC).
Commission lifts ‘yellow card’ from Thailand for its actions against illegal fishing
On 8 January 2019, the European Commission announced it had delisted Thailand from the group of ‘warned countries’ as recognition of its progress in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Green belt
On Friday 4 January 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing examining some of the controversy about the Green Belt in England and how policy towards the Green Belt has been reflected in the updating of the National Planning Policy Framework.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN00934
Other
EU Budget for 2021–2027
On 1 March 2019, the European Commission issued a press release welcoming the provisional agreement reached by the European Parliament and Council on the LIFE programme for the Environment and Climate Action, as part of the next long-term EU budget 2021–2027.
Plastic bags – The single use carrier bag charge
On 1 March 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper providing information on the single use carrier bag charge in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, examines the legal basis for the charge, the exemptions and what will be done with the proceeds of the charge. It also examines the impact of the charges to date.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7241
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C
A 2018 UN Special Report examined how peak global warming can be limited to 1.5°C and the implications of doing so. On 11 February 2019, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology published a POST note outlining key features of the Special Report and UK responses to climate change.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0594#fullreport
Environmental principles and governance: The draft bill
On 30 January 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper providing information on the Government’s draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill, including background information, analysis of the draft Bill and related commentary, and Parliamentary scrutiny.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8484
Threats presented by climate change
On 17 January 2019, the House of Lords Library published a briefing in advanced of the debate held on 24 January 2019 in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat), ‘that this House takes note of the threats presented by climate change’ .
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/LLN-2019-0005
Future of the British bioethanol industry
On 1 January 2019, the House of Commons Library published a pack ahead of the debate held in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 16 January 2019 on the future of the British bioethanol industry.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CDP-2019-0004
Climate change conference (COP 24): Katowice, Poland
On 9 January 2019, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper giving a brief overview of the twenty-fourth UN conference on climate change, held in December 2018, including information on the Paris Agreement, the Talanoa Dialogue and the People’s Seat.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8450