The European Parliament has given the green light to new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU. For context, each European generates 132kg of food waste and 12kg of clothing and footwear waste per year. The updated legislation will introduce binding food waste reduction targets, to be met at national level by 31 December 2030: 10% from food processing and manufacturing and 30% per capita from retail, restaurants, food services and households.
The UK government has introduced a landmark bill to protect two-thirds of the world’s ocean, a key source of food and oxygen for people in the UK and all over the world. This marks a major step forward in global efforts to protect marine life and ecosystems beyond national borders.
The EU Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence for the upcoming Circular Economy Act. It marks a significant step in the impact assessment process and understand the bottlenecks and opportunities for the wider deployment of a circular economy.
Financial institutions will, for the first time, be able to set science-based targets aligned with net-zero, following the release of the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard.
Ofwat is to be abolished and a new, single regulator to be established to cut water pollution in England’s rivers, lakes and seas, and protect families from massive bill hikes. The new regulator will take responsibility for water functions across Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, in an effort to end complexity.
In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, which reinforce climate obligations on States under existing treaties, conventions and protocols. It may open the way for countries to enforce climate obligations on other nations. This is a major step forward for decarbonisation, the acceleration of renewables and a renewed focus on Industrial Revolution 5.0.
More than 40% of respondents to the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals’ (ISEP) 'State of the Sustainability Profession 2025 Report' have experienced a change in responsibilities in the past year, reflecting the rapidly evolving nature of the sustainability profession. There is now a wide and varied spread of topics within the remits of sustainability professionals, yet more than 70% of all respondents have a focus on waste management, climate change mitigation and energy efficiency.
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has delivered a report to the July 2025 meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. It provides a factual update on the work undertaken by the FSB, standard-setting bodies and other international organisations in the four areas identified by the 2021 ‘Roadmap for Addressing Climate-related Financial Risks’. The Roadmap had been welcomed by the G20 in 2021.
The UK Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, has outlined plans to support banks and large companies in developing climate transition plans. To date, about 70% of FTSE 100 companies have voluntarily developed many of the key elements of a transition plan. The UK Government says that widespread transition planning will help provide long-term certainty and clarity to help scale the sustainable finance industry.
Ambitious climate targets that are underpinned by robust implementation and investment plans can provide economic opportunities, unlock investment, and support sustainable development and growth, while facilitating low-emission transitions, according to a new joint report by the OECD and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Great British Energy Bill has received legislative consent from all three devolved governments. This will allow Great British Energy to operate more effectively in each devolved nation. Great British Energy will invest in clean power projects across the UK as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change to become a clean energy superpower.
The EU Ombudsman has launched an inquiry into how the European Commission prepared its ‘Omnibus Simplification Package’. This follows a complaint brought by eight civil society organisations against the European Commission.
The UK and the EU have agreed a substantial cooperation agreement in relation to trade and free movement. Included in the package are two energy and emissions trading arrangements.
To simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and boost farmers' competitiveness, the European Commission has presented a large package of measures targeting the administrative burden, controls, implementation, crisis response and investment needs of the sector.
The Law Society in the UK has launched new guidance to help solicitors navigate climate change in property transactions. The Law Society said that, as climate risks become more prevalent, solicitors may need to highlight relevant legal issues to clients during property transactions. Its new practice note includes practical guidance to help address common challenges identified by solicitors.