European Union: Climate Change

The European Commission's 2026 proposals to reform the Market Stability Reserve represent a fundamental shift in EU carbon policy, transforming what began as a technical mechanism to address allowance surplus into a multifaceted instrument balancing climate ambition, industrial competitiveness, and geopolitical concerns. This analysis traces the MSR's evolution from the 2010s crisis through successive amendments, examining how the cessation of invalidation and recalibrated parameters interact with broader i

Ireland's Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2026 introduces significant reforms to judicial review procedures and planning law, while new EU packaging regulations and climate action consultations signal major environmental policy shifts. Key court decisions address wind turbine noise nuisance and water quality obligations under EU directives.

The Council of the European Union (the “Council”) has approved the amended European Climate Law (the “European Climate Law”) and published Regulation (EU) 2026/667 (the “Regulation”) in respect of the 2040 intermediate climate target. The European Climate Law, with direct effect in Ireland, was first adopted in 2021 and established the EU’s long-term climate policy framework in line with the Paris Agreement.