European Union: Environmental Law

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Environmental law articles, insights, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as clean air/pollution, climate change, environmental law and waste management.
Article
Unlocking Biomethane’s Energy Potential Requires A Clear Framework
Northern Ireland's agricultural sector presents a unique opportunity to transform organic waste into biomethane, a renewable gas that could meet nearly half of the region's gas demand while supporting decarbonisation goals. However, realising this potential requires establishing a comprehensive policy, legal and regulatory framework to provide the long-term certainty needed to attract significant private investment in this capital-intensive industry.
Ireland Energy
AC
Arthur Cox
Article
Reforming The Market Stability Reserve: The 2026 Reform Proposals And The Road To The Trilogues
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
European Union Environment
AO
A&O Shearman
Article
France Targets Ultra-Fast Fashion With New EPR Penalties As EU Textile Rules Expand
France has enacted groundbreaking legislation targeting ultra-fast fashion through increased extended producer responsibility fees based on product range breadth and repair incentives, while also mandating manufacturing-location disclosures and restricting advertising. As the EU's revised Waste Framework Directive allows Member States to adopt similar measures, France's approach may preview how textile EPR requirements evolve across Europe and potentially influence emerging U.S. state programs. Will other j
Global Environment
BD
Beveridge & Diamond
Article
Call for contributions by the European Commission on the EU Regulation on the balanced approach to noise pollution at EU airports
The European Commission has opened a consultation to evaluate the effectiveness of EU Regulation No 598/2014, which establishes a procedural framework for managing noise pollution at major airports across the European Union. Stakeholders including airport operators, air carriers, environmental organizations, and aviation authorities have until 19 November 2026 to submit their contributions on whether the regulation has achieved its objectives and remains fit for purpose.
Luxembourg Environment
CL
CMS Luxembourg
Article
Greenwashing Enforcement Has Arrived: What The EU's New Fast Fashion Rules Signal For All Consumer-Facing Businesses
The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation has banned the destruction of unsold apparel and footwear from July 2026, forcing retailers to pivot from recycling and disposal to donation, resale and reuse strategies. With mandatory public reporting on unsold stock disposal and stricter policing of environmental marketing claims now in force, consumer-facing businesses across Ireland and the EU face a fundamental shift in how they manage inventory, report waste, and communicate sustainability creden
Ireland Environment
RL
RDJ LLP
Article
Abierta consulta pública sobre el Real Decreto por el que se regulan los requisitos de sostenibilidad energética, medioambiental y de resiliencia y soberanía digital aplicables a los centros de datos
El Gobierno español ha iniciado la tramitación urgente de un Real Decreto que establece requisitos de sostenibilidad energética, medioambiental y soberanía digital para centros de datos. ¿Cómo afectarán estas nuevas regulaciones a los operadores de centros de datos que buscan conectarse a la red eléctrica española? El proyecto condiciona los permisos de conexión al cumplimiento de estrictos criterios de eficiencia energética y uso de energías renov
Spain Environment
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
Article
Data Centres: New Regulation On Rating Scheme And Consultation On Minimum Performance Standards
The European Commission has published its final Delegated Regulation establishing a common rating scheme for data centres, introducing electronic sustainability labels for facilities with at least 500 kW of IT power demand. The regulation incorporates significant changes from the draft version, particularly around nuclear energy consumption indicators, and will require data centre operators to understand complex conditionality requirements for energy procurement arrangements.
Ireland Environment
AC
Arthur Cox
Article
EU Packaging And Packaging Waste Regulation—what International Corporate Groups Should Know
The European Union's new Regulation on packaging and packaging waste has fundamentally transformed compliance requirements for companies placing packaged goods on the EU market, replacing decades-old directive-based frameworks with directly applicable product-law rules. While promising regulatory harmonization across member states, the reality presents a complex dual-compliance landscape where businesses must navigate both EU-wide packaging standards and diverging national implementation approaches.
European Union Environment
AO
A&O Shearman
Article
European Commission Proposal: Extension Of The EU ETS To Waste Incineration
The European Commission has proposed extending the EU Emissions Trading System to include municipal waste incineration installations from 2031, introducing a carbon price signal intended to strengthen incentives for waste prevention, recycling and circular economy practices. The proposal includes a phased implementation period and temporary opt-out provisions for Member States meeting specific conditions, while raising important questions about costs, contracts and the risk of unintended waste diversion.
European Union Environment
LL
Loyens & Loeff
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