Articles

Compatibility of renewable energy subsidy with WTO rules:  EU RENEWFM as an instance
WEIJIA ZHANG
Teaching Research Assistant, University of Macau

International climate change law and international trade law have, since the 1990s, developed along separate paths. Whereas the EU has established the Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM) subsidising the renewable energy industry, under GATT and the SCM Agreement certain types of subsidy are prohibited or actionable. Is the RENEWFM subsidy a subsidy under GATT and the SCM Agreement, and if so is it prohibited or actionable? Or can it be justified by its purpose of mitigating climate change?

Some reflections on the rights of nature and the EU: a new paradigm  or a way to improve existing commitments?
AGUSTÍN GARCÍA-URETA
Professor of Law, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao

The debate on rights of nature highlights complex philosophical, political and legal issues. Focusing on the latter, this article examines the reality of the claims that support the need for rights of nature, using the case of the EU and some of its failures as a reference, in particular failures of biodiversity laws and enforcement. It goes on to analyse some of the issues arising from the concept of rights of nature, its basic principles, and their application to the Member States of the EU.

Case Commentaries
UK Supreme Court rules that all fossil fuel projects must be assessed  for future impact
AIRLIE GOODMAN, TIM BAINES, MICHAEL HUTCHINSON, MARK STEFANINI, BOB PALMER, JONATHAN COHEN, ANZIA SOHAIL
Mayer Brown, London

Japanese knotweed: important changes in case law  
DAVID POCKLINGTON
Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Law & Religion, Cardiff Law School

Data centre and environmental impact assessment procedures in Italy:  MASE Guidelines and Environmental Law Decree no 153/2024
ANTONELLA CESCHI, ANTONIO CASTORINA, PAOLA BOLOGNA
Bird & Bird, Rome and Milan

Strategic Issues – Scotland
Japanese knotweed: Busby v Blair–planning matters –bioenergy – programme for government 2024/25 and parliamentary activity – climate change
PROFESSOR SARAH HENDRY
Dundee Law School and UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee

UK News Reports

Virgin Atlantic’s claim to use ‘100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel’

Farmer blames weather app after rain washes slurry down road