Articles

Spanish Law 7/2021, of 20 May, on Climate Change and Energy Transition: a long way ahead to achieve tangible results
AGUSTÍN GARCÍA URETA
University of the Basque Country
MIREN SARASIBAR IRIARTE
Public University of Navarre
BLANCA SORO-MATEO
University of Murcia
SANTIAGO ÁLVAREZ-CARREÑO
University of Murcia
ARITZ ROMEO RUIZ
Public University of Navarre

Spain’s new law aims to establish a pathway for transition to a low carbon economy. While some of its measures are readily attainable, others have an uncertain  outcome,  as  the  law  simply  provides  for  programmes  that  will require  further  implementing  measures.  The  authors  argue  that  excessive recourse  to  scheduling  mechanisms  may  well  lead  to  a  rather  too  distant finishing line

A review of recent climate change-related cases before domestic courts
REZA MADDAHI
University of Eastern Finland
ALOIS ALDRIDGE MUGADZA
University of Johannesburg

This review offers a survey of legal responses to climate change. The majority of lawsuits  involve  private  plaintiffs  suing  defendant  governments  and  reveal  a number of positive trends, including holding governments accountable to international  instruments,  building  synergies  with  human  rights  legislation, linking climate change to the economic and developmental sectors and applying the doctrine of public trust.

Case Commentary

The role of carbon capture and storage in reaching net zero emissions
GEMMA CHRISTIE
Keltie LLP, London

Carbon  capture,  utilisation  and  storage  is  one  of  the  few  technologies  able  to achieve significant decarbonisation of fossil fuel-based economies. This comment considers opportunities for reducing emissions, the UK Government’s recommendations  for  industry  and  some  of  the  forerunner  projects  in  carbon capture, carbon recycling and hydrogen production

The case of the century (part 2): the Paris administrative court orders the government to ‘repair the ecological damage’ for which it is responsible
CHRISTIAN DADOMO
Bristol Law School, University of the West of England

Following on from a judgment in February 2021, the Paris administrative court has,  in  October  2021,  ordered  the  French  Government  to  repair  the  damage caused by the failure to meet commitments to reduce carbon emissions, to take measures to offset emissions from 2015–18, and to prevent further aggravating the damage

EU proposal for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
EDUARDO GAMBARO, ERIK DE BIE AND DR MARTIN HAMER
Greenberg Traurig LLP, Milan, Amsterdam and Berlin

In July 2021 the European Commission presented a Proposal for a Regulation to establish the CBAM. This is part of a reform package aimed at achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and has the potential to make a global transformative impact

Canada opens initial consultations on new carbon pricing mechanism
RADHA CURPEN,  VALERIE HUGHES,  THOMAS McINERNEY, SHARON  SINGH,  SABRINA  BANDALI,  DARREL  PEARSON AND SYLVAN LANGE
Bennett Jones LLP,  Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and Toronto

Following  an  agreement  between  Canada  and  the  EU  In  June  2021  to  work together  on  carbon  pricing  and  WTO-compatible  border  carbon  adjustments(BCAs), the Canadian Government has now launched its initial consultation on BCAs

Current Survey

European Union

MARTIN HEDEMANN-ROBINSON,
University of Kent, Canterbury

Key Policy Developments March–April 2020

EU proposes new Climate Law .

EU launches a new Circular Economy Plan .

EU Commission issues waste management guidance in context of Covid-19 

EU Cohesion Funds: investment of over €1.4 billion in seven EU

Member States .

EU launches global coalition for biodiversity .

Law Enforcement Issues

Environmental infringement cases 

Nitrates 

Wild birds 

Environmental Legislation Update