Please find below past issues of elaw. Our archive is available here

Read elaw - Air Quality and Public Health

December 2024

  • 60 Second Interview, with Anastasia Kantzelis, lawyer specialising in international environmental and natural resources law at Six Pump Court
  • Interview with Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE
  • ‘Air quality and public health’ themed articles:
    “Air pollution and public health: legal challenges and opportunities in the UK” by Anastasia Kantzelis and Róisín Finnegan
    “Human Rights Act claim for death caused by air pollution” by Ruth Waters-Falk
    “What are the routes to reducing air quality impacts on public health?” by Graham Harker
  • Matters in practice article “Office for Environmental Protection report concludes that Northern Ireland is not on track to meet the environmental objectives in the Water Framework Directive” by Claire Nevin


Read elaw - Environmental law in Northern Ireland

October 2024

  • 60 Second Interview, with Brendan Martyn, UKELA trustee, and Associate Director at Cleaver Fulton Rankin
  • ‘Environmental law in Northern Ireland themed articles:
    “The Office for Environmental Protection makes its presence felt in Northern Ireland” by Ben Matson
    "Office for Environmental Protection report concludes that Northern Ireland is not on tack to meet the environmental objectives in the Water Framework Directive" by Claire Nevin


Read elaw - Chemicals and hazardous substances

August 2024

  • 60 Second Interview, with Simon Tilling, UKELA trustee and head of a dedicated environmental law team at Pennon Group, owner of South West Water, Bournemouth Water and Bristol Water.
  • Chemicals and hazardous substances’ themed articles:
    “Regulatory proportionality as a key ingredient for UK industry resilience” by Neil Hollis
    “Legal Barriers to new methods of chemical testing” by Aleksandra Čavoški, Laura Holden and Robert G Lee
    “PFAS: the risks and how they can be managed” by Andrew Fellows and Mel Lipsham
    “Pfast and furious – UK restrictions on PFAS in a quickly evolving international context” by Sam Levy, Nick Harding, Madeleine Lofchy, John Kindschuh, Tom Lee, Jean-Pierre Delvigne and Maryne Gouhier.
  • Matters in practice article “An Introduction to conservation covenants” by Rebecca Cattermole


 

Read elaw - Water

June 2024

  • 60 Second Interview, with Nick Ostrowski, Barrister at Six Pump Court Chambers, and UKELA Water working party convenor
  • ‘Water’ themed articles:
    “Chartering new waters – adapting to the shifting regulatory landscape for water and sewerage companies” by Kate Blessing and Paul Collins
    “Troubled waters: the culmination of the UKELA South West Water Series” by Helena Sewell, Antonia Selvey and Sasha Anisman
  • Andrew Lees Essay - Competition Winner 2024, Colin Vanelli, GDL student at BBP Law School


Read elaw - Biodiversity and natural capital  

April 2024

  • 60 Second Interview, with Elsie Blackshaw-Crosby
  • Biodiversity and natural capital themed articles:
    Natural capital and the law by Richard Broadbent and Helen Mitcheson

    The dawn of mandatory biodiversity net gain by Jessica Allen

    The business of nature: Managing risk and opportunity through the TNFD framework by Dr Richard Young
  • Student article: The Severn Estuary: A wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention by Olivia Draycott


Read elaw - Climate change and net zero

February 2024

  • 60 Second Interview, with Stephen Hockman
  • ‘Climate change and net zero’ themed articles:
    • “Climate Conscious Lawyering and Professional Ethical Obligations” by Nina Pindham and Hannah Taylor
    • “The case against Rosebank: the role of the law in tackling climate change and achieving net zero” by Clare Rothwell-Hemsted
    • “Following COP28, will COP29 be a success?” by Ben Stansfield and Charles Couvreur
    • “Four climate-related trends every lawyer should watch in 2024” by Alasdair Cameron
  • Matters in practice article “Is statutory nuisance a viable means of seeking redress for those affected by sewage in watercourses?” by Nicholas Ostrowski
  • Book review “The Psychology of Environmental Law” by Paul Collins


Read elaw - Trade and the environment  
December 2023

  • 60 Second Interview with Chloe Anthony, co-chair of our Governance and Devolution Group, and Lecturer in Law, School of Law, Politics and Sociology, University of Sussex
  • Environmental law headlines, including a selection of recent environmental law news and updates
  • Trade and the environment’ themed articles “Trade in critical minerals and the fragility of UK net zero targets” by Jyoti Ahuja, Aleksandra Čavoški and Robert Lee, “Trade and the climate” by Tim Baines, Dylan Geraets and Nikolay Mizulin and “Trading with the EU: Counting the cost of divergence” by Darren Abrahams and Tom Gillett
  • Book review “Orderly Britain: How Britain has Resolved Everyday Problems, from Dog Fouling to Double Parking” by Paul Collins


Read elaw - Environmental law in Scotland
October 2023

  • 60 Second Interview, with Jamie Whittle
  • ‘Environmental law in Scotland’ themed articles “Environmental law in Scotland: A round-up” by Professor Colin Reid and “Environmental Standards Scotland – what it is and what it does” by Mark Roberts
  • Matters in practice articles “The role of Artificial Intelligence in environmental regulation” by Paul Collins and “Clean air for all: exploring regulatory frameworks to address air pollution in the UK” by Issy Dickson, Ana Kantzelis and Becky Clissmann
  • Student article “The impact of evolving climate change understanding on the fair and equitable investment treaty standard” by Jesse Mattinson 
  • Book reviews “Biodiversity Litigation (Guillaume Futhazar, Sandine Maljean-Dubois and Jona Razzaque (eds), Oxford University Press, 2023)” by Paul Wyard and “Noise and Noise Law - A Practitioner’s Guide, Francis McManus with Andy McKenzie, Edinburgh University Press, 31 May 2023” by Paul Collins


Read elaw - Environmental assessment
August 2023

  • 60 Second Interview, with Odette Chalaby, barrister at No5 Chambers specialising in environmental and planning law.
  • Environmental law headlines, including a selection of recent environmental law news and updates
  • ‘Environmental assessment themed articles “The end of environmental assessment as we know it?” by Odette Chalaby, “Finch in the Supreme Court: Indirect effects in Environmental Impact Assessments – a matter of planning judgement or law?” by Steph David, “Challenges to EIA, how to de-risk permissions (as far as is practicable), and the effect of the Finch case” by Claire Petricca-Riding and Stefano D’Ambrosio and “Discharge of reserved matter conditions and habitats regulations: C G Fry and Son Ltd v Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities [2023] EWHC 1622” by Celina Colquhoun.


Read elaw - International environmental law
June 2023

  • 60 Second Interview, with Elizabeth Harvey, partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, Chicago, Illinois.
  • Environmental law headlines, including a selection of recent environmental law news and updates
  • ‘International environmental law themed articles “Non-regression on environmental protection in post-Brexit legal frameworks” by Chloe Anthony and “PFAS and international environmental law” by Paul Nathanail
  • Matters in practice articles a “New guidance on legal considerations arising from climate change for solicitors and law firms” by Alasdair Cameron and Becky Clissmann


Read elaw - environmental enforcement and prosecutions
April 2023

  • 60 Second Interview, with Jill Crawford, Senior Associate in the Planning and Environment Team at Irwin Mitchell
  • Environmental law headlines, including a selection of recent environmental law news and updates
  • ‘Environmental enforcement and prosecutions’ themed articles “The seasons alter: The Office for Environmental Protection and a new approach to environmental enforcement” by Kate Tandy, “Does the creation of the OEP change how we should look at the enforcement of environmental law?” by William Upton, KC and “Dead in the water? Sentencing practice and the future of water prosecutions” by Saba Naqshbandi and Ciju Puthuppally  
  • Matters in practice articles “Enforceability of the Paris Agreement hampered as the CXourt of Appeal rule it will not interfere with ‘tenable’ operations” by Stephen Hockman KC and Doug Scott and “Transition planning – the glide path to a decarbonised economy, or a rocky road?” by Becky Clissmann


Read elaw - Marine
February 2023

  • 60 Second Interview, with Helen Mitcheson
  • ‘Marine’ themed articles “Out of the blue: lessons from 2022 by the Blue Marine Foundation” by Dr Tom Appleby,
  • “Green shipping corridors since the COP26 Clydesbank Declaration: the lighthouse at the end of the tunnel for the shipping industry?” by Violet O’Gorman
  • “UNCLOS failings in tackling overfishing – activities of the EU Distant Water Fleet” by Adam Riggs


Read elaw - Brexit – 2 years on
December 2022

  • 60 Second Interview, with Colin Reid
  • “Brexit – the never-ending story” by Colin Reid
  • “Brexit 2 years on: law, process and procedure” by Maria Lee
  • “Environmental law post-Brexit- the need for a coherent environmental strategy” by Chris Badger 
  • “Chemicals regulation – the challenge of creating the right legal framework for regulating ‘stuff’ on an independent GB market” by Tom Gillett and Simon Tilling
  • Matters in practice article “The murky lines between “international” and “global” environmental law” by Mateusz Slowik
  • Student themed articles “Fish and chips with plastics – (single-use) plastics regulation after Brexit” by Csongor Szij and “A closer look at the impact of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) on companies and LLPs, SMEs, and supply chains” by Isabelle Woods

 

Read elaw - Environmental law in Wales
 October 2022

  • 60 second interview, with Tim Edds
  • “Wales: A small country with big ambitions for environmental protection” by Dr Victoria Jenkins
  • “Outline of the role and work of the Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales” by Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones
  • “The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015 and its impact on planning in Wales” by Caer Smyth
  • “Coal tip stability in Wales: a study in climate change adaptation” by Prof Robert Lee and “Better protection for hedgerows in Wales” by Lynda Warren and Dr Victoria Jenkins
  • Student themed article “Nitrate pollution in Wales – a hopeful stand against environmental destruction” by Dan Scrase
     

Read elaw - The Environment Act 2021
August 2022

  • 60 second interview, with Andrew Bryce
  • The Office for Environmental Protection” by Nick Harding, Gowling WLG
  • Student themed article “Challenges and opportunities in achieving global goods for good health and well-being in light of climate change” by Donikë Kastrati

Read elaw - Biodiversity
June 2022

  • 60 second interview, with Eunice Pinn, Environment Regulation Advisor at Seafish and co-convenor of the Nature Conservation Working Party
  • “Defra’s nature recovery green paper: a new framework for habitats and species protection” by Flora Curtis
  • “Crisis – what crisis?” by Sally Haynes
  • “Biodiversity – the other existential crisis” by Dr Rossa Donovan and “Bern Convention complaints procedure” by Wyn Jones
  • Matters in practice article “Discharge of untreated sewage into rivers” by Alec Samuels

Read elaw - ESG and sustainable finance
 April 2022

  • 60 second interview, with Warren Percival at RSKESG and sustainable finance’ themed articles:
  • “Understanding the Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): why climate resilience has never been more crucial for companies” by Lara Alvarez and Sarah Winne“
  • Environment, Social and Governance disclosure and greenwashing: what can we learn from the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures?” by Dr Robert J Charnock
  • “Forging a future for sustainable finance” by Catriona Glascott
  • “Financial implementation of the Paris Agreement: law and regulation for sustainable finance” by Dr Megan Bowman


Read elaw - Water quality 
 February 2022 

  • 60 second interview, with Charles Morgan of Six Pump Court Chambers
  • ‘Water quality’ themed articles “Water quality and the Environment Act – where next?” by Ali Morse, “The extraordinary life and times of an ordinary watercourse” by Charles Morgan 

Read elaw - Diversity and inclusion in environmental law - one year on 
December 2021

  • 60 second interview, with Chala McKenna of Davidson Chalmers Stewart
  • “Reflections on diversity and inclusion in environmental law” by Judy Ling Wong CBE
  • “UKELA - ‘Diversity, equity and inclusion in environmental law – one year on’” by Consolata Uwarobosa Enobakhare
  • “Equality, diversity and inclusion update from the UKELA team” by Alison Boyd,
  • “Environmental law for the future: Wellbeing for Future Generations Bill” by Caroline Yuen
  • “Imposter syndrome” by Ben Stansfield
  • Matters in practice article “Noise and the environment, the environment and noise: the law and practice” by Alec Samuels

Read elaw - Climate change, net zero and the run up to COP26
October 2021

  • 60 second interview, with Iain Johnson, Senior Environmental Consultant at Royal HaskoningDHV 
  • “COP26 – Global climate cooperation or green-technology competition?” by Maya Sainani, “Have you COPped yet?” by Jenni Ramos and “Double jeopardy or win-win: tackling the biodiversity and climate crises together – note of the Joint Climate Change & Energy and Nature Conservation Working Parties event on 13 September 2021” by Richard Barlow and Becky Clissmann

Read elaw - Progress towards the Environment Act 2021
July/August 2021

  • 60 second interview, with Christopher Badger, barrister at Six Pump Court
  • Progress towards the Environment Act themed articles “Progress towards the Environment Act” by Ruth Chambers, “Introducing the Office for Environmental Protection” by Paul Wyard and “The case for a UK chemicals act” by Nigel Haigh
  • Matters in practice article “Rewilding Initiatives in the UK” by John Hunt
  • Book review: “International treaties in nature conservation: A UK perspective” by Ned Westaway

Read elaw - Environmental law for the future
May/June 2021

  • 60 second interview, with Prof Liz Fisher
  • ‘Environmental law for the future’ themed articles: “Reflecting on future learning pathways for environmental law” by Priscila Carvalho and Catalina Spataru, “Legal rights for rivers, restoring the natural order, COP 26” by Emily Shirley and “The role of expertise in environmental law” by Nina Pindham
  • Student articles: “The potential for the World Court to address climate justice. A Pacific initiative to request an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice” by Aoife Fleming and Jule Schnakenberg, “The Human Rights Act as a source of an environmental human right” by Mateusz Slowik and “What does the surge in ESG investing mean for the UK?” by Maya Sainani.

Read elaw - The Agriculture Act 2020 and farming reform
March/April 2021

  • 60 second interview, with Melanie Baines, The Agriculture Act 2020 and farming reform’ themed articles “An overview of the Agriculture Act 2020” by Mike Holland, “A new era for farming support-the Agriculture Act 2020 and farming reform “ by Vicki Hird, “The Agriculture Act 2020 – a new dawn?” by David Baldock and “The organic route to a resilient future” by Will Simonson
  • Student submission: “The need for a new international humanitarian law convention on environmental warfare and the protection of the environment in times of armed conflict” by Margaux Contant

Read elaw - The energy transition
January/February 2021
 

  • From one transition to another: Brexit and the energy transition” by Emilio Miranda
  • Community energy empowers communities to create a cleaner and fairer energy future- the story of Repowering by Afsheen Kabir Rashid
  • Climate change mitigation and the planning process – is there a gap in the law which allows mineral planning authorities to ignore the real climate impacts of onshore oil and gas applications? by Vicki Elcoate
  • The net zero transition must be more democratic: the political will to act on climate change is here, what will it now take to deliver net zero? by Chaitanya Kumar
  • Environmental governance in Scotland-watchdog, principles and policy by Professor Colin Reid