Sustainable development

Sustainable development—content

Content on sustainable development in this subtopic includes the following Practice Notes:

Sustainable development in England and Wales

•
Climate change and sustainability issues for Construction—which considers the ramifications of climate change, and the push by the UK and governments around the world to achieve net zero, on the construction industry and the drafting of construction contracts
•
ESG and sustainability—decarbonisation and net zero—which provides practical guidance on decarbonisation for businesses and will be of interest to practitioners (including inhouse and GCs) advising businesses on climate change
•
Sustainable development—definition and application at UK level—which outlines the definition and application of sustainable development at UK level
•
Sustainable development—the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 —which outlines the key provisions in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (Future Generations Act). It covers the background to the Future Generations Act, the well-being duty which includes the sustainable development principle, the Auditor-General for Wales, the Future Generations Commissioner (FGC), and the Public Service Boards (PSBs)
•
Climate change and sustainability issues for Construction—which provides guidance on the implications of sustainable development for developers,

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with ��ɫ�� or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Environment News

Defra publishes guidance for small producers on EPR for packaging requirements

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance for small producers, outlining their obligations under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme. The guidance details the registration process, the data that must be collected, reported, and recorded, as well as the relevant submission deadlines. It also sets out what small producers must pay under the EPR scheme, while noting that they are exempt from waste disposal fees and packaging waste recycling note requirements.

Defra publishes guidance on conservation translocation

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance on conservation translocation in England, providing information on the responsible reintroduction or relocation of species—including plants, animals, and fungi—into the wild. The guidance outlines the different types of translocation projects, including reinforcement, reintroduction, assisted colonisation, and ecological replacement, and sets out nine key principles designed to maximise the success of these projects.

EA publishes guidance on classification of mechanically treated waste

The Environment Agency (EA) has published guidance on classification codes for common wastes produced through mechanical treatment at waste management facilities, including vehicle and metal shredder residues, mixed and segregated wastes, minerals, and refuse derived fuels. The EA has also published a new collection page, consolidating existing guidance documents on identifying and classifying different types of waste before it is sent for recycling or disposal, such as construction and demolition waste, healthcare and related wastes, and packaging waste and recyclables, among others.

ESMA consults on draft RTS under ESG Rating Regulation

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a consultation paper on draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) under the Regulation (EU) 2024/3005 on the transparency and integrity of environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating activities (ESG Rating Regulation). ESMA’s proposals set out the information requirements for applications for authorisation and recognition of ESG rating providers, the measures and safeguards to mitigate conflicts of interest for providers engaging in activities beyond the provision of ESG ratings, and the disclosure obligations to ensure that the necessary information is made available to the public, rated items, issuers and users of ESG ratings. The proposals are designed to enhance the integrity, transparency, comparability, and independence of ESG rating activities, while also aiming to simplify procedures and reduce burdens for smaller providers. Responses are sought by 20 June 2025, with the expectation of publishing a final report in Q4 2025 and submitting the draft RTS to the European Commission by the end of October 2025.

��ɫ��