• In Focus

    Impact of government policies on biodiversity and the countryside

    The UK has been described as “one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth”. Legally binding biodiversity targets apply under the Environment Act 2021. Work is underway to gather data to measure progress towards them. Government policies to improve biodiversity include local nature recovery strategies, environmental land management schemes, biodiversity net gain and introducing a nature restoration levy through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. However, nature groups have argued the levy may work to reduce environmental protection.

  • Research Briefing

    Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill: HL Bill 138 of 2024-26

    The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill is a government bill. It was introduced in the House of Lords on 20 October 2025 and is due to receive its second reading on 20 November 2025. The bill would introduce a revenue certainty mechanism to support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK. It would do this by designating a counterparty (a company wholly owned by the government) to engage in contracts with SAF producers to guarantee the price of the sale of eligible SAF. The government has said that SAF is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, as SAF is a ‘drop-in fuel’ that does not require modifications to existing aircraft. Current supply of SAF is limited. The government has claimed the bill would support SAF production in the UK by providing revenue certainty and thereby reducing risk to investors in SAF production facilities. There was broad cross-party support for the bill during its House of Commons stages.

  • In Focus

    Great Britain’s electricity grid infrastructure: Lords Industry and Regulators Committee report

    The government has brought forward the target of decarbonising the electricity system by five years to 2030 as part of plans to achieve net zero. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee considered the government’s plans to achieve this target as part of its recent inquiry on the energy grid and grid connections. The committee found that while the target is achievable, it is “a significant challenge”. The committee made a number of recommendations in light of this finding and others which are outlined in this briefing alongside the government’s responses.

  • In Focus

    Debate on Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025

    On 12 April 2025, Parliament was recalled to fast-track the passage of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025. The government has used the act to direct the operations of British Steel Ltd, which was in danger of collapse. British Steel operates the UK’s remaining blast furnaces at its site in Scunthorpe. This briefing summarises the challenges the UK steel industry has faced in recent years, how the act’s powers have been used in the case of British Steel, and wider government policy on steel.

  • Research Briefing

    Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill: Bill 118 of 2024–25

    The bill aims to strengthen the law on livestock worrying in England and Wales. Dogs chasing and attacking livestock can cause death, distress and pregnancy loss in animals, as well as financial and emotional impacts for farmers. The bill would increase penalties, expand the definition of livestock and the locations where incidents take place, and give police more powers of evidence collection and dog detention.

  • Research Briefing

    Planning and Infrastructure Bill: HL Bill 110 of 2024–25

    The Planning and Infrastructure Bill would make changes to the system for approving major infrastructure projects, planning committees and nature recovery. It would also make changes to electricity and transport infrastructure processes, development corporations, spatial development strategies, and compulsory purchase. The government intends the bill to help grow the economy by enabling important infrastructure and homes to be built more quickly. Some parts of the bill, particularly those related to nature recovery, have attracted criticism from opposition parties and external bodies.

  • In Focus

    Wildfires: Reducing the risks and mitigating the effects

    Wildfires can harm people and ecosystems and damage property and the environment. Almost all wildfires in the UK are the result of accidental or deliberate acts by humans. Their frequency and severity have been increasing in recent years, with the area burned so far in 2025 already setting records. The National Fire Chiefs Council has called for more resourcing, consistency and coordination to mitigate the effects of future wildfires.

  • In Focus

    Methane emissions: House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee report

    In December 2024, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee published a report examining methane emissions in the UK. While acknowledging the UK’s efforts to reduce emissions, the committee expressed concerns about the UK’s international role in addressing the issue. It made several recommendations, including calling on the government to publish a methane action plan detailing how it would meet its global commitment to reducing methane emissions.

  • In Focus

    Costs of net zero by 2050

    The UK’s target of achieving net zero by 2050 was set under then prime minister Theresa May in 2019. To date, there has been political consensus on the target between Conservative and Labour governments. In March 2025, the Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch announced that her party no longer supported the target, in part because she did not believe it was affordable. This briefing examines the costs associated with achieving net zero by 2050 and how progress to the target has been legislated for under the Climate Change Act 2008.

  • In Focus

    Biodiversity and conservation: International commitments and UK government policy

    Studies indicate that biodiversity is declining. The UK and other countries are signed up to international agreements requiring national strategies that tackle biodiversity loss. The Labour government has been conducting a rapid review of the previous administration’s environmental improvement plan to develop a new strategy to protect the natural environment.

  • In Focus

    Water companies and sewage pollution: Repairing damage using revenue from fines

    Concerns have been raised about the environmental performance of water companies in recent years, particularly the frequency at which sewage has been released into rivers. In response, there have been calls to use the fines imposed on water companies to pay for restoration projects. This article summarises the background, and steps taken by the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government, relating to the environmental performance of water companies.

  • In Focus

    Climate change: Supporting farmers and growers

    Extreme rainfall and flooding in 2023 and 2024 impacted farmers and affected the supply of some domestically grown food. It is predicted that future climatic changes could impact agriculture and domestic food production, presenting both risks and opportunities. This briefing examines how the government is supporting farmers and growers to adapt to climate change.

  • Research Briefing

    Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 32 of 2024–25

    The Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). It would restrict the use of substances with antimicrobial properties, known as biocides, in cosmetic, personal care and other treated products, for example clothing and period products, subject to certain exemptions. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 17 January 2025.

  • In Focus

    Biodiversity loss and climate change: Interdependent global challenges

    Nature and climate change are considered to be inextricably linked. Climate change is one of the drivers of biodiversity loss, along with factors including unsustainable food production and the overuse of natural resources. Nature is considered a key tool in combating rising global temperatures, for example forests and peatlands can play an important role in absorbing carbon emissions. This briefing summarises biodiversity loss, nature-based solutions to climate change and UK climate and nature policy.

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