Research and analysis

International Environmental Protection Report (April 2024 to March 2026)

Updated 22 July 2026

Presented to the House of Parliament pursuant to Section 21 of the Environment Act 2021

© Crown copyright 2026

ISBN 978-1-5286-6743-2

1. Introduction 

This is the second edition of the UK government’s International Environmental Protection Report. It covers significant policy and legislative developments internationally in environmental protection and climate mitigation and adaptation during the reporting period (April 2024 to March 2026). This encompasses multilateral, regional, national and subnational initiatives that are ambitious, pioneering, unique, far-reaching or otherwise significant. The first report was published in April 2025, which covered the period April 2022 to March 2024. 

This report fulfils the obligations of the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs under Section 21 of the Environment Act 2021. 

In response to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed at the UN Nature Summit COP15, the four countries of the UK and the relevant UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have worked collaboratively to develop and publish Blueprint for Halting and Reversing Biodiversity Loss: the UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2030 (UK NBSAP) in February 2025, including the UK’s National Targets that commit us to achieving all 23 targets of the GBF at home. 

In February this year, the UK published its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which provides a comprehensive assessment of our progress towards delivering the UK NBSAP. 

This government is committed to the 13 legally binding environmental targets set under the Environment Act 2021 (the Environment Act), which include targets for air, water, biodiversity, marine protection, resource efficiency and tree and woodland cover. 

The Environment Act requires that the Secretary of State to also prepare an Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) for significantly improving the natural environment. EIPs must have a minimum duration of 15 years. Following a review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), government published a revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP25) in December 2025. This is our long-term plan for improving the natural environment and enjoyment of it in England and is a core pillar of England’s delivery of the UK NBSAP and National Targets. 

EIP25 clearly describes the actions we need to take and who is responsible for delivering them. This will help us to restore nature, protect environmental security, and improve people’s access to nature. EIP ensures that nature’s recovery is a key priority, fundamental to government’s approach to economic growth. A report on progress under the EIP is published annually. 

We hope this report, outlining best practice from other countries with similar levels of ambition and commitment to the UK in terms of reaching net zero, tackling climate change and improving the natural environment, will prove a useful resource for policymakers, parliamentarians, stakeholders, and the public, across the UK as we strive to protect and enhance the natural world. 

1.1 Compilation of the report 

This second report covers developments that have taken place during the reporting period (April 2024 to March 2026). The government will continue to report to Parliament every 2 years going forward. 

Similarly to the first report it focusses primarily on counterparts across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, key trading partners and other countries piloting innovative approaches in addressing environmental and climate issues. The report draws on a wide range of developments at multilateral, regional, national and sub-national levels. 

One of the key aims of these reports is to identify global best practice that could in turn inform potential approaches in the UK. With this in mind, we have structured the report’s findings around the key headings of the updated Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 and to allow individual pieces of legislation to be more easily found and referenced. 

1.2 Headline findings 

In the two-year reporting period, we have identified almost 60 policy or legislative developments across 8 multilateral organisations, the EU, and around 25 individual countries. There have been a number of important multinational developments in this reporting period. The Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Air Quality, highlighting the impact of poor AQ on human health, was adopted by G20 members in October 2025. The establishment of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution raises the profile of such pollution and work to get the Global Plastics Treaty over the line continues with renewed vigour. 

We have identified significant legislative and policy developments at regional, national and sub-national levels across all key aspects of environmental and climate protection. Most notably on expanding and strengthening policies on the Circular Economy, extended producer responsibility and water management. 

Across this period climate mitigation and adaptation efforts increasingly focused on translating long-term commitments into legally binding frameworks and operational tools. This included greater emphasis on intermediate milestones, enforcement mechanisms and alignment between climate objectives and wider economic policy, alongside continued recognition of the role of climate finance and market-based instruments in supporting delivery. Carbon pricing and market mechanisms continued to expand, and reforms to accelerate clean energy deployment were also evident. 

Notably, 2025 saw the third round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) informed by the 2023 Global Stocktake. As of April 2026, approximately 130 countries had confirmed their submission under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement (2016). 

Important developments in sustainable agriculture include the Green Tripartite Agreement in Denmark, which aims to transform Danish farming into a more sustainable system and introduces the world’s first climate tax on agriculture. 

While there are numerous examples of important progressive developments during this reporting period, not all legislative changes have been positive. In the US, “unleashing American Energy Act” has paused or reduced funding for a range of environmental programmes. 

2. Environmental Quality 

2.1 Air Quality 

Multilateral developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
Multilateral	Gothenburg Protocol.	Protocol United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention) protocol which covers the regions of North America, Europe, Caucuses, and Central Asia. The revision will consider setting new commitments for reducing 5 key air pollutants by countries across the region, as well as region-wide goals for new pollutants such as methane and black carbon. The UK is party to the Gothenburg Protocol. Read more about the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone.
G20	G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers’ Meeting October 2025. Ministerial Declaration on Air Quality.	Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Air Quality was adopted by G20 countries in October 2025 at the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers’ Meeting. The declaration highlights the impact of bad air quality on health and calls on countries to take collaborative action in line with the UNEA 6/10 resolution on transboundary air pollution

Regional and national developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	Ambient Air Quality Directive.	The EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directive entered into force in December 2024. The Directive sets stricter limits for various pollutants including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), benzene, carbon monoxide, lead, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, benzo(a)pyrene and ozone.
EU	Industrial Emissions Directive.	Amendments to EU’s IED entered into force in 2024, increasing the scope of coverage
Türkiye	Industrial Emissions Management Regulation.	Regulation introduces an integrated approach to managing industrial and aligns with the EU Industrial Emissions Directive by incorporating Best Available Techniques (BAT/MET) guidance. Refer to the Industrial Emissions Management Regulation
Brazil	National Air Quality Policy.	National Air Quality Policy and the updated national standards represent a significant regulatory advancement in Brazil by creating a comprehensive and modernized framework for atmospheric management
Canada	Air Quality Management Systems.	As part of updating the updating The Air Quality Management System (AQMS), Canada has introduced stricter benchmarks for key pollutants - NO2, SO2 and Ozone.
India	National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).	National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) - Enhanced Targets: launched in 2019, was extended in 2024 with a more ambitious target of a 40% reduction in particulate pollution (PM₂.₅/PM₁₀) by 2026 from 2017 levels, up from the original 20 to 30% by 2024.

2.2 Water 

Regional and national developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	European Water Resilience Strategy.	The Commission’s objectives are to work towards water resilience by ensuring resilience against floods, droughts and water scarcity; by effectively implementing the already existing EU laws for freshwater; by reducing water consumption and improving water efficiency in the EU by 10% by 2030; preventing water pollution and tackling pollutants in drinking water, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Ensuring access to clean and affordable water for all.
EU	Updated Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/3019.	Adopted in 2024 and entered into force on 1 January 2025. Among its key provisions, it brings certain pharmaceuticals and cosmetics into scope and makes their manufacturers financially responsible for removing micropollutants from wastewater.
Denmark	December 2025, Denmark announced plans to reduce nitrate limits in drinking water to 6mg/L.	The Danish Government has decided to implement in legislation the findings of an expert committee recommending reducing nitrates in drinking water to 6mg/L because of a possible link between nitrate in drinking water and colorectal cancers.
Mexico	National Water Plan 2024 to 2030.	Outlines the administration’s long-term strategy for managing Mexico’s water resources. Is designed to transition the country’s water management paradigm from a market-oriented model to one that prioritises sustainable use and equitable access.
Cambodia	Climate-Resilient Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Action Plan 2026-2030.	Establishes new governance, forecasting systems, early-warning mechanisms, and basin-level water planning-marking the most significant regulatory strengthening of water management in over a decade.
Switzerland	Federal Act on the Protection of Waters and Ordinance on the Protection of Waters.	Focuses on 2 major areas: tighter ecotoxicological limit values for pesticide substances, including the addition of seven new substances after recent detections in Swiss waters, with mandatory cantonal action if limits are exceeded and potential federal review of pesticide authorisations.
South Africa	National Water Quality Framework for Aquatic Ecosystems (WRC 2024).	Introduced several measures, legislative changes, infrastructure initiatives, and governance reforms from April 2024 onward aimed at strengthening water conservation, improving infrastructure, and addressing growing water-security challenges. Read more about the National Water Quality Framework for Aquatic Ecosystems in the Water Research Commission’s Water Wheel March to April 2024 publication.

2.3 Chemical and Pesticides 

Multilateral developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)	Resolution 5/8 of UNEA, 20 June 2025. Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) established.	The Science Policy Panel was established in 2025. It is equivalent to the IPBES and IPCC on Biodiversity and climate. Once operational, it would ensure that international Conventions which cover chemicals issues are informed by robust evidence. UK is an active member of UNEA.
Minamata Convention on Mercury	Decision 6/3 of COP-6 of the Minamata Convention.	Took place November 2025. Successful agreement by parties to phase out the use, trade and manufacture of dental amalgam (dental filling containing mercury) by 2034. UK is party to the Minamata Convention
Stockholm Convention	Decision 12/9 of COP 12 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). 28 April - 9 May 2025.	3 new substances including chlorpyrifos, were added to Annex A of the Convention, protecting human health and the environment. UK is party to Stockholm Convention.
Rotterdam Convention	Decision 12/3 and 12/4 of COP-12 of the Rotterdam Convention. May 2025.	2 new pesticides were listed and are now subject to the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure: carbosulfan, and formulations containing Fenthion. UK is party to Rotterdam Convention.

Regional and national developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	EU Chemicals Industry Action Plan.	Plan which addresses key challenges - high energy costs, unfair global competition, and weak demand, while promoting investment in innovation and sustainability.
Denmark	Approval withdrawn on range of pesticides.	The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) phased out (September 2025) and withdrew approvals for 33 pesticide products containing 6 active PFAS substances. These substances are (fluazinam, fluopyram, diflufenican, mefentrifluconazole, tau-fluvalinate, and flonicamid) These substances degrade into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent compound that accumulates and leaches into the country’s groundwater supplies. Denmark is taking unilateral regulatory action ahead of broader European Union (EU) decisions
Switzerland	Ordinance on Phytosanitary Products.	Introducing major simplifications to Switzerland’s authorisation system and aligning it more closely with the EUs to streamline market access.
Mexico	Federal decree.	Bans the use, production, marketing and import of 35 highly hazardous pesticides, including DDT. While this ban does not go as far as EU or UK legislation, it is a very important step in protecting human health and the environment in Mexico.
France	PFAS Restriction Law (Law No. 2025-188) 2025.	Introduces a proactive, progressive ban on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Manufacture, import, and sale of PFAS-treated products, including textiles, footwear, ski wax, and cosmetics, will be banned.
France	Decree 2025-958. Enforcement mechanism for Article 2 of French Law No. 2025-188 (above).	Progressive phase-out of PFAS in Aqueous Industrial Effluents. Issued pursuant to Article 2 of the PFAS Restriction Law, the decree implements the law, which mandates a national strategy to eliminate industrial PFAS discharges within five years. It sets a target to reduce PFAS emissions by 70% by 27 February 2028, using 2023 levels as a baseline, with the ultimate goal of fully eliminating PFAS from all industrial effluents by February 2030. To drive compliance, facilities are subject to targeted enforcement and tax levies on their pollution outputs.

2.4 Marine Environment 

Multilateral Developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
Multilateral	Annual OSPAR (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) Commission meeting, Vigo Ministerial Declaration.	Reaffirms shared high level political commitment of OSPAR Contracting Parties to accelerate progress in response to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. UK is party to OSPAR Convention.
Multilateral	Decision 2025/01 of annual OSPAR (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) Commission meeting, June 2025.	OSPAR member states have agreed to a phased, mandatory ban on discharging exhaust gas scrubber (EGCS) wash water in North-East Atlantic ports and internal waters. Open-loop scrubber discharge will be banned by 1 July 2027, followed by a total ban on all EGCS discharge (including closed-loop) by 1 July 2029.
Multilateral	Decision 2025/02 of annual OSPAR (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) Commission meeting, June 2025.	As part of OSPAR’s Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, 2 new measures were introduced: Implementation of best practice to reduce marine litter across sectors and a ban on plastic pollution from pontoons and buoys.

3. Circular Economy and Waste 

Multilateral developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution	Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations (INC-5.3).	Following intense negotiations in 2024 tp 2025, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) entered 2026 with a critical organisational meeting (INC-5.3) in February to finalise leadership and plan for the final push. The treaty aims for a full lifecycle approach, focusing on redesign, reuse, and recycling to reduce plastic leakage. UK is an active participant in these negotiations.

Regional and national developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Regulation (EU) 2024/1781.	The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force in July 2024. The ESPR empowers the commission to set sustainability requirements for virtually all products and introduces mandatory Digital Product Passports. We expect a first product specific Delegated Act on Iron and Steel to be published in 2026, followed by Delegated Acts on Textiles, Tyres and Aluminium, and horizontal requirements on repairability in 2027. A ban on destroying unsold apparel and footwear will apply from July 2026.
EU	EU Directive (EU) 2024/1799. Common rules promoting the repair of goods and amending Regulation.	The “Right to repair” Directive mandates that manufacturers offer repairs for technically repairable goods both within and beyond the legal warranty period.
EU	Directive (EU) 2025/1892 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.	Directive (EU) 2025/1892 amends Directive 2008/98/EC on waste to significantly accelerate the EU’s circular economy. It focuses primarily on the food and textile sectors, introducing binding Food Waste Reduction Targets and extending producer responsibility for textiles and footwear.
EU	EU Bioeconomy Strategy.	The Strategy for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy was published on 27 November 2025. The bioeconomy encompasses the production of biomass, its conversion into food, materials, and products, as well as the generation of bioenergy. It is essential for the EU to reach its climate and energy goals by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, while combating biodiversity loss and pollution. The strategy aims to capitalise on the biotechnology revolution and follows the 2012 and 2018 strategies, which achieved significant progress in research and innovation.
EU	EU Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1157.	Entered into force in May 2024, enforces stricter rules on moving ‘green list’ waste across borders from May 2027, helping to curb illegal exports and boosting the circular economy. The regulation also contains provisions to increase the traceability of waste shipments and strengthen enforcement powers to prevent illegal shipments of waste. To ensure environmental compliance, key provisions are being phased in to hold the EU more accountable for its waste footprint.
EU	Regulation (EU) 2025/2365 on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. November 2025.	Regulation focuses on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce unintentional microplastic pollution. Adopted on 12 November 2025, the law aims for a long-term goal of zero pellet loss across the entire plastics supply chain, while supporting the broader EU target of a 30% reduction in microplastics by 2030.
Japan	6th Basic Environment Plan (new plan published May 2024).	The Basic Environment Plan is the Japanese Government’s overarching and principal environmental policy. The new plan includes a conceptual shift to positioning environmental policy as a driver of economic growth, emphasising wellbeing, quality of life and a civilisation “where economy and society can grow/develop by preserving biocapacity and improving the quality of the environment”. 5th Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material Cycle-Cycle Society (new plan published August 2024): This updated plan conceptually shifts from a core “3R-centered waste policy” in the previous plan to enabling a full circular economy focusing on resource efficiency and economic value-chain redesign. This elevates circular economy, centred on resilience, to a national strategy, emphasising a greater focus on industrial competitiveness, economic security and regional revitalisation.
Mexico	General Law on Circular Economy.	Establishes a binding framework to reduce waste, extend product lifecycles and shift the country away from a linear consumption model. A central component of the reform is the introduction of extended producer responsibility. National Circular Economy Policy 2025 to 2030: Launches the technical process to develop a national circular economy policy and strategy for 2025 to 2030, anchored in the new General Circular Economy Law. Focuses first on plastics. Mexico City integrated waste-management strategy: city-wide obligation for homes, schools, offices and businesses in Mexico City to separate waste into 3 fractions: organic, recyclable inorganic and non-recyclable inorganic.
Norway	Introduction of extended producer responsibility for certain single-use plastic products (implementation of EU directive).	Regulatory changes introduce extended producer responsibility for specific single-use plastic products. Producers and importers are required to cover municipalities’ costs related to the clean-up and collection of waste from their products in public areas.
Spain	Spain Waste Roadmap 2025-2035.	The Spain national waste-policy roadmap covers actions plans for the 2025-2035 time period. It aligns with EU law with a focus on prevention, reuse and high-quality separate collection.
Switzerland	CE Parliamentary Initiative 20.433.	Parliamentary Initiative 20.433: Developing the Circular Economy in Switzerland Relevant Areas: Circular Economy, Waste & Recycling; Greening key economic sectors (construction). New provisions legally anchor core circular-economy principles, including the priority of recycling over incineration.
Indonesia	Presidential Regulation (Perpres). No. 109/2025.	Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 109/2025: new legal framework governing urban waste management through waste-to-energy (WtE) conversion.
Cambodia	Cambodia’s Climate Change Strategic Plan 2024 to 2033.	Cambodia’s Climate Change Strategic Plan 2024 to 2033 identifies waste management (particularly methane mitigation) as a national emissions reduction priority.
Greece, Poland, Hungary, Ireland and Austria		A number of EU countries, including Greece, Poland, Hungary, Ireland and Austria have introduced mandatory deposit return schemes since 2024.

4. Environmental security 

4.1 Climate change and mitigation 

Multilateral developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)	Third round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).	Following the Global Stocktake, ambition is to directly drive domestic climate legislation, sectoral regulation and public investment frameworks. UK is party to UNFCCC.
International Court of Justice	Advisory opinion (July 2025): Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.	The Court issued a non-binding advisory opinion on the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system from the harmful effects of GHG emissions and the consequences under these obligations.
G20 Leaders	Multilateral Development Bank Reform.	‘Better, Bigger, and More Effective MDBs’ announced in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. Non-binding legislation, increased lending headroom by approximately $400 billion over 10 years. UK is a member of G20.

Regional and national developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	Revised European Climate Law - March 2026.	Revision incorporated a new 2040 target, which confirmed a 90% net emission reduction goal compared to 1990 levels through 85% domestic reductions and a 5% use of international credits. The EU also agreed a parallel Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035 of 66.25% to 72.5% compared to 1990 levels.
France	10-year energy plan (PPE3) - February 2026.	PPE3 details the planned trajectory for electricity consumption in France and sets production targets for renewable energy sources. 2035 production targets are reduced for wind and solar and slightly increased for nuclear, while also broadening the range of technologies used for electricity generation.
Italy	Renewables permitting simplification - December 2024. Coal phase out - mainland Italy - December 2025.	The decree streamlining administrative regimes for renewables and storage, with the aim is to shorten lead times and improve investor confidence while respecting environmental safeguards. Environmental authorisations to burn coal at the Civitavecchia and Brindisi plants (the last remaining on the Italian mainland) expired at the end of 2025, consistent with Italy’s 2030 Energy and Climate Plan pathway.
Norway	Requirement for cost-benefit analysis of opportunities to utilise surplus (waste) heat - April 2025.	Regulation requires actors planning energy-intensive facilities to conduct cost-benefit analyses of the potential for utilising waste heat. The requirement applies to power plants, industrial facilities, district heating and cooling systems, and energy production.
Turkey	Climate Law (Developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change - July 2025).	Introduces broad provisions on mitigation, adaptation, local action, climate finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity building. Its centrepiece is the establishment of a domestic emission trading system (ETS).
Switzerland	Federal Climate and Innovation Act: Reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions - Jan 2025.	First piece of legislation to formally anchor the net-zero 2050 target in Swiss law.
Spain	Compulsory Corporate Carbon Footprint and Transition Plans: Royal Decree 214/2025 - March 2025.	Obligation to calculate the carbon footprint and draw up greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reduction plans for certain companies and public entities in Spain.
Brazil	Federal Law 15,042/2024 on the Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (SBCE) - December 2024 National Climate Change Plan (Plano Clima) - September 2024 Eco Invest Brasil - 22 April 2024.	SBCE has laid the legal foundation for a regulated carbon market. Plano Clima will coordinate mitigation and adaptation actions to reduce climate risks and the vulnerability of environmental, social, and economic systems. Eco Invest Brasil attracts foreign private capital to invest in Brazil’s ecological transition.
Mexico	Regulation of the Law of Planning and Energy Transition - July 2024.	Legally binding planning system for the whole energy sector, with specific instruments for clean energy, efficiency, electrification and energy poverty reduction.
Peru	National Climate Change Strategy to 2050 (ENCC 2050) - November 2024.	Anchors net-zero by 2050, mandates action across sectors, legally adopted by supreme decree.
Ecuador	National Climate Change Mitigation Plan (PLANMICC) - August 2024.	Long-term mitigation strategy guiding national decarbonization to 2070.
China	Ecological and Environmental Code - enacted March 2026 - will take legal effect from August 2026.	The first time climate change has been written into Chinese statute, elevating climate governance to the highest level of law. The Code consolidates and restructures large parts of China’s environmental legislation, introduces new areas such as green and low‑carbon development, and sets a framework for future regulation.
India	Amendments to Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) - October 2025.	Draft GEI Target Rules 2025 propose binding sector-specific GHG intensity targets for large emitters in key industries.
Japan	Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures - February 2025.	Includes Japan’s new greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of 60% by 2035 and 73% by 2040 both on 2013 levels (its third Nationally Determined Contribution).
Republic of Korea	Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth - October 2025.	Revises the reporting standard for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plans from gross emission to net emissions. Intention is to align domestic reporting more closely with international accounting.
South Africa	Climate Change Act - July 2024.	Provides the foundation for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing climate adaptation, and ensuring a just transition that supports workers and communities as the economy shifts away from carbon-intensive activities.
New Zealand	Amendments to Emissions Trading Scheme - September 2025 Amendments to Climate Change Response Act - December 2025.	ETS changes include moving to a biennial cycle, adjusting industrial allocation rules to support decarbonisation, adding CO₂ imports, increasing flexibility for forestry, streamlining penalties, and removing the requirement for ETS settings to align with NDCs. The Climate Change Response Act is being streamlined to reduce duplication and make decisions quicker. Changes affect emissions reduction plans, adaptation plans, reporting schedules, decision timelines, and how consultation is carried out.
Portugal	Climate Change Regulations 2025.	Legislation to support a national system for the Voluntary Carbon Market for Carbon Removals.
United States	“One Big Beautiful Act” (OBBA) and “Unleashing American Energy Act”.	The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Executive order have resulted in large cuts to climate spending.
United States	Executive Order 14199.	Presidential Decree withdrawing the United States from international organisations, conventions and treaties deemed contrary to the Interests of the United States. These include a number of Climate Change agreements.

4.2 Biodiversity and invasive alien species 

Multilateral developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)	Decisions 20/207 to 20/212 of CoP20 of the CITES Convention.	Enhanced protection for over 70 shark and ray species (adoption of proposal 28, COP 20), alongside new protections for several bird and mammal species. UK is party to CITES.

Regional and national developments

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	Nature Restoration Regulation (NRL).	Entered into force in August 2024. The NRL introduces ambitious targets to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. It also sets out individual targets and provisions for habitats, pollinators, urban ecosystems, agricultural ecosystems and forests. Member States will have to submit their National Restoration Plans by September 2026, detailing how targets will be met.
Australia	Reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.	Protection of listed threatened species, ecological communities, and migratory species and management of reserves.
Japan	Wildlife Protection, Control and Hunting Management Act.	Revised in August 2025 to allow for “emergency shootings” of bears by hunters and authorised use of Japan self-defence forces.
Ecuador	Organic Law for the Strengthening of Protected Areas.	Creates National Protected Areas Service; reorganises governance, funding, and management of the protected areas.
Mexico	National Environmental Restoration Program 2025 to 2030 (PNRA).	Strategic plan to coordinate and guide the recovery of degraded ecosystems across the country over the next 5 years.
Mexico	National Policy for the Sustainable Management of Mexico’s Seas and Coasts (PNMSMC).	Mexico’s Sustainable Ocean Plan, as part of the country’s commitments with the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. The plan sets out a comprehensive framework to sustainably manage 100% of Mexico’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Switzerland	Biodiversity Strategy Extension.	The Federal Council extended the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 and launched Phase II of the Biodiversity Action Plan (AP‑SBS II) for 2025 to 2030 to address identified shortcomings and increase the effectiveness of biodiversity measures across sectors by filling knowledge gaps, piloting applications, and preparing implementation strategies.
Brazil	National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan - EPANB (2025 to 2030).	Brazil adopted a full National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (EPANB) aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, setting 23 national biodiversity targets for 2030, long-term goals to 2050 and integrated planning, monitoring, financing strategy.
Brazil	National Bioeconomy Strategy.	Bioeconomy Strategy sets out a coordinated policy framework to promote sustainable economic development grounded in the conservation and regeneration of biodiversity.
India	Biological Diversity Act Amendments and Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS). India’s Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, streamlined the 2002 Biodiversity Act, followed by the 2025 Biodiversity Access & Benefit-Sharing Regulations notified on 29 April 2025.	These regulations specify benefit-sharing obligations for companies and researchers using India’s genetic resources or traditional knowledge.
Peru	National Biodiversity Strategy to 2050 (ENDB 2050).	Aligns Peru with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which sets 5 strategic objectives, 29 national targets, 143 actions and includes an indigenous chapter. This strategy is a cornerstone for a bioeconomy transition.
Belgium	Criminalization of Ecocide (Federal).	Federal parliament passed a new Criminal Code recognizing ecocide as an international crime, targeting unlawful, wanton damage to the environment. It covers severe, widespread, and long-term damage, including actions by Belgian entities abroad. Following its approval in 2024, the inclusion of ecocide as a crime in the new federal penal code is set to be fully implemented, punishing severe environmental damage.
US	“One Big Beautiful Act” (OBBA) and “Unleashing American Energy Act”.	Paused, or reduced funding for a range of environmental programmes and ecosystem services and research.
US	Executive Order 14199.	Presidential Decree withdrawing the United States from international organisations, conventions and treaties deemed contrary to the Interests of the United States. These include the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

5. Sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries 

Regional and national developments: sustainable agriculture

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
EU	EU DIRECTIVE 2025/2360 on soil monitoring and resilience (Soil Monitoring Law) November 2025.	Also known as the Soil Monitoring Law, this is the EU’s first comprehensive legal framework established to sustainably protect, assess, and manage soil health across Member State. Entering into force on 16 December 2025, this directive aims to reverse soil degradation and ensure all EU soils achieve a healthy status by 2050.
Denmark	Green Tripartite Agreement (2024).	Agreement on a green Denmark: introduces the world’s first climate tax on agriculture, aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce nitrogen pollution, restore nature, and transform Danish farming into a more sustainable system.
Japan	Basic Plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas (April 2025).	Outlines the nation’s agricultural and food system strategy for 2025-2030. Features: The latest Plan shifts from a balanced, long-term approach to aggressively tackling food security in the short- and medium-term. This is especially in regard to rice production, availability and prices, kickstarting structural reform of decades-old rice policies amid global and domestic risks (including global climate change and more frequent and severe natural disasters).
Mexico	General Law on Appropriate and Sustainable Food.	First framework law that looks at the whole food system (from production to consumption) through health, sustainability and social justice. Explicitly links this to sustainable production and environmental considerations.
Mexico	National Soil Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture (ENASAS).	National framework to reverse land degradation and promote sustainable soil management in agricultural areas, with clear) targets. It promotes practices that improve soil health and fertility, strengthen soil’s role in climate change mitigation and increase resilience.
Mexico	Climate Change Strategic Plan for the Agri Food Sector (PLECCA).	A long-term climate change framework for agriculture, emphasising improved soil management, reduced emissions and better water use in primary production.
Brazil	National Plan for Individual Identification of Cattles and Buffaloes (PNIB).	This plan aims at ensuring full traceability for cattle and buffaloes in Brazil by 2032 and address concerns around links of beef production to deforestation.
Netherlands	Court Order.	The District Court of The Hague has ordered the state to enforce strict nitrogen cuts, prioritising the protection of Natura 2000 areas.

Forestry

Country or Authority	Policy	Details
Ecuador	National Forest Strategy.	National policy to reduce deforestation, promote sustainable forest management, support climate mitigation (including REDD+), and strengthen governance for conservation.
Mexico	Reform to the General Law of Sustainable Forest Development.	Reform strengthens community-based forestry by explicitly prioritising community forest management and social forestry enterprises, especially in Indigenous and Afro Mexican territories.
Switzerland	Integrated Forest and Wood Strategy 2050	Swiss Biodiversity Strategy has prompted the elaboration of a forestry-specific strategy, anchored in a long-term vision for healthy and diversified forests.
Brazil	National Native Vegetation Recovery Plan 2025-2028 (Planaveg).	Brazil’s national strategy to scale up native vegetation restoration, reaffirming the country’s commitment to restore at least 12 million hectares by 2030. Updated in 2024 and relaunched at COP16.
Peru	Forestry and Wildlife Law amendments.	Weakens forest controls; removes prior authorisation for land-use change; legitimizes past deforestation; seen as an environmental rollback impacts on the Amazon.