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A joint open letter from civil society organisations calling on the European Commission to prioritise the legislative framework for Sustainable Food Systems (FSFS) in its 2023 work programme, arguing that the initiative is essential for addressing food insecurity, climate crisis impacts, and the goals of the European Green Deal.

The document argues that the EU failed its 2020 legal deadline to end overfishing and continues to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) above scientific advice. It calls for the strict application of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the precautionary approach, and ecosystem-based management, particularly for depleted, deep-sea, and shared stocks. Key recommendations include setting TACs below maximum catch advice to create 'climate buffers', implementing remote electronic monitoring to enforce the Landing Obligation, and prioritizing the recovery of critically endangered species like the European eel.

A coalition of environmental NGOs urges the UK to align 2023 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) with scientific advice from ICES to combat persistent overfishing. The recommendations emphasize the precautionary approach, ecosystem-based management, and the need for a 'climate buffer' for vulnerable species. The authors highlight that nearly two-thirds of UK-negotiated TACs from 2020-2022 exceeded scientific advice and call for stricter controls on mixed fisheries, the Landing Obligation, and the protection of critically endangered species like the European eel.

ClientEarth asserts that the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) obstructs climate policy by allowing fossil fuel companies to sue governments for compensation over environmental regulations. The organization argues that recent 'modernisation' efforts are insufficient, as they maintain a 'flexibility mechanism' that would allow litigation until the late 2030s and include protections for biomass and carbon capture. The document calls for a coordinated withdrawal of the EU, its member states, and the UK to eliminate the 'chilling effect' of the treaty on the European Green Deal and other climate commitments.

The document calls for the EU to address administrative bottlenecks and improve spatial planning to speed up renewable energy permitting, while maintaining strict adherence to environmental safeguards like the Birds and Habitats Directives to avoid legal uncertainty and ecological harm.

A coalition of NGOs calls on the European Commission to ban all Russian seafood imports and deny Russian-flagged or owned vessels access to EU ports and waters. The authors argue that current bans on 'high-end seafood' are insufficient and that Russia's fisheries management is characterized by overfishing and a high risk of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The letter recommends implementing a digital traceability system to prevent mislabelling and calls for the EU to rebuild its own fish stocks to reduce import dependence.

The document argues that carbon offsets are scientifically flawed and act as a barrier to necessary emissions reductions, exposing companies to significant legal risks including consumer protection lawsuits, regulatory enforcement, and shareholder actions.

The document examines the proposed EU Regulation on deforestation-free products, specifically focusing on the country benchmarking mechanism in Article 27. It argues that the European Commission's initial unilateral approach risks trade distortions and diplomatic tensions, and instead advocates for a multi-stakeholder process involving civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and smallholders. The briefing compares the positions of the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council, recommending that benchmarking include not only deforestation rates but also compliance with national legality requirements and human rights standards. It suggests that a transparent, inclusive process will better incentivize producer countries to reform forest governance and reduce the risk of 'leakage' to less stringent markets.

The document examines the rise of 'greenwashing' litigation related to plastics, where companies are challenged over misleading claims about recyclability, biodegradability, and corporate sustainability. It details a proliferation of class actions in the US and Canada, NGO-led challenges in the EU and US, and increasing enforcement by regulators like the FTC and CMA. The briefing also identifies an emerging 'second generation' of lawsuits brought by shareholders who allege financial losses resulting from deceptive environmental statements.

The document examines the increasing legal vulnerability of companies regarding plastic leakage into the environment. It highlights significant settlements for plastic pellet spills in the US and Europe, the potential for lawsuits against consumer brands and producers for macroplastic waste, and the role of economic losses—such as those in the fishing and tourism industries—in driving future strategic litigation.

The document outlines the legal risks associated with plastic waste management, specifically focusing on incineration, recycling claims, and the illegal trade of plastic waste. It highlights how companies are increasingly exposed to litigation due to the environmental and health impacts of incineration, the perceived failure of recycling to solve the plastics crisis, and breaches of international waste shipment treaties like the Basel Convention.

A coalition of NGOs urges the European Commission to end overfishing by setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) strictly within scientific limits and transitioning to low-impact, climate-friendly fisheries. The group highlights significant implementation gaps in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), particularly regarding the landing obligation and the failure to meet the 2020 goal of sustainable harvesting for all stocks. They advocate for an ecosystem-based approach that accounts for climate-driven species shifts and the use of remote electronic monitoring to combat illegal discarding.

ClientEarth submits that while ELMS has potential, it cannot replace mandatory agri-environmental regulations. The organization warns that withdrawing 'cross compliance' without a successor framework will create significant protection gaps in soil and water quality, as the voluntary nature of ELMS and the poor enforcement record of the Environment Agency are unlikely to maintain basic environmental standards.

The document analyzes the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law, supporting its overarching target to restore 20% of EU land and sea by 2030 but arguing that many specific targets lack sufficient ambition or quantification. It calls for increased targets for terrestrial and marine habitats, the removal of 15% of river barriers by 2030, and the expansion of peatland restoration beyond agricultural land to include forestry. The authors emphasize the need for clear national accountability, strengthened non-deterioration obligations, and dedicated EU funding to ensure the regulation's success in mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss.

ClientEarth warns EMR Capital that financing the proposed Whitehaven coal mine in West Cumbria poses significant climate-related financial risks and may breach fiduciary duties to investors. The letter highlights the mine's incompatibility with the 1.5°C warming limit and the likelihood of it becoming a stranded asset due to declining demand for coking coal in the UK and EU steel industries. ClientEarth further asserts that the investment contradicts EMR Capital's status as a UN PRI signatory and its own ESG policy, potentially exposing the firm to legal challenges and accusations of greenwashing.

A coalition of 58 European organisations is calling for the immediate adoption of an Implementing Regulation to standardise pesticide use records. They argue that such harmonisation is a prerequisite for the annual collection of pesticide data under the new Statistics for Agriculture Input and Output (SAIO) regulation, which is currently slated to begin in 2028. The signatories emphasize that precise data is essential for protecting biodiversity, agricultural workers, and rural residents, and they request that the European Commission publish the draft regulation for civil society review and ensure formal adoption by the end of 2022.

A coalition of environmental organisations advises the UK government to centre its Industrial Fishing Strategy on the ecological role of forage fish rather than their end use. The authors argue for the urgent closure of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone to sandeel fishing to protect seabird populations and recommend expanding the strategy's scope to include at least 13 additional species critical to marine food webs. They further suggest collaborating with the European Union and Norway and seeking a Management Strategy Evaluation by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to establish robust catch limits using ecological multipliers.

ClientEarth argues that the TPT framework must mandate absolute emissions reductions aligned with a 1.5°C scenario, including Scope 3 emissions, and prohibit reliance on offsets. The organization emphasizes the need for transition plans to be integrated into financial statements and for named directors to be held accountable for delivery. It specifically calls for the prioritization of high-emitting sectors and the inclusion of 'financed emissions' for financial institutions to ensure real-world decarbonization.

ClientEarth argues that the proposed amendments to the RRF Regulation to support REPowerEU create an unlawful 'preferential treatment' for fossil gas and oil infrastructure. The organization contends that the Commission bypassed the TEN-E Regulation's transparency requirements by relying on a 'wish list' from the industry-led ENTSOG, and that exempting these projects from the 'Do No Significant Harm' (DNSH) principle violates EU environmental law and the European Climate Law. ClientEarth further asserts that the lack of impact and climate assessments for the proposal is unjustifiable, regardless of the urgency of energy security needs.

ClientEarth argues that the HM Treasury's review of Solvency II fails to address climate risks and proposes several regulatory changes. Key recommendations include making investments in new fossil fuel exploration and development ineligible for the matching adjustment and requiring a 100% capital charge for such exposures to prevent stranded asset risks. The document also calls for mandatory, embedded transition plans for insurers, the adoption of 'double materiality' to manage the sector's impact on the environment, and formal Pillar 2 requirements for long-term climate scenario analysis. Additionally, it urges the government to impose express environmental duties and transparency requirements on the Society of Lloyd's to manage the climate impact of the Lloyd's market.