Climate

A new legal framework for environmental governance and accountability in Northern Ireland following Brexit has been introduced. The Environment (2021 Act) (Commencement and Saving Provision) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 places statutory duties on DAERA to publish an Environmental Improvement Plan (

The renewable energy bursary established by Arthur Cox in memory of the firm's late partner Niamh Burke has opened for 2022 applications. The bursary is open to all those who are planning to study in a field related to renewable energy in Ireland, at postgraduate level. All relevant disciplines are

Corporate law firm Philip Lee has signed up to an electric cargo bike scheme allowing staff to try out a more climate-friendly way to commute. Under the pilot scheme, run by Dublin City Council in partnership with bike sharing operator Bleeper, the firm will trial pedal-assist "e-cargobikes" for six

Ireland should have a dedicated environmental court along the lines of the Workplace Relations Commission or the Labour Court, experts will tell the Climate Bar Association's inaugural symposium this afternoon. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will open the online event, hosted in association with Th

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has announced the establishment of two new special interest groups focusing on climate justice and law tech. Brigid Napier, president of the Law Society, said: "As we approach the Law Society’s centenary year, it is important to look forward to the next 100

Ireland's courts service has missed its 2020 energy efficiency targets and will have to catch up to meet an even more ambitious 2030 target. The Courts Service today published its first-ever environmental sustainability strategy, which sets out its priorities for 2021 to 2024.

Belfast-based McKees has been awarded a bronze medal by EcoVadis in recognition of its business sustainability rating, becoming the only law firm in Ireland to hold the accreditation. EcoVadis is a worldwide provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance impr

Arthur Cox has been announced as a sponsor of the 2022 Environment Ireland Conference, which is taking place in Croke Park in January. Now in its 17th year, the theme of the conference, taking place from 18-19 January 2022, will be "Ireland in 2050: Becoming an Environmental Leader".

UK law firm Shoosmiths' emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Shoosmiths, which has an office in Belfast, commits to reductions across its entire value chain to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions 50 per cent by FY2030 f

A failure to consider the "people factor" in boardroom decarbonisation strategies could undermine climate change mitigation efforts, according to a new report from Eversheds Sutherland and KPMG. A second survey of senior executives and business leaders found an increased corporate confidence in deca

The High Court has refused an application by an environmental group for the attachment of the chief executive for Roscommon County Council. The group claimed that the County Council had breached a court order by restarting work on a flooding relief program. However, Mr Justice Garrett Simons held th

Setting emissions targets is crucial for companies with complexity across sectors, technologies and business structures. However, this is often the easy part, according to an insight paper from Cornwall Insight and Shoosmiths: Unlocking net zero strategies for businesses. The report explores the pot

The UK’s national human rights institutions are warning that the human rights implications of the climate crisis must be tackled during COP26 in Glasgow. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission highlighted that

Lawyers at a major City firm will be able to buy electric cars through a new scheme designed to contribute to the fight against climate change. Stephenson Harwood, which employs over 1,100 people across eight global offices, will make the scheme available to all staff in London from next year.

Climate justice professor and former Irish president Mary Robinson is among the high-profile speakers at a major legal conference in Edinburgh today – ahead of the UN climate change summit, COP26, which begins on Sunday. The event, hosted jointly by all three UK law societies and which wi