Green Policies, Regulations & Standards

Norway’s ETS framework requires covered operators to monitor and verify emissions annually and surrender allowances in line with published deadlines. Non-compliance can lead to coercive measures and a penalty of EUR 100 per tonne for emissions not matched with surrendered allowances, alongside the continuing duty to surrender missing allowances. The regime is active and updated as EU ETS rules evolve, making robust MRV systems and allowance management essential for compliance.

The BEGES requirement obliges large French companies and public entities to measure and publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions. Organizations with more than 500 employees in the private sector, or 250 in the public sector, must publish a GHG inventory covering Scope 1 and Scope 2, with Scope 3 mandatory for certain entities. Reports must follow the national methodology, be submitted to the official ADEME platform, and be updated every four years (three for public bodies). Companies must also prepare an emissions-reduction action plan. Non-compliance can lead to administrative fines and public naming. BEGES forms a key part of France’s climate governance framework and aligns with enhanced EU disclosure requirements while maintaining national transparency standards.

The France Duty of Vigilance Law (Loi n° 2017-399 du 27 mars 2017) introduced a binding corporate duty to prevent human rights, environmental, and labour abuses across global value chains. In force since 2017, it requires large companies with more than 5,000 employees in France or 10,000 worldwide to establish and publish a Vigilance Plan identifying and mitigating risks linked to subsidiaries, suppliers, and subcontractors. The plan must include risk mapping, preventive actions, monitoring, and alert mechanisms, and is updated annually. Civil courts can compel compliance or assign liability for harm if a company fails to act. The law has become a blueprint for the EU’s forthcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), marking a major step from voluntary to enforceable sustainability governance.

The revised EU Drinking Water Directive strengthens standards for drinking water, broadens monitoring of emerging contaminants, and guarantees better access and transparency for consumers. This article outlines what is required, the status of implementation, penalties for non-compliance, and known violations.

The Diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE) is a mandatory energy performance certificate required for selling or renting residential property in France. It assigns an A–G label based on energy consumption and greenhouse gas performance. Owners must obtain a certified inspection, display DPE ratings in listings, and provide the certificate at contract signing. Dwellings rated G are banned from rental as of 2025, with progressive bans on F and E classes scheduled. Certificates are generally valid for ten years, with specific rules for older documents. Some small, temporary, or protected buildings may be exempt. Non-compliance can lead to fines, contract disputes, and renovation orders.

The UK Climate Change Act (CCA), passed in 2008 and amended in 2019, makes net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 a legal requirement. It introduced a system of five-year carbon budgets that cap national emissions and mandate government action plans for mitigation and adaptation. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) independently monitors progress and advises on targets, ensuring transparency and accountability. The CCA also obliges the UK Government to publish periodic risk assessments and adaptation programmes. This pioneering law has guided over 15 years of consistent climate policy, positioning the UK as a global model for legislating net-zero goals with enduring, science-based oversight.

The EU LULUCF Regulation — Regulation (EU) 2018/841, amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/839 — establishes binding accounting and reporting rules for greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF). In force since 2018, it ensures that all EU Member States maintain at least a net-zero balance between emissions and removals in the sector (“no-debit” rule). The recast version sets an EU-wide target of 310 million tonnes of CO₂ removals by 2030, requiring Member States to manage forests, croplands and grasslands more sustainably. The regulation integrates the LULUCF sector into the EU’s climate framework, aligning with the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, and making land-based carbon sinks a central element of the EU’s climate-neutrality pathway.

Norway’s Impact Assessment Regulations require EIAs/SEAs for covered plans and projects with potentially significant environmental and societal effects. Developers must prepare assessment documentation as part of the planning and permitting pathway, and authorities must apply procedural rules before approvals are granted. The regime has applied since 1 July 2017 and includes an infringement penalty mechanism (Section 36) for clear procedural breaches and failure to comply with remedial orders. This makes early screening, complete documentation, and disciplined process governance critical for schedule and legal risk management.

Norway’s wastewater framework, aligned with the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, requires municipal wastewater discharges to be controlled through permits under the Pollution Control Act unless regulations specify otherwise. Compliance is continuous and permit-based, covering treatment performance, monitoring, reporting, and operational controls. Authorities can compel compliance with coercive fines under the Pollution Regulations, and breaches can trigger penalties under the Pollution Control Act.

France requires large companies to conduct an energy audit every four years, covering most of their energy use across buildings, processes and transport. Audits must be performed by accredited professionals and identify efficiency opportunities. Companies may comply instead by implementing an ISO 50001 energy management system. SMEs are exempt. Documentation must be retained and accessible to authorities. Non-compliance may result in administrative penalties or affect access to public support. The scheme supports France’s and the EU’s long-term energy efficiency objectives.