Green Policies, Regulations & Standards

Spain’s Real Decreto 390/2021 governs energy performance certificates for buildings. It requires most buildings or units to have a certified energy rating when they are sold or rented, and mandates that the energy label appear in all marketing materials. Certificates must be issued by authorised technicians, registered with regional authorities, and provided to buyers or tenants. The decree includes exemptions for very small detached buildings, certain industrial uses, and buildings destined for demolition, but it tightens requirements for tourist accommodation and advertising. It is a key tool supporting building-sector decarbonisation and transparency for buyers and tenants.

The Building Energy Act (GEG) establishes efficiency standards and clean-heating requirements for buildings in Germany. This article outlines obligations, deadlines, and compliance pathways for owners, developers, and heating-system installers.

The UK’s Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Regulation requires most new developments in England to deliver at least a 10% measurable increase in biodiversity. This article outlines what developers must do, how the system works, penalties for non-compliance, and examples of implementation.

Italy’s Law 221/2015 (“Collegato Ambientale”) introduces a broad set of measures to promote the green economy and strengthen environmental protection. It supports circular economy practices, resource efficiency, and environmental governance, often through enabling provisions that are implemented via secondary regulations. Obligations and penalties therefore, depend on the specific sector and implementing acts, but the law remains an important umbrella framework shaping Italy’s sustainability policy toolkit.

Greece’s Law 4643/2019 reforms the electricity market, creating the Day-Ahead, Intraday, Balancing, and Forward markets and aligning Greece with the EU Clean Energy Package. It strengthens consumer protections, introduces market coupling, and supports renewable integration through modern grid management. Suppliers, producers, and operators must follow strict market, pricing, and grid-compliance rules. Penalties apply for manipulation, non-compliance, and consumer-rights breaches.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act regulates the handling, offering for transport, and transportation of hazardous materials across Canada by road, rail, air, and marine modes. As Canada’s energy system transitions toward low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, biofuels, ammonia, and carbon dioxide for CCUS, the TDGA has increasing relevance for climate-related infrastructure and supply chains. The Act establishes classification, packaging, documentation, training, and emergency response requirements, enforced through inspections and penalties. Compliance is mandatory for companies involved in transporting fuels, chemicals, and energy-related materials, making the TDGA a foundational safety and risk-management law for net-zero technologies and logistics.

EU Extended Producer Responsibility requires producers to finance and organise the end-of-life management of products placed on the EU market. EPR applies across packaging, electronics, batteries, vehicles, textiles, and single-use plastics, with mandatory registration, reporting, and fee payment in each Member State. Obligations are legally binding and increasingly enforced, particularly against cross-border sellers and online platforms. Penalties include fines, back payments, sales bans, and reputational exposure. EPR is a central pillar of the EU Circular Economy and continues to expand in scope and cost.

The Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS) is South Korea's national cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. Launched in 2015, it was the first nationwide emissions trading system in East Asia and remains one of the world's largest carbon markets by emissions covered. The scheme requires major emitters to monitor, verify, and report greenhouse gas emissions, surrender sufficient allowances annually, and participate in a regulated carbon market. K-ETS is a central instrument in South Korea's strategy to achieve its nationally determined contribution (NDC) and long-term carbon neutrality goals.

The UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) is one of the world’s most influential air-quality treaties, covering over 50 countries. This article outlines its requirements, implementation status, obligations, penalties, and relevance for governments and industries.

Italy’s Legislative Decree 152/2006 establishes the national framework for environmental protection, including rules for waste, water, air, soil, and environmental permitting. It imposes strict obligations on waste producers, carriers, and treatment operators, and establishes extended producer responsibility schemes for packaging, batteries, WEEE, and other products. Businesses must classify, store, transport, and document waste correctly, participate in relevant EPR systems, and comply with permit and reporting requirements. Penalties range from administrative fines to criminal sanctions.