The decarbonisation of the built environment is likely to be on the UK Government’s agenda as it looks to make good on its commitment at COP29 to cut carbon emissions by 81% from 1990s level by 2035. How will this be achieved? Will Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards play a part, will we see more green leases or more building accreditations and is the UN’s Building Breakthrough initiative beginning to make a substantive difference?

A central pillar of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is the Government’s intention to shift power out of Whitehall and into the hands of local authorities.  Proposals to give local authorities the power to auction off vacant high street units have already made headline news – we look at how the Government proposes this may work in practice.

Environment analysis: As part of our series of environmental analyses preceding the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), this news analysis focuses on the role of private finance in achieving the emission reduction goals of the Paris Agreement. It discusses the four main objectives of private finance work identified in the pre-COP26 strategy report, Building A Private Finance System for Net Zero, and how they are set to be delivered.