Last week, the UK Government published an updated International Environmental Protection Report (IEPR), in line with its requirements under Article 21 of the Environment Act 2021. Covering April 2024-March 2026, this document contains information on environment and climate policy and legislative developments within the UK’s OECD counterparts, main trading partners and multinational organisations, and follows the first version that was published in 2025.

The report, which is structured in line with the government’s latest Environmental Improvement Plan, provides wider coverage of EU developments than the initial 2022-2024 report, incorporating key updates such as the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the revision to the Waste Framework Directive. IEEP UK’s research (here and here) has shown that these are legislative changes that have opened up UK-EU divergence in these areas. Ahead of the European Partnership Bill, which is likely to enter parliament later this year, the government’s greater awareness of these developments – some of which may present opportunities for dynamic alignment – is welcome.

Ben Reynolds, IEEP UK’s Executive Director, commented:

‘We welcome the publication of this second edition of the International Environmental Protection Report, which provides a more comprehensive summary of EU and other legislative developments than the initial version published last year. As we move towards the tabling of the European Partnership Bill later this year, it is good to see the UK Government taking a greater interest in these developments.’

‘Whilst this edition benefits from a clear read across to the framing and priorities of the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan, it would be helpful for future versions to draw out the significance of some of these legislative developments, particularly in comparison to current UK standards. As the government considers greater EU alignment across a range of environmental areas, these examples, particularly those from other European countries, provide inspiration for EU standards to act as a baseline, and not a ceiling for environmental ambition.’

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