Welcome to the October edition, and something of a new look for our newsletter. Whilst maintaining our focus on tracking and analysing divergence between UK and EU environmental policy, we are broadening our newsletter to better cover the breadth of our work, drawing on best practice from around the rest of Europe to raise the sights of UK environmental policy. To this end we will be introducing in future issues a spotlight on novel (and hopefully effective) policy approaches to issues we are grappling with across the UK. In this issue we also give a nod to new work by other organisations that relates to this aim.

Following our recent state of play report on UK-EU environmental policy divergence, we take a deeper dive this month into deforestation regulation. With the UK not yet having managed to get its own Forest Risk Commodity legislation in place, there are suggestions that with this delay and the Government’s new attitude to Europe, it may look to align with the EU’s Deforestation Regulation. However, with the EU looking to simplify (read: water down) the progressive regulations it passed, there will be question marks over what exactly the UK would be aligning with. 

With commitments on deforestation a major focus of the forthcoming COP in Brazil this November, we invite you to register for our webinar on this issue and join IEEP UK chair Malini Mehra, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero Pippa Heylings MP, alongside IEEP staff and other speakers.

Divergence Monitor

News: UK looking to avoid EU carbon border tax

The EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is due to come into force on 1 January 2026, whilst the UK is planning to introduce its own CBAM a year later on 1 January 2027. Following the UK-EU Reset in May, there is also an agreement to try to link the CBAMs and Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) for each jurisdiction. A new report in the I paper suggests that the UK and EU are hammering out a deal for a 'temporary fix' to avoid increased costs for British businesses, whilst negotiations for a wider deal continue.

Event Recap: IEEP UK Report Launch - Divergence in UK/EU Environmental Policy: State of Play 2025

On 15 September 2025, IEEP UK hosted an online webinar to launch our Divergence in UK/EU Environmental Policy: State of Play 2025 report, which provides an overview of the UK/EU divergence since Brexit across a broad swathe of environmental themes, from agriculture and biodiversity to waste and water. 

You can read the key takeaways from the session, or watch the full recording of the webinar, by following the link below. You can also explore the findings of the report through our interactive webpages, or download the full report here.

Briefing: Potential Divergence from EU Nature Law from the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The key aim of this briefing paper is to examine how nature protection in England could diverge from EU policies and legislation as a result of the PIB, especially in relation to the development of Environmental Delivery Plans and the new Nature Restoration Fund. The proposed changes are widely considered to be the most significant in the UK for decades. They would result in substantial divergence from the EU’s nature legislation and required practical procedures for protecting specific habitats and species within protected areas, as well as strictly protected species wherever they occur.

Other IEEP UK Highlights

Insight: Seven ways the new Defra Secretary of State can make her mark

As the new Secretary of State for Defra, Emma Reynolds will need to hit the ground running to calm the nerves of all the stakeholders that Defra deals with.  Businesses, farmers and green groups alike have had cause for concern in recent months as Defra has appeared to be sidelined in matters of major concern, whether it’s the Treasury and farming, or planning and nature. So, with a background in one and with Steve Reed (hopefully a new ally) in the other, will Reynolds set a new course, or is she here to tighten the ship?

Briefing: Resetting our shared environment – Party Conferences 2025 briefing

As part of IEEP UK’s presence at the 2025 party conferences, we produced a new briefing: 'Resetting our shared environment: How working with the EU can improve UK climate and nature standards and support economic growth'. This builds on our work on the UK-EU Reset and our latest Divergence in UK/EU Environmental Policy: State of Play 2025 report.

IEEP UK attended the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Party Conferences. Our Executive Director, Ben Reynolds, took part in a European Movement panel at the Liberal Democrat conference entitled 'The Future of UK-EU Environmental and Energy Cooperation'.

IEEP UK Events and Webinars

Webinar: UK FRC - What's next for deforestation regulation in the UK?

On 28 October 2025 (10.00-11.30 UK time), IEEP UK will be hosting a webinar on the upcoming UK Forest Risk Commodities (FRC) legislation, and potential for alignment with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), taking a closer look at the potential scope and timeline of UK FRC, exploring the case for alignment with the EUDR.

With the EUDR’s implementation recently delayed for a second time – and under wider pressure as part of the EU’s simplification agenda – this webinar comes at an important moment for action on deforestation in supply chains across the UK and EU. You can sign up using this link, or by clicking the button below.

What we've been reading this month...

• Circular economy policy in the UK: a post Brexit review (Green Alliance)

• 30by30 2025 UK Progress Report (Wildlife and Countryside LINK)

• New Government amendments to PIB intended to “streamline” Natural England’s planning advice role (CIEEM) 

• From sustainability to competitive-ness: what shifting narratives means for EU agricultural policy (IEEP AISBL)