Environmental considerations are increasingly becoming a core business requirement rather than an optional extra. This session explores how integrating environmental thinking into decision-making can reduce risk, create value, support compliance, and strengthen long-term organisational resilience, while helping businesses respond to evolving stakeholder and regulatory expectations.

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ESG is increasingly being shaped by policy direction, regulatory signals, and shifting market expectations. This session explores how governments and regulators are influencing environmental and social performance through evolving frameworks, disclosure requirements, and strategic priorities, and what this means for organisations navigating an increasingly structured sustainability landscape.

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Biodiversity Net Gain introduces a formal requirement to deliver measurable improvements to biodiversity through development and land use change. This session explores the legal framework underpinning BNG, its implications for planning and compliance, and how it is being applied in practice across projects. It will also consider how organisations can navigate obligations effectively while integrating biodiversity considerations into decision-making and delivery.

Environment Bank will present case studies from their national network of Habitat Banks - exploring how BNG units are created, how they work with landowners to deliver high integrity nature recovery, and how they can support developers with effective BNG delivery options

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Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) represents a significant shift in how producers are held accountable for the environmental impacts of their products and packaging across the full lifecycle. This session explores the legal framework underpinning EPR, its key requirements, and what it means for compliance, reporting, and financial responsibility.

It will also consider how organisations can navigate evolving obligations in practice, and the implications for product design, supply chains, and operational decision-making as EPR regimes continue to develop and expand.

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This session delivered by Gillian Pratt, Deputy Director of Future Regulation at the Environment Agency will cover the future direction of environmental regulation, exploring the evolving regulatory landscape and the factors that are influencing this shift.

It will cover how regulation is advancing towards a smarter, more outcome‑focused and data‑driven system that supports compliant operators while holding polluters to account.

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Understanding key considerations is essential to navigating the development process effectively and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. This session will outline practical top tips for managing planning applications, addressing common legal and procedural challenges, and engaging effectively with planning authorities.

It will also explore how policy frameworks, environmental constraints, and statutory obligations influence decision-making, and how early consideration of these factors can help reduce risk, avoid delays, and improve project outcomes.

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The relationship between waste management and the circular economy is shaped by an evolving framework of environmental regulation, permitting requirements, and producer responsibilities. This session reflects on how current waste law supports—or at times constrains—the transition towards more circular practices, including reuse, recycling, and resource recovery.

It will also consider key legal principles such as the waste hierarchy, duty of care, and compliance obligations, alongside emerging policy developments influencing how materials are classified, managed, and kept in use for longer. Participants will gain insight into how legal frameworks are adapting to support circular economy objectives and what this means for organisations operating across the sector.

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Marcus Bell, Director of EPS' Ground Team & registered SiLC/SQP, EPS Ltd

TBC

The UK energy sector is undergoing significant change driven by evolving climate policy, market reform, and infrastructure regulation. This session explores the key legal and regulatory developments shaping the future energy landscape, including licensing, planning, and compliance frameworks.

It will also consider how these changes are influencing investment decisions, project delivery, and operational requirements across the sector, and what organisations need to anticipate as the legal environment continues to evolve in support of the energy transition.

Natural capital is increasingly being recognised as a framework for embedding the value of nature into decision-making, investment, and land management. This fireside chat will explore Fisher German’s experience in how emerging policy approaches are shaping the protection and enhancement of natural capital, and what this means for organisations operating across development, infrastructure, and environmental management.

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Christy Wells, Natural Capital Specialist, Fisher German LLP

Water quality is governed by a complex framework of environmental legislation, standards, and regulatory objectives designed to protect public health and aquatic ecosystems. This session explores the key policy drivers shaping water quality monitoring and regulation, including national standards, statutory duties, and evolving environmental targets.

It will also examine how policy is translated into regulatory practice, the role of monitoring in demonstrating compliance, and the challenges of ensuring consistent implementation across different catchments and sectors. Participants will gain insight into how water quality policy is evolving to address emerging pressures and improve environmental outcomes.