Landmark legislative impact
Financial flows
Pension Schemes Act 2021
The first statutory provisions globally to align the actions of pension schemes, worth £1.64 trillion in assets, with the Paris Agreement, helping to drive significant emissions reductions.
Energy reform
Energy Act 2023; Great British Energy Act 2025
A new net zero duty for energy regulator Ofgem, and a sustainability objective for GB Energy – supporting investment in a low carbon energy system and a fair transition.
Financial markets
Financial Services Act 2021; Financial Services and Markets Act 2023
The first statutory requirements for UK financial market regulators (FCA and PRA) to consider both climate and nature across all their functions, impacting firms managing over £11 trillion in assets.
Pollution
Water (Special Measures) Act 2025
A legal duty for water regulator Ofwat and the water industry to contribute to UK climate and nature targets, including requirements for all water companies to submit pollution reduction plans to help clean up our waterways.
Green investment
UK Infrastructure Bank Act 2023
Nature-based solutions and energy efficiency added to the remit of the UK Infrastructure Bank, unlocking up to £40 billion of finance.
Built environment
Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023
Securing cross-party support for changes to building regulations to report and limit whole life carbon emissions, alongside concerted efforts to improve energy efficiency and healthy homes leading to the introduction of the Warm Homes Plan.
Land stewardship
Crown Estate Act 2025
A new climate and nature duty for the Crown Estate, strengthening the environmental role of one of the UK’s largest landowners across its 185,000 acres of land,12,000km of coastline and the seabed.
Nature protection and restoration
Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025
Strengthened planning rules requiring developers to protect species and habitats, uphold environmental safeguards, and support access to green and blue spaces for public health.
Health
Health and Care Act 2022
Climate and environmental goals embedded across the national health and skills frameworks - with NHS England reporting that its direct emissions are down 14% over the last five years, after it was the first healthcare system to embed net zero in legislation.
Skills, R&D
Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022; Advanced Research and Invention Agency Act 2022; Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Act 2025
New duties for Skills England and the £800m Advanced Research and Innovation Agency to support delivery of the UK’s climate and nature targets – ensuring major public bodies support climate and nature goals and build the pipeline for a growing green economy through their priorities, funding and delivery.
