Air emissions and sustainable transport

Key developments

This sub-topic contains the following trackers covering key developments relating to air emissions and transport emissions:

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EU environment tracker 2025—climate action and air emissions—this tracker tool covers key new and upcoming EU legislation and consultations linked to the EU’s climate action and emissions reduction targets. The EU has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions progressively up to and beyond 2030 with the ultimate aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. These emissions targets have driven rapid developments in recent energy and environmental policy and legislation, including the launch of the European Green Deal and the enactment of the European Climate Law.
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To review legal developments from 2024, see Practice Notes: EU environment tracker 2024—climate action, energy, and emissions and EU environment tracker 2024—sustainable transport. Note that ongoing sustainable transport initiatives have now been combined into the 2025 tracker.

Air emissions—EU legal and policy framework

Poor air quality is a major health risk, which also causes environmental and economic impacts. Air pollution also damages materials and buildings, and some air pollutants behave like greenhouse gases

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Latest EU Law News

Competition Law update–charging ahead (Alphabet and Others)

Competition analysis: In Alphabet and Others before the Court of Justice, Advocate General Laila Medina issued an Opinion (the ‘Opinion’) on 5 September 2024 concerning the interpretation of the prohibition against abuse of a dominant position under Article 102 TFEU. The case concerns Google's refusal to facilitate the interoperability of its Android Auto platform with JuicePass, an app which offers features for navigating to, and using, electric car charging stations. The Opinion proposes that dominant undertakings may be required to grant access to their digital platforms, even if the Bronner conditions (being that (i) the refusal is likely to eliminate all competition in the market; (ii) the refusal is incapable of being objectively justified; and (iii) the service is indispensable to carrying out that person's business) are not met. The Opinion, if followed by the Court of Justice, would have significant implications for the technology and digital markets sectors, requiring developers of digital platforms to consider third-party access. It also has the potential to directly affect competition for digital services relating to electric vehicle charging. Written by Rebecca Williams (partner) and Jack Moulder (senior associate) at Watson Farley & Williams LLP.

EBA launches 2025 EU-wide stress test

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has launched its 2025 EU-wide stress test and released the macroeconomic scenarios. The EBA expects to publish the results of the exercise at the beginning of August 2025. As part of the EBA’s EU-wide stress test, the European Central Bank (ECB) will stress test a total of 96 directly supervised banks in 2025.

MiCA: ESMA statement on provision of cryptoasset services in relation to non-MiCA compliant ARTs and EMTs

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a statement regarding the compliance of certain cryptoasset service providers (CASPs) with the EU’s Market in Crypto Assets regulation (MiCA) for non-compliant asset-referenced tokens (ARTs) and electronic money tokens (EMTs). The statement responds to adoption by the Commission of a Q&A clarifying which CASPs provided in the EU may constitute an offering to the public or an admission to trading (respectively under Articles 16(1) and 48(1) of MiCA) of non-MiCA compliant ARTs and EMTs. ESMA states that in order to ensure that CASPs transition smoothly to align their services promptly with the Commission’s guidance, National Competent Authorities (NCAs) should ensure compliance as soon as possible and no later than the end of Q1 2025.

Updated hate speech Code integrated into EU DSA to tackle online risks

The European Commission has welcomed the integration of the revised Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online into the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) framework. The updated Code includes commitments to allow monitoring by designated reporters, review the majority of hate speech notices within 24 hours, and engage in transparency and multi-stakeholder co-operation. The Commission emphasises that while voluntary, adherence to the Code can help demonstrate compliance with EU DSA obligations for designated platforms, subject to annual independent audits.