Podcasts
What can the private sector do to promote and scale up climate adaptation?
Climate change is no longer a future threat, it’s a present-day reality that is reshaping economies, ecosystems, and societies around the world. As mitigation is no longer enough; adaptation is essential. Yet, despite increasing recognition of the need to invest in adaptation, global efforts remain fragmented and underfunded. In our… Read More
What are the challenges of decarbonising industry in the transition to a green economy?
Earlier this year, the European Commission set out its recommendations for implementing its clean industrial deal—aimed at supporting the EU’s decarbonisation goals while maintaining global competitiveness. Although sectors like electricity generation have seen substantial emissions reductions, many industrial areas still face a steep path ahead. In this episode of Top… Read More
Time to get real about hydrogen (and the regulatory tools to do so)
It’s ‘time for a reality check’ on the realistic prospects of progress towards the EU’s ambitious hydrogen goals, according to the European Court of Auditors’ (ECA) evaluation of the EU’s renewable hydrogen strategy.1 The same message is echoed in some recent assessments within member states, for example by… Read More
Financing the green transition: can private capital bridge the gap?
The green transition isn’t just about switching from fossil fuels to renewable or zero-carbon sources—it also requires smarter, more efficient use of energy. By harnessing technology, improving energy efficiency, and generating power closer to where it’s consumed, we can cut both costs and carbon emissions. In this episode of Top… Read More
Grey or Green Giants? Sustainability and (Exclusionary Abuse of) Dominance under Article 102 TFEU
The intersection of sustainability and competition law has gained increasing attention in recent years—particularly in the context of agreements, as evidenced by the new Horizontal Co-operation Guidelines from the European Commission,1 but also in discussions around merger control.2 However, one area remains underexplored: the role of… Read More
Cost–benefit analyses for public policy
Cost–benefit analyses (CBA) are commonly applied to public infrastructure projects where there is a degree of certainty about the physical output of the project and the consequent societal benefits. CBA can also be applied to proposed policy and regulatory changes, but there is less clarity about the outcomes and the… Read More
Spatial planning: the good, the bad and the needy
Unbalanced regional development is a common economic concern. It arises from ‘clustering’ of companies and resources, compounded by higher benefit-to-cost ratios for infrastructure projects in well developed regions. Government efforts to redress this balance have had mixed success. Dr Rupert Booth, Senior Adviser, proposes a practical programme to develop… Read More
Sustainable Divergence between the UK and the EU—the Fair Share Principle in Practice
As sustainability continues to grow in importance for businesses, regulators are starting to provide guidance on how competition law applies to ‘green agreements’. In our recent article, written alongside Linklaters, we examine how the European Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are shaping their frameworks to account… Read More
Reducing or removing CO2 emissions: Can offsets make the difference?
As countries and corporates focus on reducing emissions in line with European net zero targets up to 2050, in this article, Oxera Partner Sir Philip Lowe examines the use of offsets, particularly in hard-to-abate segments of the economy. Oxera’s research on… Read More
Water regulation in Italy: considerations on the new MTI-4
Ahead of the new regulatory period for the integrated water service, in December 2023, ARERA (Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente) published the decision setting the new regulatory framework for Italian water networks, the so-called MTI-4. According to the latest evidence, the regulation contributed to improve the outcomes… Read More