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is strict, so the enforcing authority does notneed to show that the polluter intended tocause the contamination or was otherwise atfault. Updated statutory guidance in relation toEPA was issued in April 2012.Those doing business in the UK must alsoconsider the European and internationalbackground in assessing environmentalresponsibilities and the potentially very costlyconsequences of breaching environmentalcontrols.Increasingly, EU and UK legislation is directedtowards energy efficiency, the reduction ofCO2 emissions and improving air quality. Allentities which are electricity suppliers licensedunder the Electricity Act 1989 are required toprovide evidence that they have suppliedcustomers with a certain amount of electricitygenerated from renewable sources. On 1 April2010 the UK brought in a mandatory UK-wide“cap and trade” emissions trading scheme forlarge businesses and public sectororganisations, called the CRC EnergyEfficiency Scheme. This sits alongside theexisting EU Emissions trading scheme andClimate Change Agreements, which catchEnergy-Intensive Industries. The CRC EnergyEfficiency Scheme requires organisations withsignificant annual electricity bills to buy andtrade Allowances and to provide data to theGovernment about their energy use and CO2emissions. The aim is to provide an incentivefor private and public sectors to become moreenergy efficient and help the UK reduce itsoverall greenhouse gas emissions.Legislation for energy efficiency, reduction ofCO2 emissions and improving air quality islikely to be changed in the foreseeable future.It will become more onerous for businesses.PAGE 26