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The Association for Mineral Exploration is urging British Columbia Premier David Eby to appeal the Gitxaala Nation v. British Columbia decision, after the province’s Court of Appeal ruled on 5 December that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act incorporates UNDRIP and creates legally enforceable obligations. AME argues the ruling creates uncertainty for the province’s automatic online mineral claim system and the Mineral Tenure Act, despite the March 2025 Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF) changes. The group wants the legislature recalled to make “substantive” amendments to DRIPA and section 8.1 of the Interpretation Act before a 16 February 2026 appeal deadline.

Korean researchers led by Seungho Lee at Jeonbuk National University map five distinct lithium governance models in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico, linking them to commodity price cycles, geopolitical competition and the maturity of each country’s lithium industry. Chile’s hybrid regime with strong state oversight contrasts with Argentina and Brazil’s decentralised, market-led systems, Bolivia’s tightly controlled state-led model and Mexico’s largely rhetorical nationalisation stance. The two-stage decision-making framework signals that miners, battery manufacturers and state-backed investors must tailor project, offtake and JV strategies to country-specific political settlements rather than apply a single Latin America playbook.

Antofagasta CEO Iván Arriagada has been re-appointed chair of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) for a two-year term, succeeding Newmont chief Tom Palmer, who is retiring as CEO at year-end. Arriagada, who previously chaired ICMM from 2022–2024, helped establish the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management and backed the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) on common ESG benchmarks. His return signals continuity in ICMM’s 26-member CEO council as it executes its 2025+ strategy on tailings governance and responsible project development.

Engineers have again ranked as the UK’s second most trusted profession in the 2025 Ipsos Veracity Index, with a large majority of respondents saying they believe engineers tell the truth. The result places engineers just behind nurses and ahead of doctors, teachers and scientists in perceived honesty. For infrastructure and construction teams, this public confidence strengthens the mandate for engineers to lead on risk communication, safety decisions and major project trade-offs in areas such as flood defences, transport schemes and energy infrastructure.

A cross-party House of Lords Built Environment Committee warns that delays in the Building Safety Regulator’s gateway approval processes are stalling cladding remediation on high‑rise residential blocks. Peers say leaseholders are facing rising interim costs for waking watches, higher insurance premiums and extended scaffolding hire while schemes wait for sign‑off. The committee presses the government and BSR to streamline case handling and resource the regulator adequately so life‑critical façade works can proceed at pace.

Welsh MPs have warned that the Great British Railways (GBR) Bill, which centralises rail planning and operations under a new GBR body, fails to address Wales’s specific infrastructure and funding needs. They argue that the legislation does not correct historic underinvestment in Welsh rail, where enhancements such as electrification and capacity upgrades on key corridors like the South Wales Main Line lag behind those in England. For civil engineers, the dispute signals continued uncertainty over long-term funding envelopes and governance for major Welsh rail renewals and enhancements.

US Representative John Moolenaar is pressing the State Department over what he calls “well-documented” links between Ivanhoe Atlantic and Chinese state-owned enterprises, citing CITIC and Zijin Mining’s combined 39.5% stake in related company Ivanhoe Mines as of 2020 and a $1.8 billion Ivanhoe Mines–Liberia rail rehabilitation deal for Guinean iron ore. Ivanhoe Atlantic insists it is a separate entity from Ivanhoe Mines and says its Guinea iron ore project will supply only US and allied markets, avoiding China’s Trans-Guinean Railway. The dispute signals closer US scrutiny of indirect Chinese stakes in African iron ore and copper logistics.

The “independent” Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce commissioned by UK prime minister Keir Starmer has issued its final report calling for a “radical reset of [an] overly complex nuclear regulatory system”, signalling de facto deregulation of new build and life-extension projects. Proposals include streamlining multi‑stage Office for Nuclear Regulation licensing, compressing generic design assessment timelines, and reducing overlap with Environment Agency permitting. For civil and geotechnical designers on projects such as Sizewell C and future SMR sites, this could shorten consent and design-freeze periods but increase pressure to lock in safety‑critical assumptions earlier with less iterative regulatory scrutiny.

CITB is cutting several training grants from 8 January 2026 after a 36% rise in demand for services over four years outstripped static levy income, including removal of the short course training grant, ending funding for level 7 qualifications and long-course attendance, and standardising all non-apprentice achievement grants at £600. Employer networks will shift to 50% match funding with a narrower scope, and from 1 April 2026 large employers will move to a single funding offer and lose access to employer networks. Civil engineering and specialist contractors such as MB Roche, Balfour Beatty and Gypsum Limited warn the changes will hit SMEs’ ability to navigate grants and maintain skills pipelines in an already tight labour market.

The Federation of Master Builders has overhauled its builder contract templates to reflect the Building Safety Act 2022, explicitly allocating duty holder roles and clarifying who carries design, construction management and compliance responsibilities where architects and engineers decline principal designer duties due to insurance limits. Authored by contract specialist Sarah Fox, the new forms run to just 14–15 pages versus typical 80+ page industry contracts and are free for FMB members. For contractors on small to mid‑scale projects, this offers a practical route to documenting liability, reducing disputes and aligning site practice with the new safety regime.

British Columbia’s Court of Appeal has ruled in Gitxaala v. British Columbia that the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) incorporates UNDRIP and creates legally enforceable obligations, overturning a 2023 Supreme Court finding that DRIPA was not justiciable. The court held that B.C.’s automatic online mineral claim-staking system under the Mineral Tenure Act, used to grant claims on Banks Island between 2018 and 2020, is inconsistent with UNDRIP because it provides no opportunity for prior consultation. All B.C. mining-related statutes and regulations must now be interpreted as consistent with UNDRIP, signalling tighter consultation requirements at the mineral claims stage.

Ed Miliband has confirmed the government will deliver a full implementation plan within three months for the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s recent review recommendations, signalling a rapid timetable for regulatory change across the UK nuclear programme. The taskforce’s work is expected to affect licensing and consenting pathways for new large-scale reactors and small modular reactors, with direct implications for design approvals, site investigations and construction sequencing. Civil and geotechnical teams on nuclear projects should anticipate tighter programme constraints and potential revisions to safety case documentation and regulatory interfaces in early 2026.

UK net zero building targets for 2030 and 2050 are at risk, with a House of Commons energy security and net zero committee report warning of a shortfall of at least 250,000 construction workers for new housing alone, plus large numbers for retrofit. MPs call for a nationally recognised, industry-backed construction and retrofit skills programme, expanded “try-before-you-buy” training, and targeted public funding to support SMEs in taking on inexperienced trainees. The report also flags likely short‑term reliance on importing specialist skills unless domestic completion and retention rates in construction FE improve sharply.

Australia’s national AI plan abandons last year’s proposal for mandatory AI-specific guardrails, instead relying on existing workplace, privacy and safety laws while creating a $30 million AI Safety Institute from 2026 to monitor risks. The approach has split stakeholders, with Greens Senator David Shoebridge warning of “glib assurances”, while the Business Council’s Bran Black calls for a gap analysis before any new regulation. The Federal Government is expected to lean on mining’s AI experience in predictive maintenance, exploration analytics and automation to drive adoption in defence, education and infrastructure.

The Australian Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) has appointed 16 training and mining subject matter experts to a new strategic panel to steer national qualifications and competency standards. The group will advise on technical content for trades such as mobile plant mechanics, drill and blast operators and underground production roles, directly influencing units of competency and assessment requirements. For mine operators and contractors, the panel’s work will shape future training packages, apprenticeship structures and skills recognition across both surface and underground operations.

The Minerals Council of Australia has backed the Federal Government’s National AI Plan, urging a “dynamic” regulatory approach that supports rapid deployment of AI across mine planning, autonomous haulage and remote operations centres. MCA argues that prescriptive rules could slow adoption of tools such as machine-learning orebody models and predictive maintenance systems on large haul truck fleets and fixed plant. For geotechnical and processing teams, the stance signals continued policy support for data‑driven decision‑making rather than tight up‑front constraints on specific AI technologies.

Norway has imposed a moratorium on deep sea mining in its territorial waters until 2029, reversing its 18‑month‑old plan to license exploration across 386 offshore blocks covering about 38% of a 280,000 sq. km area in the Arctic. At least two companies that had applied for Norwegian licences targeting copper, nickel, manganese and rare earths will now face a minimum five‑year delay, with mining not expected before 2030. In contrast, US policy is accelerating, with The Metals Company seeking a commercial recovery permit over 25,160 sq. km and two exploration areas totalling 199,895 sq. km in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone, containing 1.63 billion wet tonnes of nodules.

Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission has filed a judicial review in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, arguing the province unlawfully denied its 14 member Tribes “Participating Indigenous Nation” status and limited them to notification-only engagement on major mines in the Taku, Stikine and Unuk headwaters. Projects cited include Skeena Gold and Silver’s proposed Eskay Creek open-pit gold mine near the Alaska–Canada border and Newmont’s Red Chris copper-gold mine, one of the first five schemes in Canada’s new Major Projects Office fast-track. The challenge leans on the 2021 R v. Desautel ruling, raising fresh legal risk for transboundary mine approvals and environmental assessments.

ACE and Autodesk are urging the UK government to develop a national “AI in Engineering” strategy to coordinate deployment of tools such as generative design, automated clash detection and model-based quantity take-off across infrastructure delivery. They argue that a government-led framework is needed to address data standards for BIM models, liability around AI-assisted design decisions and procurement rules for digitally enabled consultancies. For civil and geotechnical engineers, a formal strategy could accelerate adoption of AI for design optimisation, risk analysis and asset management while clarifying regulatory expectations.

SACOME has appointed Catherine Mooney as its new chief executive officer, placing a lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience in resources, energy and major projects at the helm of South Australia’s peak mining and energy body. Mooney has previously advised on large-scale project approvals, native title and land access, and complex regulatory frameworks affecting exploration and production. Her appointment signals continued emphasis on policy advocacy and permitting certainty for copper, uranium and critical minerals developments in South Australia’s Gawler Craton and emerging basin projects.

Scrapping the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) from 31 March 2026 will remove £1.3bn a year of funding that currently delivers energy‑saving retrofits to about 5,000 UK homes a month, cutting average bills by £150 but leaving the replacement Warm Homes Plan still delayed and undefined. Retrofit firms including Domna, Net Zero Renewables and Eco Approach warn that without at least a 12‑month ECO extension, up to 10,000 installer, coordinator and surveyor jobs and thousands of low‑income households in fuel poverty face a cliff‑edge. For contractors and consultants, the main risk is a multi‑year hiatus in funded retrofit pipelines, eroding hard‑won delivery capacity.

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act reforms negotiated between the Australian Federal Government and the Greens have been broadly welcomed by the resources sector, which is now pushing to shape detailed approval pathways and timelines. Industry groups are seeking clearer statutory timeframes for project assessments, more predictable offsets rules, and streamlined approvals for brownfield expansions, while accepting stronger biodiversity safeguards. Miners warn that without tightly defined processes and resourcing for the new EPA-style regulator, major projects in iron ore, critical minerals and coal could still face multi‑year delays and higher compliance costs.

Rail freight and passenger operators warn that the proposed Great British Railways (GBR) structure could “mark its own homework”, with the infrastructure manager, system operator and contracting authority concentrated in a single body rather than separated between Network Rail, ORR and DfT. Stakeholders fear this blurring of roles will weaken independent economic regulation of track access charges and capacity allocation on key freight corridors such as Felixstowe–Nuneaton. Concerns also centre on deterring international investment in rolling stock and terminals, where long-term concessions and predictable regulatory frameworks are critical.

The Minerals Council of Australia signalled it is ready to work with the Federal Government on policies to make the country’s minerals sector more competitive, following recent federal reforms affecting approvals, industrial relations and critical minerals strategy. MCA is expected to push for streamlined project permitting under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and more predictable royalty and tax settings to support long-life iron ore, coal and base metals operations. For engineers, any shift in approvals, closure regulation or infrastructure funding could materially affect project timelines, capital allocation and long-term mine planning.

Canada has ordered a national security review of the proposed US$53 billion merger between Teck Resources and Anglo American under the Investment Canada Act, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed. The review adds regulatory uncertainty and potential delay to combining Teck’s steelmaking coal and copper assets with Anglo’s global portfolio, which includes major operations in Chile, South Africa and Australia. Any conditions imposed could affect future capital allocation, mine divestments and approvals for large-scale brownfield and greenfield expansions in Canada.

Government has scrapped plans to abolish the reduced rate of landfill tax, dropping proposals that would have raised charges on non-contaminated construction spoil from £4 to £126 per tonne by 2030, a move house-builders said would add about £15,000 per home and £1.26bn to London projects plus £437m to HS2. Instead, the standard rate will track RPI and the lower rate will rise by the same cash amount, preserving the gap, while the tax exemption for quarry backfilling is retained. Industry bodies warn that, despite avoiding the steep hike, higher lower-rate uplifts (forecast to raise £420m by 2030/31) and new higher business rates for large quarries, cement and asphalt plants will still increase costs and could influence waste routing and materials strategies on major schemes.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will cut capital gains tax relief on disposals to employee ownership trusts from 100% to 50%, targeting a scheme now projected to cost £2bn in foregone revenue since its 2013 launch and affecting recent EOT conversions at firms such as Gilbert-Ash, Conlon Group, Cheetham Hill Construction and Martin-Brooks Roofing. The change is expected to save £900m a year, alongside frozen income tax and employer NIC thresholds from 2028/29 projected to raise £8bn through fiscal drag. Salary-sacrifice pension contributions will become taxable, adding £4.7bn, with a 2-point rise on dividend, property and savings tax rates raising a further £2.1bn.

Government backing for major schemes in the Autumn Budget has drawn a broadly positive response from the UK construction and infrastructure sector, which sees it as confirmation that capital projects remain central to the growth strategy. Industry bodies are focusing on delivery of large, long-term programmes such as rail upgrades, strategic road improvements and energy transition infrastructure, where multi‑year funding certainty is critical for contractor pipelines. For engineers, the key issue will be how quickly budget commitments translate into procurements, site mobilisation and resolved planning risk.

Budget 2025 commits the UK to expanding nuclear generation capacity while legislating to end oil extraction in the North Sea, signalling a structural shift in long-term energy infrastructure investment. New nuclear build and life-extension of existing stations will drive demand for large-scale civil works, including deep excavations, high-spec reinforced concrete containment structures and upgraded grid connections. Decommissioning of offshore oil assets will accelerate requirements for subsea plugging and abandonment, platform removal and repurposing of existing jackets and pipelines for carbon capture and storage or offshore wind.

Expansion of the UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme now offers a £2,500 grant for air-to-air heat pumps alongside the existing £7,500 support for air-source and ground-source units, making domestic air-conditioning eligible for government funding for the first time. Carrier Solutions UK, distributor of Toshiba systems, expects this to catalyse a residential air-conditioning market, particularly in flats and apartments currently using direct-electric or storage heating. Multi-split air-to-air systems, with one outdoor unit serving several rooms, are positioned as a practical retrofit route where conventional air-to-water heat pumps are hard to install.

Former Association of Mining and Exploration Companies South Australian director and 20‑year resources veteran has been appointed to the state’s new Coexistence board, set up to manage land access tensions between miners, farmers and other land users. The board is expected to advise on approvals and conditions for exploration and mining leases, with a focus on coexistence on freehold and pastoral land. For project teams, this signals closer scrutiny of stakeholder engagement, surface access agreements and disturbance footprints in South Australia.

Efforts to reform the Kimberley Process have stalled again after the World Diamond Council spent three years drafting a broader “conflict diamond” definition to include non-state armed groups and explicitly recognise artisanal and small-scale miners. The proposed wording aimed to move beyond the current focus on rebel movements against legitimate governments, addressing violence linked to private security forces, criminal gangs and abusive supply-chain intermediaries. Continued deadlock leaves producers, cutters and retailers operating under a narrow legal definition that diverges from NGO expectations and many downstream buyers’ ESG due-diligence standards.

The UK government plans to meet 30% of domestic demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements from UK sources by 2035 under a new 10‑year strategy. The plan mirrors US, Canadian and EU policies aimed at reducing reliance on China‑dominated supply chains for battery, wind turbine and electronics materials. For miners and processors, it signals stronger backing for domestic exploration, recycling capacity and mid‑stream refining projects, with permitting, ESG compliance and grid access likely to be key constraints.

Amey is urging HM Treasury to centre the Autumn Budget on long-term infrastructure investment to drive productivity, economic resilience and progress towards net zero. The firm’s submission calls for committed funding pipelines for transport and utilities, giving contractors and designers confidence to plan multi-year programmes and optimise whole-life asset performance. For geotechnical and civil practitioners, a stronger, more predictable capital programme would influence ground investigation demand, design workloads and the timing of major renewals across highways and rail.

The Federal Government will push its environmental law reforms bill through Parliament this week, aiming to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and streamline project approvals. Industry groups including the Minerals Council of Australia and the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies have backed the bill’s move towards “single‑touch” approvals and clearer timeframes for major mining and infrastructure projects. Miners expect reduced duplication between federal and state assessments, but are watching closely for any new offset, biodiversity and cultural heritage conditions that could affect permitting risk and project schedules.

The UK government has released a new Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at expanding domestic mining, processing and recycling capacity to reduce dependence on highly concentrated international supply chains for materials such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements. The strategy targets growth in UK extraction projects in regions like Cornwall and Scotland, alongside investment in midstream processing plants and battery-grade refining linked to gigafactory developments. For civil, mining and geotechnical practitioners, this signals future demand for new mine infrastructure, tailings and water management schemes, and brownfield mineral recovery projects.

Housing developments within walking distance of “well-connected” rail and tram stations in England will receive a planning “default yes”, backed by new ministerial powers to overrule local councils that block compliant schemes. The policy targets large, higher-density schemes around existing and new stations, effectively prioritising brownfield and airspace development over car-dependent greenfield sites. Transport and civil engineers should expect stronger pressure to integrate housing layouts with station access, multimodal interchanges and utilities upgrades, with planning risk reduced for schemes meeting the new hub criteria.

A government-commissioned Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce has issued a 162-page Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025 with 47 recommendations to cut delays and costs on projects such as Hinkley Point C, whose first reactor has slipped from a 2025 to at least a 2029 start-up. Led by former Office of Fair Trading chief executive John Fingleton, the taskforce calls for a unified Commission for Nuclear Regulation, a ‘one‑stop shop’ for approvals, and merging the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator into the Office for Nuclear Regulation. The review targets “unnecessary over‑specialisation” in components from bolts to cranes, urging greater use of commercial off‑the‑shelf solutions and clearer risk proportionality to save tens of billions in decommissioning and improve constructability.

The Welsh government has launched a Built Environment Mission Statement and a Digital Action Plan for Construction, committing to project bank accounts (PBAs), prioritising retrofit over new build, and promoting offsite prefabrication of large components. Developed with Constructing Excellence in Wales, the digital plan targets productivity gains, better project delivery and “future‑ready” skills, backed by a forward pipeline of public sector contracts to give earlier visibility of workload. The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 now makes socially responsible construction procurement a statutory duty, requiring public bodies to agree well-being objectives with trade unions or staff representatives.

Roads Australia will rebrand as Transport Australia following member approval at its recent Annual General Meeting, signalling a shift from a roads‑only focus to a broader, multimodal transport remit. The peak body, which has spent more than a decade convening governments, contractors and consultants on issues such as road funding models, asset management and decarbonisation, will now explicitly cover rail, ports and integrated transport networks. For civil and transport engineers, this points to policy forums and guidance increasingly framed around whole‑of‑network planning rather than discrete road projects.

BS 30417 introduces the UK’s first formal standard for inclusive PPE sizing and fit, moving away from legacy designs based on a single “average man” template. The standard sets out anthropometric measurement guidance, fit-test protocols and size-range requirements so items such as fall-arrest harnesses, hi-vis garments and safety footwear can accommodate women, ethnic minorities and workers with non-standard body shapes. For contractors and asset owners, it signals future procurement specifications where PPE suppliers must evidence compliant size ranges and documented fit assessments rather than offering limited S–XL ranges.

Holcim UK’s readymix concrete division managing director Alastair Meyers is calling for environmental product declarations (EPDs) to be made a legal requirement on all UK construction projects, arguing they are essential to meeting national net zero targets and eliminating greenwashing. EPDs, which can report up to 37 indicators including carbon footprint, energy use and waste, are already widely used in Europe but remain voluntary in the UK. Meyers says mandatory EPDs would enable like-for-like material comparisons, standardise assessment frameworks, and notes Holcim can already generate digital, on‑demand EPDs across its UK operations.