Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice Update, July 2023

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Regulatory and Reporting Developments

United States

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Completes the Launch of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Opportunities

On July 14, 2023, the EPA announced two notice of funding opportunities for up to $20 billion. Up to $14 billion will be allocated via the National Clean Investment Fund through a competition that will provide grants to two-to-three national nonprofit clean financing institutions that can partner with the private sector to fund clean technology projects, with at least 40 percent of the capital going to low-income and disadvantaged communities. Up to $6 billion will be allocated via the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator through a competition that will provide grants to two-to-seven nonprofits that can provide funding and technical assistance to local community lenders working in low-income and disadvantaged communities to develop clean financing capacity. Applications for each competition must be submitted by October 12, 2023.

Both programs are part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, an element of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that authorized $27 billion to mobilize investment in clean energy in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The two July announcements follow the EPA’s June 28, 2023, announcement of the notice of funding opportunity for $7 billion via the Solar for All program, which will allocate funds through a competition that will provide up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to expand residential solar installations in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Closes Comment Period on Demand-Side Hydrogen Initiative

Last month, the DOE, through a notice of intent (NOI), solicited industry feedback on how it could best support demand for clean hydrogen produced by its Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program. The DOE intends to invest up to $1 billion over multiple years in demand-side mechanisms that support clean hydrogen off-takers for the H2Hubs program. The NOI sought industry feedback on program design and structure, with an emphasis on how the H2Hubs program could best complement existing incentives, including hydrogen tax credits, and how the program could streamline the development of standard offtake contract terms and price transparency. The comment period for the NOI closed on July 24, 2023. The DOE has not yet provided details on when it plans to release a funding opportunity announcement that incorporates the feedback solicited in the NOI.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Announces Task Force to Address Fraud in Carbon Markets and Convenes Second Meeting on Voluntary Carbon Markets

In an effort to combat fraud and manipulation in voluntary carbon markets, in late June 2023, the CFTC created the Environmental Fraud Task Force. The Environmental Fraud Task Force will prosecute fraud and misconduct related to claims made in derivatives and spot markets about the purported environmental benefits of purchased carbon credits and misrepresentations about ESG products and strategies. In July 2023, the CFTC convened its second meeting on the voluntary carbon markets, addressing recent private sector initiatives for high quality carbon credits; current trends and developments in the cash and derivatives markets for carbon credits; public sector initiatives related to carbon markets; and market participants’ perspectives on how the CFTC can promote integrity for high quality carbon credit derivatives. Comments from the Commissioners asserted the CFTC’s ability to regulate the voluntary carbon credit spot market against fraud and manipulation as within the CFTC’s authority.

Please see our client alert for additional information related to the Environmental Fraud Task Force and other related CFTC initiatives.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Extends Pilot Program to Accelerate Patent Examination Based on Climate Change Mitigation

The USPTO recently extended the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program—in which qualifying utility nonprovisional applications are advanced out of turn (i.e., accorded special status)—until a first action on the merits is complete, into an expanded second phase. Originally implemented on June 3, 2022, the initial phase of the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program ended June 5, 2023. The initial phase was focused on innovations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The second phase, which started on June 7, 2023, will continue until either June 7, 2027, or the date the USPTO accepts a total of 4,000 grantable petitions (considering petitions granted under both the phase 1 and phase 2 programs), whichever occurs first. This second phase of the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program is expanded to a broader range of technologies designed to support progress toward achieving net-zero emissions, such as products or processes designed to: 1) remove greenhouse gases already present in the atmosphere; 2) reduce and/or prevent additional greenhouse gas emissions; and/or 3) monitor, track, and/or verify greenhouse gas emission reductions.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Releases Sample Letter to Companies Regarding China-Specific Disclosures

On July 17, 2023, the SEC released a sample comment letter addressing China-specific company disclosures. Several of the sample comments relate to “Commission Identified Issuers” under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and one sample comment asks for additional detail about the risk of government intervention into and control of the business. The last sample comment asks for disclosure by a company with operations in, or with counterparties that conduct operations in, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) about how the business is impacted by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prohibits the importation of goods from the XUAR as a means of thwarting forced labor.

Maine Considers Advancement in Power Grid Operations to Unlock Grid-Edge Technologies

Last month, Maine enacted legislation requiring the state to explore the establishment of a Distribution System Operator (DSO) to: 1) oversee integrated system planning for the distribution grids used to deliver electricity from the interstate transmission system to consumers in the state; 2) operate those distribution systems; 3) administer an open market for distributed energy resources (DERs); and 4) help achieve Maine’s greenhouse gas reduction obligations and other climate policies. The bill requires selection of a qualified consultant by January 1, 2024, to study a DSO’s ability to reduce consumer electricity costs, improve electricity system reliability, and accelerate the deployment of DERs and the achievement of Maine’s climate goals. If the study shows that a DSO could achieve those goals, the consultant will conduct a second study to develop a specific DSO design proposal. If ultimately implemented, the DSO proposal could facilitate better coordination between Maine’s distribution systems and the regional transmission system operated by ISO New England, Inc. (ISO-NE), establish an open DER market similar to the wholesale power market administered by ISO-NE, use real-time energy data to optimize system operations, and optimize the use of battery storage systems interconnected to Maine’s electricity distribution system. The law will take effect in September 2023 and requires the Governor’s Energy Office to submit a final report to Maine’s legislature by January 1, 2025. The law requires the state to provide meaningful opportunities for stakeholder engagement during the study process.


Europe

European Commission (EC) Adopts Negotiating Directives for Electric Vehicle (EV) Critical Minerals Deal with U.S.

Last month, the EC approved negotiating directives for a potential critical minerals trade partnership with the U.S. supporting the production of EV batteries. The approval is the most recent development in a lengthy effort between the U.S. and the European Union (EU) to establish a trade agreement supporting EV supply chains. After the U.S. enacted the IRA, which contained a number of incentives to support the development of a U.S. clean technology supply chain, the EU adopted the Green Deal Industrial Plan to support the competitiveness of Europe's net-zero industry. As discussed in our March update, U.S. President Biden and EC President von der Leyen began negotiations earlier this year on an agreement centered on extending IRA section 30D tax credits for critical minerals extracted or processed in the EU. Following their approval by the EC, the Council of the EU must now authorize the negotiating directives before the EU can begin formal negotiations with the U.S. on the critical minerals agreement.

EC Proposes New Biodiversity and Waste Legislative Package

On July 5, 2023, the EC adopted a waste and biodiversity package under the “natural resources” pillar of the European Green Deal. The package includes proposals for: 1) a new soil monitoring law; 2) new rules on food and textile waste; 3) new rules on new genomic techniques; and 4) regulations on the production and marketing of plant and forest reproductive material. The new soil monitoring law aims to give soil a legal status similar to that of air and water and seeks to establish an EU-wide monitoring framework of soil damage and rules for sustainable soil management. The proposed food and textile waste rules seek to establish new legally binding targets (e.g., restaurants, food services, and households must reduce food waste by 30 percent) and mandatory producer responsibility schemes (e.g., textile producers should cover the costs for waste management generated by their products). The proposed new rules on new genomic techniques strive to facilitate market access for plants created using newer gene-editing tools that can help increase the sustainability and resilience of the food system. Finally, the law on plant and forest reproductive material promises to streamline the registration and certification process for new plant varieties and measuring their resilience through sustainability testing (e.g., disease resistance). These proposed laws must still go through the EU legislative process and may be subject to amendment and revision, if they pass into law.

United Kingdom (UK) and France Adopt Joint Biodiversity Initiative

On June 22, 2023, the UK’s Environment Secretary and French State Minister launched a Global Roadmap (the Global Roadmap) to support the private sector’s contribution to nature recovery by expanding the market for biodiversity credits. These credits, like carbon credits, allow companies to invest in projects that contribute to nature recovery (e.g., in a rainforest, ocean, grasslands, or other habitats globally), with these companies then receiving credits based on the project’s environmental impact. Biodiversity credits record the project’s location, developer, and measurement and verification processes for transparency. The Global Roadmap includes suggestions to improve governance and monitoring mechanisms and the fair redistribution of income to indigenous people and local communities through biodiversity credit funding, with the goal of mobilizing private financing for conservation and restoration efforts. The joint UK-French initiative aims to preserve and enhance ecosystem integrity, connectivity, and resilience, expanding natural ecosystem area by 2050, and aligning financial flows with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (also known as the “Paris Agreement for Nature”), by working with businesses and investors to unlock new finance streams for nature recovery. The Global Roadmap seeks to support the development of international milestones, which will be under discussion at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), where financing for biodiversity is expected to be high on the agenda.

UK Financial Regulator Launches Draft Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Providers

On July 5, 2023, the UK Data and Ratings Working Group (DRWG), working within the remit of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), published a draft voluntary Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Product Providers. The Code sets out six best practice principles for ESG ratings and data products providers ranging from ensuring that appropriate governance arrangements are in place to securing quality through the implementation of written policies and procedures to ensure issuance of high quality ESG ratings and data products. The DWRG is an industry working group set up at the FCA’s request and brings together international stakeholders from the UK, the EU, and the U.S. representing ESG ratings and data products providers (e.g., asset managers, asset owners, and banks). Consultation on the draft will be open until October 5, 2023. Publication of the voluntary Code of Conduct follows the EC’s recent proposal for a Regulation on the Transparency and Integrity of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Rating Activities, which we discussed in our June update.

EC Unveils Proposed Green Freight Transport Measures

On July 11, 2023, the EC released a series of proposals targeting emissions reductions in road and rail freight transport. In an effort to incentivize the adoption of electric trucks, which typically feature heavy battery systems, the proposal would increase the maximum weight allowed for trucks. The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament.


Asia

Chinese Ministry of Finance Extends Tax Breaks for New Energy Vehicles Through 2027

The Chinese Ministry of Finance announced that it would extend its existing tax breaks for eligible EV, hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles (NEVs) through 2027. Purchasers of NEVs in China in 2024 and 2025 will be eligible for a tax exemption of up to 30,000 yuan. Starting in 2026, the exemption will be halved to up to 15,000 yuan per purchase. The announcement marks the fourth time the Chinese Ministry of Finance has extended the tax break for NEVs.

Thailand Issues Phase One of Its Green Taxonomy

On June 30, 2023, the Bank of Thailand, Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Climate Bonds Initiative published Phase I of the Thailand Taxonomy, a classification system of economic activities deemed to be environmentally sustainable. Phase I of the Thailand Taxonomy focuses on economic activities relating to the energy and transportation sectors, which account for a significant share of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and have high energy intensity. Thailand joins countries in the EU, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Colombia, and South Africa, among others, that have adopted environmental taxonomies to support transition finance.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Takes Steps to Improve ESG Reporting and Access to Climate-Related Data

On June 22, 2023, MAS, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation executed a statement of intent to develop digital ESG credentials for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

On June 27, 2023, MAS, the Secretariat of the Climate Data Steering Committee, and Singapore Exchange executed a memorandum of understanding to improve stakeholder access to key climate transition-related data.

On June 28, 2023, MAS launched a public consultation on a voluntary industry governance framework and code of conduct for providers of ESG ratings and ESG data products, which is modelled after the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ recommendations of good practices set out in its global call for action from November 2022. The proposed regime would be voluntary. The consultation ends on August 22, 2023.

Australia Releases Draft Guidance on Environmental and Sustainability Claims

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) released draft guidance for business related to environmental and sustainability claims. The 39-page guidance outlines eight principles for trustworthy environmental claims: 1) make accurate and truthful claims; 2) have evidence to back up your claims; 3) do not hide important information; 4) explain any conditions or qualifications on your claims; 5) avoid broad and unqualified claims; 6) use clear and easy-to-understand language; 7) visual elements should not give the wrong impression; and 8) be direct and open about your sustainability transition. The draft guidance provides examples related to each principle, discusses the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement approach, and provides an overview of Australia’s legal framework around businesses’ sustainability claims.

Standards and Frameworks Updates

IFRS Foundation to Monitor Climate Reporting Guidelines Around the Globe

In connection with the release of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 – General Requirement for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information, and IFRS S2 – Climate-related Disclosures, discussed in our June newsletter issue, the IFRS Foundation announced that it will assume responsibility for monitoring progress towards the use of ISSB-compliant disclosure standards. The Foundation will be taking over this duty from Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and will begin its obligations in January of 2024 when IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 become effective.

Key Shareholder Trends

2023 Proxy Proposal Report

Between January 1, 2023, and July 14, 2023, 237 companies in the S&P 500 held annual meetings. Those companies received 623 Rule 14a-8 stockholder proposals, 106 proposals related to environmental issues, 277 proposals related to social issues, and 181 proposals related to corporate governance issues. Between June 15, 2023, and July 14, 2023, S&P 500 companies received 31 Rule 14a-8 stockholder proposals, of which three related to environmental issues, 19 related to social issues, and nine related to corporate governance issues.

Stockholders have voted to approve one environmental, six social, and 14 governance proposals. Notably, in the social category, stockholders of Kroger Co. narrowly (51.89 percent) approved a proposal requesting that the company report on both quantitative median and adjusted pay gaps across race and gender, including associated policy, reputational, competitive, and operational risks, and risks related to recruiting and retaining diverse talent. Kroger is one of 10 companies that included a shareholder proposal related to pay disparity in its proxy statement but is so far the only company where such a proposal has passed.

We will continue to monitor ESG-related Rule 14a-8 proposals this proxy season.

BlackRock Plans to Extend Proxy Voting Choices to U.S. Retail Investors

BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock) announced that it intends to extend its proxy voting choice program, which was established in 2022 and has only been available to institutional investors, to investors in its iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, its largest exchange-traded fund. This means that investors in the S&P 500 ETF will be able to determine how the fund’s shares vote at companies’ annual meetings. As discussed in our March update, several asset managers have similar voting choice programs.

Labor, Employment, Benefits, and Human Resources Updates

New York City Begins Enforcing Automated Employment Decision Tools Law

On July 5, 2023, New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection began enforcing the city’s Automated Employment Decision Tools law, which technically took effect on January 1, 2023. The law requires employers to comply with strict requirements whenever using an “automated employment decision tool”—meaning any computational process, derived from machine learning, statistical modeling, data analytics, or artificial intelligence, which issues a simplified output (including, but not necessarily limited to a score, classification, or recommendation) that is subsequently used to substantially assist or replace the discretionary decision making of natural persons when deciding whether to hire a candidate or promote an existing employee. Failure to comply with any requirement of this new law—including its requirement to conduct an annual bias audit of such tool—can result in fines ranging from $500 to $1,500 per violation (and each day on which an automated employment decision tool is used in violation of this law is treated as a separate violation).

Please see our client alert for a detailed discussion of the law’s requirements.


Racial/Ethnic Pay Equity Analysis Remains Uncommon Within the Russell 1000

JUST Capital issued a report, following up on reports issued in 2021 and 2022, on racial and ethnic pay equity transparency and progress. The report states, among other things, that 24 percent (or 229) of the 951 companies tracked in the Russell 1000 disclose conducting a pay equity analysis focused on race and ethnicity and, among those, only 85 companies disclosed the results of their analyses. Of those 85 companies, 34 reported achieving pay parity on a racial and ethnic basis, meaning that the employees of color at those companies are paid on par with their similarly situated white co-workers.

Litigation and Enforcement Actions

Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Decision Rejecting Books and Records Demand

As discussed in our June update, on June 27, 2023, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued a decision rejecting a books and records demand by a longstanding stockholder of The Walt Disney Company (Disney) that was aimed at investigating alleged wrongdoing by the Disney board in overseeing Disney’s response to Florida Governor DeSantis and the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, or HB 1557. Please see our client alert for additional information related to this case.

Delaware Court of Chancery Finds Fiduciary Duty Breach in Canadian Energy M&A Case

On June 30, 2023, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued an opinion in In re Columbia Pipeline Group, Merger Litigation, in which it held the board of directors of TC Energy Corp. (TransCanada) liable for breach of the fiduciary duty of loyalty and disclosure in its 2019 acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group. Under the decision, plaintiff class members may receive $1 per share for the loyalty claim, or, if they are unable to recover under the loyalty claim, $0.50 per share for the disclosure claim.

Attorney Generals in GOP-Led States Ask Sixth Circuit to Invalidate SEC Proxy Advice Rule

Last month, Attorneys General in 26 GOP-led states filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, supporting an appeal brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to invalidate a rescission of a 2020 SEC proxy voting advice rule. The recission, which was promulgated in 2022 by the SEC, invalidates limits imposed by the Trump administration on how proxy advisory firms provide voting recommendations to their clients. Specifically, the rescinded rules required that proxy advisory firms provide recommendations to their clients and to companies at the same time. Additionally, the rescinded rules required that proxy advisory firms provide their clients with timely notice of company statements about the firm’s voting recommendations.

Top EU Court Confirms That European Investment Bank Cannot Avoid Environmental Scrutiny of Financing Decisions

On July 6, 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held that the European Investment Bank (EIB) evaded necessary environmental scrutiny of its financing decisions, by refusing a request by ClientEarth to carry out an internal review of its decision to grant a €60 million loan for the construction of a Spanish biomass plant. According to the claimant, EIB’s decision to finance this project breached certain environmental criteria necessary for a project to be eligible to receive EIB financing (as these criteria were described in EIB’s 2009 Statement of Environmental and Social Principles and Standards).The EU’s “Aarhus Regulation” grants the public the right to demand an internal review of a decision like the EIB’s in this instance, where they contravene environmental law, and the right to challenge the institution’s action before the EU Courts. The ECJ concluded that the bank erred in rejecting the internal review request made by ClientEarth, since the EIB’s approval of a financing proposal for a construction project constitutes an “administrative act” under the Aarhus Regulation (i.e., it produces legal effects by definitively determining the eligibility of a project for financing by the EIB based on its environmental and social aspects).

Capitol Hill Activities

Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) Introduces Anti-ESG Bill in House

On June 21, 2023, Republican Congressman Andy Barr introduced the Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Act would amend the Employment Retirement and Security Act of 1974 by prohibiting retirement managers from considering ESG factors when making investment decisions for retirement funds.

Federal Government Initiative Updates

DOE Loan Programs Office (LPO) Announces Conditional Commitment for EV Manufacturing Facility Expansion

On June 22, 2023, the DOE’s LPO made a conditional loan commitment of up to $9.2 billion, to support the construction of two EV battery manufacturing plants located in Kentucky, and one located in Tennessee. At capacity, the plants are expected to produce more than 120 gigawatt (GW) hours in battery production annually for Ford Motor Company (Ford) vehicles.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Approves 1.1 GW Offshore Wind Farm

On July 3, 2023, BOEM, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), issued a Record of Decision approving the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Ocean 1 Wind Project. Ørsted North America, Inc., which is developing the project, may now commence construction. At capacity, the project is expected to produce about 1.1 GW of wind, which will make it the largest offshore wind project in the U.S. The project contributes to the Biden administration goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind generation by 2030.

Department of Transportation (DOT) Awards $1.7B for Clean Bus Awards

Last month, the DOT awarded nearly $1.7 billion in funding, made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), to support clean bus deployment in state and local transit fleets nationwide. Nearly half of the buses built through the awards will be zero emissions buses, and a subset will be low emissions buses.

Wilson Sonsini's Sustainability Highlights

Wilson Sonsini Speaks on Sustainability and Competition Law Panel at Cambridge (UK) University

Wilson Sonsini partner Jindrich Kloub joins other top legal experts at Informa PLC’s Competition Law Summer School, which will be held at Downing College, Cambridge from July 31 to August 4, 2023. The panel will address Sustainability and Competition Law.

Wilson Sonsini Moderates Panel on Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Wilson Sonsini partner Scott Zimmermann moderated a panel entitled “Sustainable Aviation Fuel Outlook Post IRA” at the RNG & SAF Capital Markets Conference, which was held on July 24-26, 2023, in Houston, Texas. The panel examined where North American sustainable aviation fuel production stands today and what the road ahead looks like for scaling and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel.

Wilson Sonsini Advises Underwriters in Nextracker’s $662.5 Million Offering of Class A Common Stock

On June 28, 2023, Nextracker Inc. announced that it priced its combined primary (synthetic secondary) and secondary underwritten public offering of 16,500,000 Class A common stock offered by Nextracker and certain selling stockholders, at an offering price of $36.50 per share. Wilson Sonsini advised the underwriters on the transaction.
Please see our client highlight for more information about the transaction and the Wilson Sonsini team involved in the transaction.

Wilson Sonsini Joins Infocast’s CCS/Decarbonization Project Development, Finance & Investment Summit

Wilson Sonsini partner Todd Glass was a featured speaker at Infocast’s CCS/Decarbonization Project Development, Finance & Investment Summit, which was held on July 24-26, 2023, in Houston, Texas.

Wilson Sonsini Participates in Panel Discussion on Renewable Energy Credits

As profiled in our June update, Wilson Sonsini participated in a panel discussion at the Center for Resource Solutions on July 12, 2023, on the legal basis for the use of renewable energy credits in the U.S.

Written by:

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Contact
more
less

PUBLISH YOUR CONTENT ON JD SUPRA NOW

  • Increased visibility
  • Actionable analytics
  • Ongoing guidance

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati on:

Reporters on Deadline

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
Custom Email Digest
- hide
- hide