The updated guidance includes simplification measures allowing due diligence statements’ reuse, annual submission, and management by authorised representatives on behalf of companies....more
The Forced Labour Regulation creates a framework for investigation and enforcement against products made with forced labour.
On 19 November 2024, the EU Council (Council) adopted a regulation prohibiting products made with...more
12/2/2024
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Due Diligence ,
Enforcement ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Investigations ,
Member State ,
New Regulations ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The vote follows the European Commission’s proposal to delay application of the regulation by one year.
On 14 November 2024, the European Parliament (Parliament) voted in favour of the European Commission’s (Commission) ...more
11/19/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Due Diligence ,
Effective Date ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Exporters ,
Green Initiatives ,
Importers ,
Manufacturers ,
Member State ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD, or the Directive) took effect beginning 2024 and requires mandatory sustainability reporting by a first set of companies in 2025. Under the terms of the CSRD, the...more
10/2/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Infringement ,
Member State ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has issued a “first of its kind” decision in Asia, requiring South Korea to update its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
On 29 August 2024, South Korea’s Constitutional Court (the Court)...more
9/24/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Compliance Dates ,
Constitutional Courts ,
Corporate Counsel ,
European Court of Human Rights ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Human Rights ,
Japan ,
Member State ,
Presidential Decrees ,
South Korea ,
Taiwan
The ESPR aims to make sustainable products the norm in the EU, replacing the current Ecodesign Directive and introducing broader measures for sustainability....more
On 5 July 2024, the final text of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was entered into the Official Journal of the EU. The CSDDD will enter force on 25 July 2024. This marks the final key step in the...more
7/15/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Member State ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The CSDDD is set to impose mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for in-scope companies.
On 5 July 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was published in the...more
7/9/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Member State ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The regulation aims to restore 20% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030 and provide a launchpad for achieving long-term nature-related goals through 2050....more
6/28/2024
/ Biodiversity ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Land Preservation ,
Marine Life Protections ,
Member State ,
Natural Resources ,
Rehabilitation and Restoration Plans
On 24 March 2024, the European Parliament approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) with a vote of 374 in favour (compared with 235 votes against and 19 abstentions)....more
4/26/2024
/ Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Parliament ,
Member State ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The proposed regulation would ban forced labour-made products from the EU market, affecting companies’ supply chains and requiring compliance checks.
On 5 March 2024, the European Parliament and European Council...more
3/25/2024
/ Compliance ,
Compliance Monitoring ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
European Council ,
European Parliament ,
Exports ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Member State ,
Proposed Rules ,
Supply Chain ,
Third Country Entities (TCEs)
Following extended negotiations, the directive was endorsed with a significantly narrower scope that would reduce the number of companies affected.
On 15 March 2024, EU Member States endorsed the Belgian Presidency’s...more
3/18/2024
/ Belgium ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Council ,
European Parliament ,
Germany ,
Member State ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On 6 February 2024, the European Commission (Commission) presented its recommendations for the EU’s 2040 climate target, following a detailed impact assessment on potential emission reduction pathways. This publication aligns...more
The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which entered into force in January 2023, marks a new era for ESG reporting across Europe (and globally). CSRD is the latest in a wave of new rules...more
7/26/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Member State ,
Portfolio Companies ,
Private Equity ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Renewable fuels of non-biological origin would play an expanded role in satisfying EU decarbonisation targets.
The European Council has formally endorsed the proposed amendments to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the...more
7/7/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Green Energy ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Member State ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy
The Guidelines build on current social, environmental, and technological issues facing businesses following the last update in 2011.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released updated...more
6/27/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
Guidance Update ,
Member State ,
Multinationals ,
OECD ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Transparency ,
UK
The Commission issued its formal consultation on the ESRS with a number of proposed changes.
On 9 June 2023, the European Commission (Commission) issued its formal consultation on the European Sustainability Reporting...more
6/16/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Comment Period ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Materiality ,
Member State ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
Trialogue negotiations have begun following the parliament’s vote.
On 1 June 2023, the European Parliament voted to adopt its initial negotiating position on the EU’s proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence...more
The proposals form part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan and aim to scale up technology and materials for the energy transition.
On 16 March 2023, the European Commission (Commission) formally proposed two legislative...more
The Council’s position includes a number of differences from the European Commission’s original proposal, including in relation to the requirement to diligence the broader value chain.
On 30 November 2022, the European...more
The proposal highlights the growing global focus on companies’ human rights obligations not just towards employees but also towards workers in their supply chains.
On 14 September 2022, the European Commission (the...more
9/16/2022
/ Due Diligence ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Exports ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Manufacturers ,
Member State ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The consultations invite stakeholders’ views on the Environmental Liability Directive and the Waste Framework Directive.
In May 2022, the European Commission (Commission) issued public consultations in relation to the...more
In-scope companies would have to publicly identify “actual and potential” adverse impacts of their operations on the environment and/or human rights.
On 23 February 2022, the European Commission (the Commission)...more