Goods imported into the UK from countries with a lower or no carbon price will face a levy by 2027.
On 18 December 2023, the UK government announced a proposal for a new carbon border adjustment mechanism (UK CBAM)....more
The Taxonomy aims to define green and transition economic activities to identify and allocate capital to sustainable projects and initiatives.
On 3 December 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled the...more
The Supervisory Body published the Methodology Guidance and the Removal Guidance to be presented for discussion in COP28.
After two years of discussion, the Supervisory Body (SB) responsible for determining the...more
The artificial intelligence platform is the most recent development in Singapore’s green initiatives as part of Project Greenprint.
A new platform called “Gprnt.ai” (Gprnt), which launched in November 2023, aims to unify...more
The Act demonstrates the UK’s renewed commitment to reaching net zero and paves the way for players in key industries to achieve their targets.
On 26 October 2023, the UK Energy Act 2023 (the Act) received Royal Assent....more
11/1/2023
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Storage ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
National Energy Act ,
Net Zero ,
New Legislation ,
Nuclear Power ,
Public Projects ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tender Offers ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
The framework claims to set the “gold standard” for companies to contribute to the net zero transition while emphasising ambition, action, and accountability.
The UK Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) launched its...more
10/12/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
COP ,
Federal Agency Taskforce ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Framework Agreement ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Regional Greenhouse Initiative ,
Strategic Planning ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
Developments span the climate disclosure landscape, risk factor disclosure, and diversity-related efforts.
In advance of the annual shareholder proposal and annual reporting preparation season, we believe that a number of...more
The EU regulators are reviewing the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation introduced in 2021, exploring the need for potential additional adjustments.
On 14 September 2023, the European Commission initiated a...more
9/27/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Finance ,
Investment Products ,
SFDR ,
Sustainable Finance ,
UK
Governor Newsom has committed to signing into law two bills that would require certain companies that do business in California to disclose their GHG emissions and climate-related financial risks.
In January 2023,...more
On September 18, 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) published recommendations for organizations’ assessment, management, and disclosure of nature-related issues (the Recommendations). These...more
The Green Technical Advisory Group, which is guiding the UK government’s implementation of a UK Green Taxonomy, has issued detailed advice for the upcoming legislation.
In September 2023, the Green Technical Advisory Group...more
As ESG regulation in Asia develops at an increasing pace, Latham lawyers give an update on noteworthy developments across the region....more
8/28/2023
/ Asia ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Hong Kong ,
Japan ,
Monetary Authority of Singapore ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Singapore ,
South Korea
The UK standards will aim to increase the comparability and value of reported information for investors.
The UK government announced on 2 August 2023 that it will develop standards for company sustainability disclosures...more
8/4/2023
/ Advisory Committee ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
IFRS ,
Investors ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The adoption of the standards marks a key milestone for reporting under the CSRD.
On 31 July 2023, the European Commission (Commission) adopted the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), following a four...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
On June 26, 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) released its first two standards for sustainability disclosures, which are designed to facilitate the disclosure of sustainability-related information...more
The ASA conveyed a sense of urgency, as it believes influencing consumer behaviour will be an important part of meeting UK net zero targets.
On 23 June 2023, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) published an...more
6/29/2023
/ Advertising ,
Advertising Standards Authority ,
Climate Change ,
False Advertising ,
Greenwashing ,
Guidance Update ,
Marketing ,
Misleading Statements ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
The FTC will likely update Green Guides provisions, impacting corporate decision-making in marketing and throughout the value chain.
Latham & Watkins is pleased to present a series of Clients Alerts on environmental,...more
6/28/2023
/ Advertising ,
Chemicals ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Claims ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Green Guides ,
Green Marketing ,
Greenwashing ,
Marketing ,
Recycling ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
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 forthcoming guidelines will set supervisory expectations to steer financial institutions’ transition planning processes to facilitate decarbonisation efforts by their clients.
On 8 June 2023, the Monetary Authority...more
6/22/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Monetary Authority of Singapore ,
Rating Agencies ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Risk Factors ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
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
The public consultation seeks input on the priorities, strategic direction, and future work of the ISSB.
On 4 May 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) launched a public consultation to seek input...more
The EU has implemented a range of measures to promote the sustainability and competitiveness of the battery value chain.
Batteries play a crucial role across key sectors of the global economy and society, helping to...more
A recent letter from 21 state Attorneys General to various asset managers demonstrates a focus on using antitrust and unfair competition laws to oppose ESG efforts.
Key Points:
..ESG investing initiatives are not...more