In the December 2023 edition of Regulatory Updates in Asia ESG we provided an update on how jurisdictions across Asia are responding to the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards. Several regulators in...more
9/3/2024
/ Asia ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
COP ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hong Kong ,
IFRS ,
International Regulatory Standards ,
IOSCO ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On 16 May 2024, the government published updated guidance regarding the UK Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) framework.
The SDR was first set out in Greening Finance: A Roadmap to Sustainable Investing in...more
5/28/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
New Guidance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Transitional Arrangements ,
UK
The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and Singapore Exchange Regulation have provided details of mandatory climate reporting for listed issuers and large non-listed companies.
On 28 February 2024, the...more
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
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
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 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 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
An evolving landscape of reforms in the ESG ratings sector continues to pose challenges to providers of ratings and scores.
International momentum to regulate ESG ratings continues as the European Commission released a...more
6/16/2023
/ Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Data Collection ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Global Market ,
HM Treasury ,
India ,
IOSCO ,
Japan ,
Ratings ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Agenda
The Commission is also consulting on proposed targeted amendments to the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act and on the Taxonomy Disclosures Delegated Act.
On 5 April 2023 the European Commission opened a consultation on its...more
4/18/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Union Delegated Act (EUDA) ,
Green Finance ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Taxonomy
The consultation considers what a potential regulatory regime would look like, and its proposed scope.
On 30 March 2023, HM Treasury published a consultation on regulating ESG ratings providers, which ties in with and...more
3/31/2023
/ Consultation ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Green Finance ,
HM Treasury ,
IOSCO ,
Rating Agencies ,
Rating System ,
Ratings ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Third Country Entities (TCEs) ,
UK
Latham lawyers highlight key takeaways and developments in the sustainability space from the second half of the year.
...more
12/22/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Forced Labor ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Investment Funds ,
Sustainability
The FCA hopes the proposals will protect consumer trust in ESG-related financial products and help consumers navigate the increasingly complex ESG-related financial market.
On 25 October 2022, the UK’s Financial Conduct...more
The FCA emphasised the increasing prevalence of providers and the potential harm from lack of regulation in this area.
In June 2022, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a Feedback Statement in response to a...more
The proposed taxonomy for green and transition activities is aligned with increasing global demand for clear and consistent classification of sustainable finance activities.
In May 2022, the Green Finance Industry...more
The triggering of the CCM under the UK ETS and ongoing consultations under UK Reach signal speedbumps in the transition process.
On 30 November 2021, the UK government’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial...more
12/16/2021
/ Cap-and-Trade ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Emissions Trading System ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
EU ETS ,
Fuel Supply ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Oil & Gas ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
The SBTi’s standard aims to clarify the target for net zero emissions, whilst the Common Ground Taxonomy indicates China-EU cooperation on sustainable finance issues.
Last month, the Science Based Targets initiative...more
11/17/2021
/ China ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Green Finance ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Greenwashing ,
Net Zero ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Taxonomy ,
Working Groups
Green shoots emerge as PE firms consider new ways to incorporate ESG into dealmaking.
Market sentiment and the increasing importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) to firms’ competitiveness across the...more
10/7/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting ,
General Partnerships ,
Limited Partnerships ,
Private Equity ,
Private Equity Funds ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
SFDR ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UK
Both bourses are seeking to incorporate the TCFD recommendations into their sustainability reporting regimes, extending a trend of convergence in regional ESG reporting standards.
On August 26, 2021, the Singapore...more
Strategy positions UK as a world leader in the hydrogen space, supporting 9,000 plus jobs and unlocking £4 billion in investment by 2030.
On 17 August 2021, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy...more
Discussion Paper opens debate on potential new rules to improve diversity in financial services.
On 7 July 2021, the FCA, the PRA, and the Bank of England published a joint Discussion Paper on diversity and inclusion in...more
7/8/2021
/ Bank of England ,
Banking Sector ,
Comment Period ,
Consultation ,
Discussion Draft ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
UK
The FCA is proposing a disclosure regime for asset managers, life insurers, and pension providers.
On 22 June 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/17) on introducing climate-related financial disclosure...more
6/28/2021
/ AIFM ,
Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Insurance Industry ,
Pensions ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The FCA is consulting on extending its rules to standard listed issuers.
On 22 June 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/18) on extending the application of the existing climate-related disclosure...more
6/28/2021
/ Asset Management ,
Capital Markets ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Issuers ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting ,
G7 ,
IFRS ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
Proposed changes to the UK Listing Rules would allow certain SPACs to avoid a listing suspension.
Key Points:
..The FCA is proposing to amend its rules so that SPACs meeting certain conditions and disclosure...more