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 regulation aims to minimise the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation.
The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) entered into force on 29 June 2023, following publication in the Official Journal...more
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
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
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 Commission has clarified requirements for financial product classifications and the definition of “sustainable investment” under the SFDR. ...more
5/24/2023
/ Alternative Investment Funds ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) ,
Financial Products ,
Investors ,
Market Participants ,
Marketing ,
Regulation Technical Standards (RTS) ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UCITS
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
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 latest proposals show the direction of travel in the increasingly expanding web of consumer protection regulation on sustainable products and initiatives.
Background -
The European Green Deal, presented by the...more
As part of the European Green Deal ambitions, the proposal encourages sustainable consumption through additional incentives to repair products to reduce waste and emissions.
On 22 March 2023, the European Commission...more
3/30/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Incentives ,
Net Zero ,
Repairs ,
Right to Repair ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Waste Management
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
Sustainable finance is the practice of redirecting public and private capital towards investments that support ESG goals and outcomes. The market dynamics of sustainable finance are driven by the need for enormous investments...more
The Plan aims to “simplify, accelerate and align incentives to preserve the competitiveness and attractiveness of the EU as an investment location for the net-zero industry”.
On 1 February 2023, the European Commission...more
2/10/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Industrial Space ,
Manufacturers ,
Net Zero ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Supply Chain
The EU’s latest initiative to enhance ESG disclosures will expand the requirements of earlier initiatives and bring considerably more companies within its scope.
On 5 January 2023, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting...more
Navigating a global patchwork of ESG regulation and enforcement while preparing for greenwashing claims and other ESG litigation will likely be among the main concerns for companies in 2023.
Both anticipated and less...more
1/6/2023
/ Board of Directors ,
C-Suite Executives ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Global Economy ,
Global Market ,
Greenwashing ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Shareholder Activism ,
Supply Chain ,
UK ,
Wage and Hour
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 CBAM would seek to mitigate carbon leakage through the imposition of a levy on carbon-intensive imports into the EU, while free allowances under EU ETS would be phased out.
On 13 December 2022, negotiators from the...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 European Securities and Markets Authority proposes to restrict ESG- and sustainability-related terms in the naming of funds, with an eye on the US and UK fund naming regimes.
On 18 November 2022, the European...more
Human rights due diligence standards are being negotiated at the international level, which may complement or complicate national and regional regulations.
Latham & Watkins is pleased to introduce a series of Clients...more
From 2024 at the earliest, more European and global companies will need to disclose their ESG activities in greater detail.
On 10 November 2022, the European Parliament adopted a final version of the Corporate...more
11/18/2022
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Financial Reporting ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
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
Mobile device manufacturers may be subject to regulations that aim to mitigate the environmental impact of such devices.
On 31 August 2022, the European Commission published draft “ecodesign” regulations covering various...more