REGULATORY ISSUES & UPDATES -
Update on Australia's New Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Regime -
Australia's mandatory climate-related financial disclosure regime is inching closer to implementation after the proposed...more
9/23/2024
/ Clean Air Act ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Greenwashing ,
Popular ,
Tax Credits
On July 4, 2024, the UK general election took place, and the Labour Party won with a significant majority. After 14 years of Conservative Party rule, a number of changes are now expected in respect of the UK's position on...more
9/18/2024
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Reform ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Green Energy ,
Green Finance ,
Net Zero ,
Oil & Gas ,
Popular ,
UK ,
Wind Power
The Situation: On June 20, 2024, the UK Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in R (on the application of Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) (Appellant) v Surrey County Council and others (Respondents) [2024]...more
7/19/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Oil & Gas ,
Popular ,
UK ,
UK Supreme Court ,
Urban Planning & Development
On April 24, 2024, the European Parliament voted to adopt the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CS3D"). As described in a recent Jones Day Alert, this followed the Council of the European Union ("the...more
The UK government's decision to rollback and delay policy commitments designed to help achieve net zero by 2050 will be challenged in the High Court later this year....more
The government has published updated documentation under the Building Regulations 2010 confirming that new residential buildings in England, which are 18 metres or more in height, will be required to have a second staircase....more
In December 2023, the United Kingdom's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ("DESNZ") launched two consultations to garner views on the efficient operation of the UK's Emissions Trading Scheme ("ETS")....more
On November 28, 2023, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") published its long-awaited final rules and guidance on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements ("SDR") and investment labels. According to the FCA, it intends...more
3/14/2024
/ Alternative Investment Funds ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreign Investment ,
Greenwashing ,
SFDR ,
Sustainable Finance ,
UK
The Situation: On January 17, 2024, mandatory biodiversity net gain ("BNG") regulations took effect, impacting most new developments in England.
...more
2/20/2024
/ Biodiversity ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Construction Project ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK ,
Urban Planning & Development
The Situation: The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act ("the Act") was passed by Parliament and became law on 26 October 2023.
The Development: The UK government states that the Act will "speed up the planning system,...more
Over recent years, we have seen an office sector where occupiers are taking less space and using it in a different way in the United Kingdom, even when compared to five years ago. That trend, which was accelerated by the...more
With an abundance of natural resources and a diverse population, Brazil is well-placed to lead ESG initiatives and could be uniquely positioned to propel sustainable practices in the region. As an increasing—though still...more
On September 18, 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures ("TNFD") released its final recommendations for disclosures on nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities. The TNFD aims to...more
On September 14, 2023, the European Commission launched two consultations on the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation ("SFDR"): One targeted at public bodies and expert stakeholders, and one aimed...more
Businesses are increasingly making environmental assertions as they seek to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to consumers. This trend, however, is leading to tougher measures from national regulators as they...more
At a global level, the decarbonization of the health care sector has been coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) COP26 Health Programme, launched at the COP26 climate summit in November 2021. Under this program,...more
8/16/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
COP ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Healthcare ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Renewable Energy ,
Supply Chain ,
World Health Organization
"Green Day" in the UK -
As part of its "Powering Up Britain" strategy, the UK government has published a series of documents setting out its vision for the UK's transition to net zero and the strengthening of UK energy...more
March 30, 2023, was dubbed "Green Day" in the United Kingdom ("UK"), as the government published numerous policy statements, consultation responses, new consultations, and guidance, which all form part of its wider strategy...more
The deadline for organisations to complete and submit their UK Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme ("ESOS") reports for Phase 3 of the scheme is 5 December 2023....more
A controversial decision to approve a new coal mine in Cumbria, England, which will seek to supply coking coal to be used in the steel-making industry, is being challenged. Friends of the Earth ("FOE") and the South Lakes...more
The UK's former Energy Minister, Chris Skidmore MP, has conducted an independent review of the UK government's Net Zero Strategy. The strategy seeks to ensure that the UK reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% from 1990...more
Researchers from Oxford Net Zero, a University of Oxford interdisciplinary research initiative dedicated to climate neutrality, and other climate-focused organizations, have proposed a policy mechanism to combat climate...more
Net-Zero Review -
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ("BEIS") has commissioned an independent review of the UK government's approach to delivering its net- zero target, in a way that is...more
REGULATORY ISSUES & UPDATES -
UK Introduces New Climate-Related Disclosure Regulations for UK Companies and LLPs -
The Companies (Strategic Report) (Climate-related Financial Disclosure) Regulations 2022 ("the...more
6/1/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Energy Reform ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Greenwashing ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Companies (Strategic Report) (Climate-related Financial Disclosure) Regulations 2022 ("the Regulations") came into force on April 6, 2022. The Regulations amend the Companies Act 2006 and largely implement the...more