World leaders, scientists, government decision-makers, private sector actors, climate actionists and other stakeholders have convened at 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on...more
The last several weeks of unexpected and unprecedented political events have thrown even more confusion into the presidential election. While the outcome of a now Harris-versus-Trump race is maybe even more uncertain, we do...more
Good afternoon! This is Akin’s newsletter on climate change policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major climate policy headlines from the past week and forthcoming climate-related events and hearings...more
The ACOEL webpage “About Us” states that we are to be “Advocates for environmental law and process for a better environmental future.” Allow me to throw down this gauntlet to Members: What “better environmental future” is the...more
The IRA created substantial tax credits for SAF. Under Section 40B, SAF producers who meet certain requirements can claim a credit of at least $1.25 per gallon of SAF. Among other things, eligible SAF must achieve lifecycle...more
Replace, Reduce and Remove. The 3Rs that constitute the three-pronged approach espoused by PUB, the national water agency of Singapore, in its hefty goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2045....more
El Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (MADS o MinAmbiente) de Colombia publicó para comentarios el Proyecto de Decreto que pretende modificar y adicionar el Decreto 1076 de 2015 en el sentido de flexibilizar las...more
The California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) reviews the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) program every five years as part of the broader scoping plan required under the California Global Warming Solutions Act. On...more
COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, came to an end in Dubai on December 13, 2023. The nearly 200 states reached what has been labelled a “historic” agreement...more
Our climate emergency has spurred all kinds of innovation around alternatives to the combustion of fossil fuels to generate energy. Today's Boston Globe reports on two different streams of that innovation that couldn't be...more
Governor Baker signed the climate bill (H.5060), titled An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, into law on Thursday August 11, 2022. The act combines and modifies provisions from the House’s proposed offshore wind...more
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, passed by the Senate on August 7, 2022, includes a number of provisions projected to result in significant investments in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and reduce carbon...more
Blocking funding for gas energy projects in Africa may seem like sensible climate policy. But is it? Although the generally accepted ultimate goal is to replace fossil fuels entirely, there is a strong case for starting by...more
Decarbonising Natural Gas and LNG - Natural gas and liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) have long been hailed as one of the winners of the current energy transition when compared to other fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide (“CO2”)...more
If 2020 was the year of the great energy disconnect, 2021 was the year the people carrying out the energy debate appeared to be living on different planets, floating aimlessly through time and space and never intersecting...more
“Decarbonization” and “Electrification” are the buzzwords floating around Illinois following Governor Pritzker’s signing of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (the “Act”) on September 15, 2021. As the largest and most...more
Much has been written and discussed in the last several months about SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies. What is a SPAC, and what are the possible applications of this capital raising and acquisition strategy in...more
During its 2020 Session, the General Assembly passed and Governor Northam signed into law HB 1526/SB 851, the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA or Act). The VCEA codified the clean energy directives included in Executive Order...more
Under the Biden Administration, environmental sustainability as a means to combat climate change has been thrust into the spotlight as an emerging national imperative. This was made clear through President Joe Biden's...more
Much has been written about the role of hydrogen in the context of energy transition and the path to net zero. Putting aside for the moment the degree of investment and innovation required to get from where we are now to...more
On February 3, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier proclaimed that Germany had exceeded its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels. Despite clearly being aided by the deep economic slump...more
On the eve of the new Biden Administration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated a key greenhouse gas rule created by the Trump Administration. The Biden Administration also swiftly rejoined the Paris...more
DOI unveils plan to weaken protections for millions of acres of California desert - Reuters – January 13 - The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on Wednesday proposed weakening environmental protections for millions...more
With the unexpected—but slim—Democratic Senate majority in the wake of two wins in Georgia, President-elect Joseph Biden and Congressional Democrats have new opportunities to enact pro-climate energy and environmental policy....more
Trump Administration Approves Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for Land Leasing, Oil Drilling - "The Trump administration continues to roll back environmental protections and opening doors for the fossil fuel industry in...more