The EU's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), designed to ensure that no products that contribute to deforestation are sold in, or exported from, the EU, continues to be criticized by EU Member States and major market players....more
On July 4, 2025, the Commission adopted a set of measures to simplify the application of the EU taxonomy, in the form of a Delegated Act amending the Taxonomy Disclosures, Climate and Environmental Delegated Acts....more
7/10/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Fossil Fuel ,
New Regulations ,
Nuclear Power ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Taxonomy
On June 18, 2025, the presidency of the EU Council and representatives of the European Parliament agreed on substantial changes to the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM)....more
After a number of rounds of drafts, the EU Council has signed off on its position regarding the revisions to CSRD and CSDDD brought about by the Omnibus....more
6/26/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
New Regulations ,
Omnibus Guidance ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
Trump Paves Way for Coal Renaissance and Targets State Climate Change Efforts -
In early April, President Trump issued several presidential actions to revive the coal industry, including rolling back environmental...more
6/19/2025
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Congressional Review Act ,
Deregulation ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Executive Orders ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Infrastructure ,
NEPA ,
Oil & Gas ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Trump Administration ,
UK ,
Zero-Emission Vehicles
As discussed in a previous article, the European Union is seeking to "bring competitiveness and climate goals together," and therefore launched a reform package—the Omnibus package—regarding sustainability reporting and...more
6/13/2025
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Compliance Dates ,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Investment ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
On May 21, 2025, the European Commission filed a proposal to postpone the implementation of the due diligence obligations in Regulation 2023/1542, concerning batteries and waste batteries (the “EUBR”). The proposal would push...more
6/6/2025
/ Batteries ,
Compliance Dates ,
Corporate Governance ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Policies ,
European Commission ,
Member State ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Supply Chain ,
Waste Disposal
On May 28, 2025, the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany, sided with the defendant energy company in a landmark climate change litigation case brought by a Peruvian farmer. The farmer wanted the energy company to pay (in...more
6/2/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Liability ,
Damages ,
Environmental Claims ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Policies ,
Farmers ,
Farms ,
Flooding ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Germany ,
Global Warming ,
Inland Waterways ,
Peru ,
Property Owners
On May 22, 2025, the EU Commission adopted an implementing regulation to the EU's Deforestation Regulation ("EUDR") in which it identified the risk classification of countries as “low, standard or high risk” required under...more
The European Commission revised the Code of Best Practices for the conduct of State aid control procedures. The revised Code opens a pathway for NGOs to challenge State aid decisions on EU environmental law grounds....more
5/19/2025
/ Best Practices ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
New Regulations ,
NGOs ,
Nonprofits ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
State Aid
European Regulation 2023/1542, concerning batteries and waste batteries (the “EUBR”), is a dark horse. While it includes a number of restrictions associated with hazardous materials embedded in batteries, and...more
5/5/2025
/ Batteries ,
Conflict Mineral Rules ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Lithium Batteries ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
For better road safety and air quality across the EU, the European Commission is proposing a comprehensive overhaul of the EU's road safety and vehicle registration rules....more
Just as the European institutions adopted a Stop The Clock before a deep dive on Omnibus provisions, a coalition of NGOs filed a formal complaint on April 18, 2025, with the European Ombudsman. They claim the European...more
4/21/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
NGOs ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Sustainability ,
Taxonomy ,
Transparency
On April 15, 2025, the EU Commission published a new Guidance Document, new frequently asked questions (FAQs), and a proposal for a new Delegated Act designed to simplify the compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation...more
4/18/2025
/ Due Diligence ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Forestry ,
Imports ,
New Guidance ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
The European Commission hosted an event on April 10 on “Implementation Dialogue on Environmental Assessments and Permitting”. The purpose of these types of meetings is to simplify and reduce regulatory and administrative...more
4/15/2025
/ Constitutional Challenges ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
France ,
Infrastructure ,
NGOs ,
Permits ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy
On April 3, 2025, the European Parliament adopted, by an overwhelming majority, a Directive that would “stop the clock” on certain reporting requirements under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as...more
In parallel to the proposed “Omnibus”, which will likely revise the 2020 Taxonomy Regulation, the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance just issued a 397-page report recommending revisions to the technical screening criteria of...more
Chemical recycling of plastic is at a turning point in Europe, with several large projects poised to start but still facing regulatory and market challenges. As highlighted in the study recently published by consultants...more
4/3/2025
/ Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
New Legislation ,
Plastics ,
Public Health ,
Recycling ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Waste Management
In its meeting of March 20, 2025, the European Council expressed its support of the so-called Omnibus Package proposed by the European Commission on February 26, 2025. The Omnibus Package includes significant changes to EU...more
3/31/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
A Peruvian farmer's climate action lawsuit against a German energy company was continued recently before the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany....more
3/28/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Appeals ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Damages ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Claims ,
Environmental Liability ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Farms ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Germany ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Oil & Gas ,
Property Damage
New Carbon Removal Certification Framework in Europe -
A voluntary certification framework adopted by the EU aims to enhance the credibility and transparency of carbon removal activities within the EU to support its...more
3/27/2025
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Executive Orders ,
Greenwashing ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Sustainability ,
Trump Administration
On November 27, 2024, the European Union ("EU") adopted Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products (the "Carbon Removal...more
The European Union published its long-awaited "Omnibus" package, proposing to delay key European ESG rules, while simultaneously reducing the applicability and burden of corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence...more
2/27/2025
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Investors ,
Omnibus Guidance ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sustainability
New ESG regulations are expected to have a significant impact on disclosure and governance obligations for EU and non-EU companies alike, including extensive sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements on...more
12/11/2024
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hague Convention ,
Infrastructure ,
Pollution Control ,
Shell Oil
On January 1, 2025, the new emission targets set out by Regulation (EU) 2023/851 of April 19, 2023 and Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of April 17, 2019 for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles will enter into force in the...more