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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
REGULATORY ISSUES & UPDATES -
Recent Evolution of the European Regulatory Framework on Greenwashing -
Two new Directives adopted by the EU in 2024—the "Empowering Consumers Directive" and the "Green Claims...more
6/20/2024
/ Air Pollution ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Air Act ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Human Rights ,
Net Zero ,
Power Plants ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainability ,
Tax Credits
As part of the Fit for 55 Package of the EU Green Deal, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism("CBAM"), adopted through Regulation (EU) 2023/956 of May 10, 2023, is considered by the EU institutions as a key tool to become...more
In Short -
The Situation: A new set of measures has been adopted in France which will promote "Green Industry" by streamlining environmental and industrial authorization and supporting low-carbon industrialization...more
11/3/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Construction Project ,
Environmental Policies ,
France ,
Green Buildings ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Industrial Sector ,
Industrial Space ,
New Regulations ,
Permits ,
Real Estate Development ,
Real Estate Investments ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Urban Planning & Development
"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
REGULATORY ISSUES & UPDATES -
European Taxonomy Regulation Extended to Natural Gas and Nuclear Energy -
The regulation is likely to create new opportunities for natural gas and nuclear energy in the European Union,...more