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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Council of the European Union ("EU") approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CS3D") on March 15, 2024. The CS3D contains due diligence and governance obligations that will have an extensive impact...more
3/20/2024
/ Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Deal ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Sustainability
The Council of Europe and the European Parliament announced on December 14, 2023, that they reached a political agreement on the text of the upcoming European Union ("EU") Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive...more
REGULATORY ISSUES & UPDATES -
Mandatory Climate Change Reporting Requirements Under the New European ESRS E1 -
The implementation of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards poses risks for reporting companies,...more
12/5/2023
/ Clean Water Act ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Data Protection ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Federal Agency Taskforce ,
Green Initiatives ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
NEPA ,
Net Zero ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
SFDR ,
State and Local Government ,
Sustainability ,
Taxonomy ,
U.S. Treasury ,
UK
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) requires the most detailed and onerous ESG reporting and disclosures anywhere in the world. All told, it is estimated that more than 50,000 companies, including...more
9/21/2023
/ Air Pollution ,
Biodiversity ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Parent Corporation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Sustainability ,
Water
In Short -
The Situation: Both the United Kingdom and European Union have recently announced proposals to introduce new legal instruments which address alleged greenwashing. When implemented, such legislation would...more
As of January 1, 2022, the first delegated acts adopted to supplement European Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of June 18, 2020 (the "Taxonomy Regulation") became applicable. The Taxonomy Regulation sets out a classification system...more