The FCA hopes the proposals will protect consumer trust in ESG-related financial products and help consumers navigate the increasingly complex ESG-related financial market.
On 25 October 2022, the UK’s Financial Conduct...more
The adopted position would mean that financial institutions fall under the remit of the regulation, requiring them to conduct additional due diligence on both established and new customers.
On 13 September 2022, the...more
The outcome of the review may signal what climate-related laws and policies to expect in the UK in the coming years.
On 8 September 2022, newly appointed UK Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that Chris Skidmore MP, a...more
9/27/2022
/ Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Emissions Trading System ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU Directive ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Net Zero ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UK
This Client Alert probes the ESG “materiality assessment” process, why it is a misnomer, when and how the assessment can be conducted, and legal and practical tips for conducting the assessment.
Companies have been...more
The proposal highlights the growing global focus on companies’ human rights obligations not just towards employees but also towards workers in their supply chains.
On 14 September 2022, the European Commission (the...more
9/16/2022
/ Due Diligence ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Exports ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Manufacturers ,
Member State ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Mobile device manufacturers may be subject to regulations that aim to mitigate the environmental impact of such devices.
On 31 August 2022, the European Commission published draft “ecodesign” regulations covering various...more
The call highlights the challenges in developing alignment between global ESG reporting standards.
The European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), two of the world’s leading public financial...more
8/22/2022
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Central Bank ,
IFRS ,
IMF ,
International Regulatory Standards ,
Net Zero ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
EU Parliament and Council reach agreement on CSRD -
European Parliament and European Council | 21 June 2022 -
The European Parliament and European Council reached a provisional political agreement on the terms of the...more
8/18/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Blocked Mergers ,
Corporate Governance ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Exemptions ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
The second version includes guidance on metrics and how companies can conduct dependency and impact evaluation.
On 28 June 2022, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) released version 0.2 of its...more
The Strategy provides useful guidance for importers seeking to comply with the provisions of the UFLPA.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was signed into law by President Biden on December 23, 2021, to...more
7/13/2022
/ Compliance ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Due Diligence ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Entity List ,
Forced Labor ,
Importers ,
Imports ,
New Guidance ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Supply Chain ,
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
The announcement underscores the continued focus on carbon capture, utilisation, and storage in UK energy policy in recent years.
On 6 July 2022, the UK government introduced the Energy Security Bill (the Bill) to...more
The FCA emphasised the increasing prevalence of providers and the potential harm from lack of regulation in this area.
In June 2022, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a Feedback Statement in response to a...more
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive expands the existing sustainability reporting requirements and brings more companies under its scope.
On 21 June 2022, the European Parliament and European Council reached...more
6/24/2022
/ Audits ,
Certification Requirements ,
Compliance ,
Compliance Dates ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Council ,
European Parliament ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force issues required enforcement strategy, including guidance to importers.
On June 21, 2022, the key operative provision of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) entered into...more
6/22/2022
/ China ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Importers ,
Imports ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariff Act of 1930 ,
US Trade Policies ,
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
The move follows a number of similar standards that regulators and governments across the globe have proposed. With effect from 1 June 2022, the Guidance for Enterprise ESG Disclosure (the Guidance), published by...more
6/16/2022
/ Accounting Standards ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
New Guidance ,
SASB ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
The consultations invite stakeholders’ views on the Environmental Liability Directive and the Waste Framework Directive.
In May 2022, the European Commission (Commission) issued public consultations in relation to the...more
The two new bodies are expected to help harmonise standards in different jurisdictions to meet investor demand for comparable ESG information.
On 27 April 2022, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)...more
A series of early-stage working papers provide insight into how a proposed EU legislation might expand companies’ ESG reporting obligations.
On 21 April 2021, the European Commission adopted the Corporate Sustainability...more
HM Treasury’s Transition Plan Taskforce aims to influence international standard setting and make the UK the world’s first net zero-aligned financial centre.
On 25 April 2022, HM Treasury (HMT) announced the launch of...more
The Call for Evidence is one of a number of measures the EU is taking as it aims to strengthen the reliability of ESG ratings.
On 4 April 2022, the European Commission (Commission) published a call for evidence (Call for...more
The standards are part of a global initiative to consolidate sustainability disclosures to help investors assess the value of companies.
On 31 March 2022, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) released...more
The bill seeks to extend certain provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
The U.S. Congress continues to take interest in implementing legislation to curb alleged human rights abuses in the supply chain in China...more
In-scope companies would have to publicly identify “actual and potential” adverse impacts of their operations on the environment and/or human rights.
On 23 February 2022, the European Commission (the Commission)...more
India’s proposal includes accreditation requirements for ESG ratings providers and mandatory disclosure of providers’ data and information sources.
On 25 January 2022, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)...more
The world’s largest asset manager stressed that sustainability issues will continue to be fundamental to companies’ long-term economic outlook.
On 17 January 2022, Larry Fink, the founder and chief executive of...more