Is My Company Required to Comply with the Paris Agreement?
Nota Bene Episode 33: Congressional Check-In for Q2: Paris Agreement, Presidential Nominees, and Privacy with Elizabeth Frazee
The climate debate has whipsawed in recent years. Businesses frequently have been caught in the middle, with stakeholders including government regulators, activist investors, consumers, non-governmental organizations, and...more
In a unanimous decision on July 23, 2025, the fifteen judges on the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (“ICJ”), also known as the “World Court,” concluded that the production and consumption of fossil fuels “may...more
The Opinion interprets member states’ responsibilities under treaty and customary international law. In a sweeping and landmark declaration, the Opinion advises that member states have a duty to reduce emissions, regulate...more
The International Court of Justice ("ICJ") stated that States have legal obligations to regulate emissions and may be held internationally responsible for climate inaction—including the failure to effectively regulate...more
On 2 July 2025, the European Commission introduced its 2040 climate target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels. One of the key features of this strategy is the possibility to introduce...more
Science-based targets (SBTs) rely on scientific facts to achieve specific conditions or outcomes. SBTs reflect the best available science and set goals intended to prevent human activities from harming the environment....more
Trading in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reductions has long been touted as a way of leveraging market forces to tackle climate change in the most cost-effective manner, and 2025 may put that theory to the test amid...more
US formally submits notification of withdrawal from Paris Agreement. On January 27, 2025, Dorothy Camille Shea, the US acting ambassador to the United Nations, submitted a notification of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement...more
The Withdrawal - The United States’ Acting Ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) submitted a notification of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on January 27, 2025, which is set to become effective one year after...more
The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause its review of a case involving California’s stricter vehicle emissions and electric vehicle standards. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris filed the request...more
In his first week in office, President Trump issued a series of executive orders that touched on energy and the environment. These orders are likely to significantly alter the makeup and actions of the executive branch for...more
US exits Paris Agreement after submitting Nationally Determined Contributions. In mid-December, the Biden Administration announced it submitted the US target under the Paris Agreement: cutting net carbon emissions by 61 to 66...more
On January 20, US President Trump issued an executive order, “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements,” withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement and other climate-related financial...more
Citing potential economic damage and unfair burdens, President Trump signed an Executive Order that starts the process of withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is an international...more
On April 5th, 2019, environmental activist group Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth) Netherlands and co-plaintiffs served Shell a court summons alleging Shell’s contributions to climate change violated its duty of care...more
An island nation has brought a landmark climate change case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This represents a pivotal moment in international law and environmental governance. The case, initiated through a UN...more
The Conference of the Parties (COP), the decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has just wrapped up its meetings...more
The 29th Session of the UN Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29) concluded on November 22, and COP-30 is now in sight. In this Legal Update, we discuss some of the key results of...more
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ('UNFCCC') ('COP29') adopted decisions on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. After nearly a decade of negotiations, the outcome of...more
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) ended at 2:40 am local time in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday, with the nations involved finally reaching agreement to provide...more
As we have previously reported over the last two weeks, the 29th Annual United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP29) focused heavily on climate finance and implementing key strategies for global emissions reduction,...more
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
On November 11, 2024, one of the first substantive outcomes of the 29th Session of the UN Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was approved. The President of COP19 introduced a...more
The previous annual finance goal (the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCGC)) of $100 billion expires this year. However, wealthy countries only met the pledge in full starting in 2022. Negotiation teams are working on draft...more
Day three of the 29th Annual United Nations Climate Change Conference COP29 saw the end of the first part of the high-level segment for heads of state and other global leaders in Baku as well as the announcement of...more