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New German Government Takes Office: Key Developments in ESG and Supply Chain Laws

Posted on April 22, 2025

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

The Coalition focuses on reducing regulatory burden in supply chain requirements, achieving net zero by 2045, and voluntary measures in environmental and resource management.

By Axel Schiemann, Stefan Bartz, Joachim Grittmann, and Falko Schmidt

Following the German federal election in February 2025, the new coalition consisting of CDU/CSU and SPD (the Coalition) has reached a coalition agreement, unveiled on April 9, 2025. This agreement marks the culmination of extensive negotiations and sets the agenda for the new…

European Commission Announces Simplifications to the Implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation

Posted on April 16, 2025

Posted in Air Quality and Climate Change, Environmental Regulation, Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

Modern green building with innovative high rise vertical garden

The updated guidance includes simplification measures allowing due diligence statements’ reuse, annual submission, and management by authorised representatives on behalf of companies.

By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Toon Dictus

On 15 April 2025, the European Commission (the Commission) announced measures to simplify the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is set to apply from 30 December 2025. This initiative is part of the Commission’s more general ongoing focus on streamlining…

“Stop the Clock” Directive Grants Delays in Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence

Posted on April 14, 2025

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

The European Council has approved the Directive, which offers a temporary relief to companies facing requirements under the CSRD and CSDDD.

By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Toon Dictus

On 14 April 2025, the European Council formally approved the “Stop the Clock” Directive (the Directive), marking a crucial milestone in the European Union’s efforts to overhaul sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for businesses. The Directive is the first part of the two-part…

European Commission Unveils Competitiveness Compass to Drive Sustainable Prosperity

Posted on February 3, 2025

Posted in Air Quality and Climate Change, Environmental Regulation, European Environmental and Public Law

The Compass aims to address concerns about productivity and maintain Europe’s leading role in sustainable innovation and climate neutrality.

By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, and James Bee

On 29 January 2025, the European Commission (the Commission) launched the Competitiveness Compass, a strategic initiative that builds on the work undertaken by Mario Draghi. His report, commonly known as the Draghi Report, identified that the EU could no longer rely on many of the essential elements to the…

European Commission Proposes One-Year Delay to European Deforestation Regulation

Posted on October 3, 2024

Posted in Air Quality and Climate Change, Environmental Regulation, Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

The Commission published guidance documents to the regulation and proposed to postpone its entry into application to 30 December 2025.

By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, and James Bee

On 2 October 2024, the European Commission (Commission) adopted a proposal for a one-year delay to the implementation of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was set to take effect from December 30, 2024. The Commission noted the proposal is a response to feedback from global partners and…

Understanding the New Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

Posted on August 5, 2024

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

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The ESPR aims to make sustainable products the norm in the EU, replacing the current Ecodesign Directive and introducing broader measures for sustainability.

By Paul A. Davies, Cesare Milani, José María Alonso, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Telmo Iriondo

On 18 July 2024, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force. The ESPR forms part of a package of measures central to achieving the objectives of the European Commission’s 2020 Circular Economy…

German Federal Government Adopts Draft CSRD Implementation Act

Posted on July 30, 2024

Posted in Air Quality and Climate Change, Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

The draft represents the next step in transposing the CSRD into national law.

By Axel Schiemann and Dominik Schöneberger

On 24 July 2024, the German Federal Government adopted the governmental draft of the Act implementing the EU Directive on Sustainability Reporting (Directive (EU) 2022/2464 – CSRD) into German law (the Government Draft). The adoption of the Government Draft constitutes the next significant step in the legislative process after the German Ministry of Finance published the first draft implementing law on…

EU Adopts Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

Posted on July 8, 2024

Posted in Environmental Regulation, Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

The CSDDD is set to impose mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for in-scope companies.

By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, and James Bee

On 5 July 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was published in the Official Journal of the EU, marking a significant milestone in the growing regulatory environment in relation to companies being required to embed responsible business conduct into due diligence processes and policies.

Initially proposed in February 2022…

Denmark to Allow Stacking of Voluntary Carbon Credits and Nationally Determined Contribution

Posted on June 20, 2024

Posted in Carbon Offsets, European Environmental and Public Law, Voluntary Carbon Markets

Crystal world globe laying on miss surface

Denmark’s unprecedented carbon removals fund has facilitated the coexistence of corporate and national carbon claims in carbon accounting.

By Jean-Philippe Brisson, Paul A. Davies, Lars Kjølbye, John-Patrick Sweny, and Qingyi Pan

In the past few years, stakeholders in the carbon market have debated how to integrate the voluntary carbon market (VCM) and the emerging international carbon market governed by the Paris Agreement — Denmark’s recent move to allow stacking of voluntary carbon credits and nationally determined…

European Court of Human Rights Delivers Three Landmark Rulings on Climate Change

Posted on April 11, 2024

Posted in Environmental Litigation, Environmental, Social, and Governance, European Environmental and Public Law

For the first time, the Court has confirmed that the adverse impacts of climate change fall within the ambit of human rights protection under the European Convention of Human Rights, obliging States to implement effective mitigation measures.

By Paul A. Davies, Sophie J. Lamb KC, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Stephanie Forrest

On 9 April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights delivered three Grand Chamber rulings in climate change-related cases. These three separate judgments…

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