ESG

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…

China Expands Its National Carbon Emission Trading Scheme to More Industries

Posted on April 17, 2025

Posted in Carbon Offsets, China, Environmental, Social, and Governance, Power, Oil, Gas, and Minerals, Voluntary Carbon Markets

The scheme’s expansion to include the steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries increases the program’s coverage to 60% of China’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

By Paul A. Davies, JP Brisson, Michael Green, and Qingyi Pan

On March 26, 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the MEE) published the “Work Plan for the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market Covering the Steel, Cement, and Aluminum Smelting Industries” (the Work Plan).¹ The Work Plan expands the scope of…

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…

UK Government Issues Updated Modern Slavery Act Transparency Guidance: Key Takeaways for Businesses

Posted on March 31, 2025

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance

The guidance clarifies obligations, shares steps businesses should take, and reinforces reporting to combat modern slavery.

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

On 25 March 2025, the UK Home Office published its updated Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC): Statutory Guidance (the Guidance), which provides new and detailed recommendations to help organisations comply with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA). The Guidance includes clearer expectations and practical tips designed…

ESG — US State-Level Developments for Private Capital and Financial Institutions

Posted on June 21, 2024

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance

Private capital providers, investors, asset managers, and financial institutions will likely continue to face a fragmented regulatory landscape on ESG matters.

By Betty M. Huber, Matthew Green, Henry Miller, Austin J. Pierce, Catherine G. Willis, and Sam Wong

Various US states have taken and continue to take action on ESG investing and other matters, with new variants emerging regularly. Some of the state bills, laws, and actions overlap thematically, and indeed some are based on…

International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea Issues Landmark Advisory Opinion on Climate Change

Posted on May 30, 2024

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance

The Tribunal confirmed that States party to UNCLOS must take measures to prevent marine pollution caused by climate change, on top of their obligations under the Paris Agreement.

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

On 9 April 2024, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS, or the Tribunal) issued a long-awaited advisory opinion on climate change and international law, concluding that States party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are subject to specific obligations to prevent, reduce, and control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their adverse effect on the marine environment.

The Case Against the SEC’s Final Climate Rules Begins in Earnest (and What It Means)

Posted on April 8, 2024

Posted in Environmental Litigation, Environmental Regulation, Environmental, Social, and Governance

The Eighth Circuit is poised to determine the fate of the SEC’s final climate regulation, potentially by the end of the year.

By Paul A. Davies, Sarah E. Fortt, and Betty M. Huber

On March 21, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit was selected as the court that will hear challenges against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) over its final climate disclosures rules, which were adopted on March 6.[i]…

China’s Stock Exchanges to Plan Sustainability Disclosure Rules for Big Companies

Posted on March 15, 2024

Posted in Environmental Regulation, Environmental, Social, and Governance

The guidelines aim to transform China’s approach to ESG by introducing sustainability disclosure rules for large listed companies.

By Hui Xu, Paul A. Davies, Jean-Philippe Brisson, and Qingyi Pan

On February 8, 2024, under the auspices of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), each of China’s three major stock markets — Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and Beijing Stock Exchange— unveiled draft guidelines on sustainable development reports (SDRs) (collectively referred to as the Guidelines). The Guidelines require the largest Chinese public companies to publish high-quality and standardized SDRs, and are open for public comment until February 29, 2024.

Four Stock Exchanges Collaborate to Develop the ASEAN-Interconnected Sustainability Ecosystem

Posted on March 6, 2024

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance, Green Finance

The stock exchanges of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore have partnered to advance sustainability in ASEAN through the development of an interregional ESG ecosystem.

By Paul A. Davies, Farhana Sharmeen, Michael D. Green, James Bee, and Kevin Mak

On February 15, 2024, Bursa Malaysia Berhad (Bursa Malaysia), Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), and Singapore Exchange (SGX Group) released a joint statement announcing their collaboration on the development of the ASEAN-Interconnected Sustainability…

EU Reaches Provisional Agreement on ESG Ratings Regulation

Posted on February 27, 2024

Posted in Environmental, Social, and Governance

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have made some significant changes to the European Commission’s proposal.

On 5 February 2024, the European Parliament and Council of the EU announced that they had reached a provisional political agreement on the text of the ESG Ratings Regulation (the Regulation). The agreed text was subsequently published on 14 February 2024. The Regulation was initially proposed by the Commission in June 2023, and seeks to introduce a new regulatory regime for ESG ratings providers “operating in the Union”. Refer to this Latham blog post for previous commentary on the proposal.

Menu

Environment, Land & Resources

Environment, Land & Resources

ESG

Topics

Archives