EU

European Commission Proposes Further One-Year Delay to the EU Deforestation Regulation

Posted on October 2, 2025

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

A new proposal could delay the EUDR implementation to 30 December 2026, as the Commission cites IT concerns.

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

On 23 September 2025, the European Commission (Commission) announced that it will propose postponing the application of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by an additional year.

The Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy sent letters to the European Parliament and the Council indicating…

European Commission Unveils Two Proposals Impacting the EU Batteries Regulation

Posted on May 28, 2025

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

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The proposals are part of the broader “omnibus” initiative and would postpone due diligence obligations and introduce a “small mid-cap” category for in-scope companies.

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

On 21 May 2025, the European Commission (Commission) published two proposals affecting the timeline and scope of the Regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries (the Batteries Regulation, or EUBR), aimed at streamlining compliance and providing clarity for economic operators within the…

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

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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…

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…

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

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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…

German Federal Government Lays Foundation for CCS in Germany

Posted on June 19, 2024

Posted in Energy storage, Environmental Regulation

The key principles for a Carbon Management Strategy and draft act on the revision of the Carbon Storage Act create new opportunities for investors and project developers.

By Tobias Larisch, Alexander “Stefan” Rieger, John-Patrick Sweny, Jean-Philippe Brisson, and Joachim Grittmann

The German Federal Government’s Carbon Management Strategy and the revision of the Carbon Storage Act (Kohlendioxid-Speicherungsgesetz, KSpG) aim to remove current obstacles to (i) Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and (ii) Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)…

EU Reaches Provisional Agreement on Forced Labour Regulation

Posted on March 25, 2024

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

The proposed regulation would ban forced labour-made products from the EU market, affecting companies’ supply chains and requiring compliance checks.

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

On 5 March 2024, the European Parliament and European Council announced that they had reached a provisional political agreement on the regulation (Regulation) that aims to prohibit any product manufactured using forced labour from being placed on or exported from the EU market.

The European Commission proposed…

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.

European Commission Recommends 90% Emissions Reduction Target by 2040

Posted on February 7, 2024

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

The target aims to set the path for climate neutrality by 2050.

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

On 6 February 2024, the European Commission (Commission) presented its recommendations for the EU’s 2040 climate target, following a detailed impact assessment on potential emission reduction pathways. This publication aligns with the implementation of the EU’s Climate Law, which enshrines the EU’s commitment to become climate-neutral by 2050, alongside the 2030 target to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55%, relative to 1990.

The Commission recommends a 90% net GHG reduction by 2040, as compared to 1990 levels. Notably, the recommendation refers to “net” GHG reduction, and therefore opens the door for the use of carbon removal technologies within the EU to meet the target.

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

German Federal Government Lays Foundation for CCS in Germany

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