European green deal

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A new report shows headway in reducing greenhouse gases and details the latest climate change policy developments.

By Paul A. Davies and Michael D. Green

On 30 November 2020, the European Commission (EC) adopted the EU Climate Action Progress Report Kick-starting the journey towards a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 (the Report). The Report, which is produced annually, details recent developments in EU climate policy and progress made by the EU and its Member States. The EC’s Directorate-General for Climate Action compiles the Report based on data provided by Member States under the Climate Monitoring Mechanism Regulation.

The proposed initiative would embed sustainability in companies’ corporate governance frameworks and their business strategies.

By Paul A. Davies and Michael D. Green

On 26 October 2020, the European Commission (the Commission) launched a public consultation on a proposed sustainable corporate governance framework. The Commission is seeking views from a broad range of stakeholders, including, in particular, businesses and their directors as well as investors, environmental organisations, and public authorities that may have a role in supervising the new rules.

Making Europe greener, fairer, and more sustainable is at the heart of the European Commission’s new work programme.

By Paul Davies, David Little, Michael D. Green, and Pierre Bichet

On 19 October 2020, the European Commission (Commission) published its Work Programme (Programme) for 2021. The Programme — “A Union of vitality in a world of fragility” — provides an overview of the Commission’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year and a timeline on when legislative initiatives will likely be published.

The initiatives for 2021 have been revised to support the economic recovery given the COVID-19 pandemic. The Programme makes clear that the recovery should be both green and sustainable.

The Commission’s 2030 Climate Target Plan sets out required actions for a number of sectors.

By Paul A. Davies and Michael D. Green

On 17 September 2020, the European Commission (Commission) presented its 2030 Climate Target Plan, which calls for a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of at least 55%, compared to 1990 levels; sets out required actions for a number of sectors; and identifies key changes to be made to existing legislation.

To announce the 2030 Climate Target Plan, the Commission released a Communication, a synopsis report that analyses responses to previous consultations, and an impact plan.

Proposed regulation will require companies to substantiate their environmental footprint claims, seeking to ensure green claims are more reliable.

By Paul A. Davies and Michael D. Green

Background

On 27 August 2020, the European Commission (the Commission) launched a public consultation on a possible proposal on substantiating green claims about products or services. This follows on from the Commission’s Inception Impact Assessment Roadmap on potential regulation of green claims. The consultation period for this Roadmap closed on 31 August 2020, so the Commission is already moving ahead with the consultation on the proposal itself. This initiative is another step toward meeting the objectives identified in the European Green Deal, pursuant to which the Commission committed itself to making the EU climate neutral by 2050.

The new measures include changes to grid access permits and a new remuneration regime for renewables, among other provisions.

By María José Descalzo, José María Alonso, and Leticia Sitges

On 23 June, the Spanish Government passed Royal Decree-Law 23/2020, which entered into force on 25 June, approving new measures in the energy sector that aim to promote renewable energy generation and support the recovery of the economy in line with the European Green Deal (the New Regulations).

The delay may complicate the regulatory landscape for sustainable finance as the EU moves toward a standardized classification system. 

By Paul A. Davies, Nicola Higgs, and Michael D. Green

The UK government (government) has delayed a decision on whether it will adopt the EU’s taxonomy of sustainable finance activities (the Taxonomy) as the UK approaches the end of its post-Brexit transition period.

The European Commission’s Technical Expert Group (TEG) on Sustainable Finance, which developed the Taxonomy, published its final report on the document in March 2020. The resulting Taxonomy follows from consultations with more than 200 industry experts and scientists.