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The framework claims to set the “gold standard” for companies to contribute to the net zero transition while emphasising ambition, action, and accountability.

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

The UK Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) launched its transition plan disclosure framework (the Framework) at the London Stock Exchange on 9 October 2023. The Framework encourages businesses to create transition plans for a low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions economy. It also seeks to help companies and financial institutions create consistent and comparable disclosures on their climate transition plans.

While initially voluntary, the Framework is expected to become mandatory for certain entities in the UK through incorporation into regulatory frameworks.

The proposals form part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan and aim to scale up technology and materials for the energy transition.

By Paul A. Davies, Beatrice Lo, JP Sweny, Alexander Buckeridge-Hocking, Michael D. Green, and James Bee

On 16 March 2023, the European Commission (Commission) formally proposed two legislative initiatives and announced the development of a European Hydrogen Bank as part of its program to enhance the EU’s competitiveness in green technologies and support its transition towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Plan aims to “simplify, accelerate and align incentives to preserve the competitiveness and attractiveness of the EU as an investment location for the net-zero industry”[1].

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

On 1 February 2023, the European Commission (Commission) presented a proposal for a Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (the Plan). The Plan forms part of the European Green Deal adopted in 2019, which sets out the EU’s green transition ambitions and climate targets towards reaching net zero by 2050. The Plan sits alongside other Green Deal initiatives, including the “Fit for 55” package of policies (which seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030), as well as REPowerEU (introduced to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and provide clean and affordable energy).

The Plan is designed to support the scaling up of the EU’s net zero manufacturing capacities and installation of sustainable products and energy supplies, whilst also enhancing the competitiveness of Europe’s net zero industry. This Plan is particularly relevant in light of the US Inflation Reduction Act in the US, which aims to mobilise over $360 billion by 2032[2], and recent concerns in relation to energy security and energy prices in the EU.

By  Janice Schneider, Sean Krispinsky, and Stacey VanBelleghem

Navigating the regulatory requirements for leasing Tribal lands for renewable energy projects can be complex and time consuming, but it might become easier thanks to a new law, that was signed on July 30, 2012.  The Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Home Ownership (or “HEARTH”) Act of 2011, will likely create new opportunities for tribal self-governance, economic development, and renewable resource development.[1]  The HEARTH Act permits tribes to…

By Janice M. Schneider, Laura A. Godfrey and Taiga Takahashi

In early March, we discussed Section 428 of the 2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which directed the establishment of a pre-decisional objection process to replace the Forest Service post-decisional administrative appeals process under 36 C.F.R. part 215 for administrative appeals related to “projects and activities implementing land management plans and documented with a Record of Decision (ROD) or Decision Notice (DN)”. The Forest Service recently announced its proposed rule and…

By Janice M. Schneider, Laura A. Godfrey and Taiga Takahashi

The 2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Appropriations Act), signed by President Obama on December 23, 2011, replaced the appeal process for most Forest Service actions with a pre-decisional objection process.  The Appropriations Act also gave the Chief of the Forest Service authorization to exempt Forest Service actions from this pre-decisional objection process in an “emergency situation”.[1] The new “pre-decisional objection process” applies to “proposed actions of the Forest…