Air Quality and Climate Change

ESG and Sustainability Insights: 10 Things That Should Be Top of Mind in 2026New Law Bolsters CCUS Projects in CaliforniaCARB Publishes List of Companies Subject to California Climate Disclosure Laws

California

New Law Bolsters CCUS Projects in CaliforniaCARB Publishes List of Companies Subject to California Climate Disclosure LawsCalifornia Low Carbon Fuel Standard Amendments Take Effect

Carbon Offsets

European Commission Publishes Draft Implementing Rules on CBAM Carbon Price DeductionsEU ETS: European Commission Announces Additional Flexibilities, Including Updated BenchmarksSingapore Signs Further Implementation Agreements and Announces Nature-Based Carbon Credit Projects

CEQA

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Amendments Take EffectEnvironmental Groups, Biofuel Trade Association Challenge Amendments to the California Low Carbon Fuel StandardCalifornia Targets New and Expanded Logistics Facilities

Chemical Regulation

European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: Summary of Provisions and New GuidanceToxic Substances Control Act in Transition: EPA, Courts, and Congress Race to Define TSCA’s FutureFDA Publishes Study on PFAS in Cosmetics

China

China Expands Its National Carbon Emission Trading Scheme to More IndustriesChina’s Ministry of Finance Publishes Corporate Sustainability Disclosure StandardsChina Releases Carbon Allowance Trading Regulations

Contaminated Properties and Waste

New York Establishes CERCLA-Like Liability for Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal SitesNJDEP Proposed Rule Update: PFAS Added to Contaminant Testing RequirementsSouthern California Fire Cleanup Considerations for Landowners

Emerging companies

Energy Storage Gets a Boost from Federal and Private Sector ActionsLow Carbon Fuel Standard Challenged (Again) in California State CourtPresident Obama Announces Increased Support for Distributed Energy Projects and Eligibility of State Green Banks to Apply for DOE Loan Guarantees

Energy Regulatory

EU ETS: European Commission Announces Additional Flexibilities, Including Updated BenchmarksUnpacking the UK-EU Deal: What Lies Ahead for Energy and Carbon Markets?Trump Administration Pursues Deregulation in a Trio of Orders

Energy storage

European Commission Unveils Two Proposals Impacting the EU Batteries RegulationEPA Proposes Granting West Virginia Primacy for Class VI WellsGerman Federal Government Lays Foundation for CCS in Germany

Environmental and Approvals

NRC Finalizes Generic Environmental Impact Statement for New Nuclear ReactorsEuropean Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: Summary of Provisions and New GuidanceEPA Proposes Repeal of GHG Reporting Program, Grants Arizona Primacy for UIC Wells

Environmental Insurance Coverage

On-Demand Webcast: 2025 Wildfire Analysis — What to Know About the Environmental, Insurance, and Litigation ImplicationsEuropean Commission Proposes Net Zero Industry Act and Critical Raw Materials ActInsurance Coverage: US State Courts Rule for Insureds in Three Recent Policyholder Decisions

Environmental Litigation

New York Establishes CERCLA-Like Liability for Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal SitesOn-Demand Webcast: 2025 Wildfire Analysis — What to Know About the Environmental, Insurance, and Litigation ImplicationsUS Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Review Under NEPA

Environmental Regulation

European Commission Releases New EU Deforestation Regulation MeasuresFCA Consults on UK SRS-Aligned Disclosure Rules for UK ListingsFederal Agencies Move to Return the Endangered Species Act to 2019 Interpretation

Environmental, Social, and Governance

European Commission Releases New EU Deforestation Regulation MeasuresEuropean Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: Summary of Provisions and New GuidanceThe Conclusion of the Sustainability Omnibus Process

European Environmental and Public Law

European Commission Publishes Draft Implementing Rules on CBAM Carbon Price DeductionsEU ETS: European Commission Announces Additional Flexibilities, Including Updated BenchmarksEuropean Commission Releases New EU Deforestation Regulation Measures

Finance and Project Development

BLM Begins Scoping Process to Consider Amendments to Desert Renewable Energy Conservation PlanMassachusetts Unveils Three Offshore Wind Farm ProposalsCalifornia's Supreme Court Denies ARB Petition To Review LCFS Case

Green Finance

Four Stock Exchanges Collaborate to Develop the ASEAN-Interconnected Sustainability EcosystemFCA Finds Further Improvement Needed on Design, Delivery, and Disclosure of ESG FundsEuropean Commission Launches Consultation on Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

Permitting

EPA Grants Texas Primacy Over Class VI Carbon Storage WellsA “Golden Age” of Data Center DominanceEPA Proposes Granting Texas Primacy for Class VI Wells

Power, Oil, Gas, and Minerals

Project Vault: The Promises and Pitfalls of the Critical Minerals Stockpile InitiativeWhat Lies Ahead for Advanced Plastics Recycling Industry After EPA Withdrawal of Proposed TSCA SNURs?New Verra Methodology Aims to Create Carbon Credits Through Accelerated Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Project Siting and Approval

NRC Finalizes Generic Environmental Impact Statement for New Nuclear ReactorsWhat’s Next Following the Supreme Court’s Decision in Sackett v. EPA?New Senate Bill Targets US Corporate Conduct in China

Safety Regulation

FDA Publishes Study on PFAS in CosmeticsNHTSA Updates Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Safety of New VehiclesNew NHTSA Rule Addresses Rear Impact Protection

Smart grid technologies

Legislative Update: California Passes Groundbreaking Legislation Increasing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Mandates, But Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures FailRETI 2.0: CEC and CPUC Plan for New Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative to Meet California’s Increasing Clean Energy CommitmentsPresident Obama Announces Increased Support for Distributed Energy Projects and Eligibility of State Green Banks to Apply for DOE Loan Guarantees

Solar PV/Rooftop solar

New York Public Service Commission Adopts Compensation Values for Distributed Energy Resources in Reforming the Energy Vision ProceedingCorporations Directly Buying Renewable Power on the RiseLegislative Update: California Passes Groundbreaking Legislation Increasing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Mandates, But Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures Fail

Tax and incentives

IRS Issues Additional Guidance on “Begun Construction” Requirement for Wind Energy CreditsCalifornia Energy Agencies Advance Renewable Transmission Line PlanningCongress Extends Wind and Solar Tax Credits Subject to Phase-out

Voluntary Carbon Markets

Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming: Recent EU DevelopmentsSingapore Signs Further Implementation Agreements and Announces Nature-Based Carbon Credit ProjectsChina Expands Its National Carbon Emission Trading Scheme to More Industries

Water Quality and Supply

EPA’s Draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List Targets Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals in Drinking WaterTrump Administration Proposes New Rule Defining “Waters of the United States”EPA Proposes Repeal of GHG Reporting Program, Grants Arizona Primacy for UIC Wells