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Notable News
US Fed: Executive Branch
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President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act July 4th, after it passed in the House and Senate. The bill, among many other measures, “effectively repeals or dilutes” much of the Inflation Reduction Act, as Canary Media notes. Key elements of the bill (July 2025):
- Solar and wind energy projects will need to start service by the end of 2027 to access production and investment tax credits. Construction will need to begin within the next year to get the full credit.
- Hydrogen tax credits will expire at the start of 2028.
- Tax credits for nuclear, geothermal power, and battery storage have been preserved until 2036 (2033 for full credit).
- Tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles will end by 30 September 2025.
- Tax credits for biofuels were extended for another two years through the end of 2029.
- Tax credits for producing critical minerals (other than metallurgical coal) expire at the start of 2034.
- Tax credit transferability was preserved.
NEW YORK TIMES » CANARY MEDIA »
President Trump signed
an executive order directing federal agencies to “strengthen the repeal of, and modifications to, wind, solar and other “green” energy tax credits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Specifically, it
directs the Department of the Treasury to “strictly enforce” the termination of clean electricity production and investment tax credits for wind and solar facilities, including revised guidance to prevent circumventing policies concerning the beginning of construction;
and directs the Department of the Interior to review and revise any regulations, policies, or guidance providing preferential treatment to wind and solar facilities. (July 2025)
The Department of Energy (DOE)
published a report that the expected duration of power outages will increase by a factor of 100 in 2030 due to the closure of baseload generation sources. This is based on the closure of 104 GW of firm capacity set for retirement by 2030, which is projected to be replaced by 209 GW of capacity, 22 GW of which is firm generation sources.
Even assuming no retirements,
risk of outages would increase by a factor of 34, and “grid reliability deteriorates in all regions.” (July 2025)
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI),
a cap-and-invest program covering power plant emissions in 11 states in the Northeast U.S.,
published the results of its
Third Program Review.
States have agreed to strengthen their region’s CO2 emissions cap through 2037, starting in 2027. In total,
annual reductions will reduce the cap by between 60% and 74% in 2037 compared to the 2025 level. Participating states will initiate their own processes to implement program changes, which will be effective beginning 1 January 2027. (July 2025)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will roll back the 2001 “Roadless Rule,” which banned roads, logging, and mining in undeveloped forests. The USDA said it was doing this to better manage fire risks and for “responsible timber production.” This will affect 58.5 million acres (23.7 million hectares) of National Forest System lands (approximately 30%). (June 2025)
The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced it will update policies across all stages of offshore critical mineral development,
from early exploration to post-lease operations and production,
to speed up the search and development of these minerals. The updates, under the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), are
designed to reduce delays, improve coordination, and provide “greater certainty for industry.” Specific changes include
streamlining environmental reviews for prospecting; extending prospecting permits;
delaying detailed environmental impact statements to later planning stages; and considering expedited permitting under the DOI’s emergency procedures. (June 2025)
The Senate Finance Committee released legislative text for its portion of the budget reconciliation bill, including its revisions for clean energy tax credits. Key provisions include (June 2025):
- Phasing out the solar and wind energy tax credits by 2028, reducing the credit to 60% for projects beginning in 2026 and to 20% in 2027.
- Phasing out incentives for hydropower, nuclear, and geothermal by 2036, starting with a reduction in 2033.
- Eliminating the $7,500 consumer tax credit for EV purchases, as well as tax credits for rooftop solar panels, within 180 days.
- Terminating the Clean Hydrogen Production Credit at the end of 2025.
- Reinstating tax credit transferability for clean energy projects, while limiting accelerated cost recovery.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it is withdrawing certain notices of proposed rulemaking issued between March 2022 and November 2023. This includes
a rule proposed in 2022 on requiring enhanced disclosures by investment managers marketing ESG-focused funds (to reduce greenwashing risks). The rule would have also required ESG funds to disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions metrics, such as portfolio carbon intensity.
The SEC stated that it “does not intend to issue final rules with respect to these proposals,” and that if it decides to pursue future action in these areas, it will issue a new proposed rule. (June 2025)
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) gave notice that it will withdraw the National Environmental Policy Act Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change. This interim guidance, published in 2023, assists federal agencies in considering the effects of GHG emissions and environmental justice concerns when conducting environmental reviews. The notice explains that CEQ considers this guidance incompatible with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy executive order, including the use of the social cost of carbon estimates. (June 2025)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to repeal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. The EPA argues that GHG emissions from these power plants “do not contribute significantly to dangerous air pollution.” (According to an EPA estimate from 2022, the sector contributes 25% of U.S. GHG emissions.) The EPA is also proposing to repeal amendments to emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (including mercury) from 2024, reverting back to 2012 standards. The comment period for both proposals will be open for 45 days from publication in the Federal Register. (June 2025)
President Trump
signed into law
three Congressional resolutions that block California’s efforts to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles. The resolutions revoked the Biden administration’s authorization of the state’s policies (requiring a growing percentage of cars sold being to be zero-emissions, as well as reducing NOX emissions from trucks and increasing the proportion of emissions-free trucks sold). Immediately after,
a group of 11 states led by California
filed a lawsuit against the President and the EPA challenging the resolutions. The California governor also
issued an executive order directing state regulators to create new rules to cut emissions from cars and trucks. (June 2025)
The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published
“Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Program,” an interpretative rule that argues that the Biden Administration “ignored statutory requirements in CAFE barring consideration of electric vehicles when setting fuel economy standards.” The rule identifies factors prohibited from consideration when setting fuel economy standards.
It does not at this time change existing CAFE standards (or standards for medium- and heavy-duty standards, which it also intends to bring into compliance). (June 2025)
President Trump signed four executive orders to accelerate nuclear energy deployment. The orders include the following (May 2025):
- Expand nuclear capacity, providing funding to uprate nuclear reactors and have ten new large reactors under construction by 2030; strengthening the management of the nuclear fuel cycle (both enrichment and managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste); and supporting the expansion of the nuclear energy workforce.
- Reform the national laboratory process for testing advanced reactors and establish a pilot program for reactor construction and operation.
- Reform the culture and structure of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to promote faster reactor licensing.
- Deploy advanced nuclear reactor technologies at Department of Energy sites, with a goal of operating the first site “no later than 30 months from the date of this order.”
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted unanimously to apply antidumping duties and countervailing duties to imported solar cells from four Southeast Asian countries after an investigation on unfair pricing and subsidization. Average duties ranged from 34% for Malaysia to 375% for Thailand, 396% for Vietnam, and 652% for Cambodia, though some manufacturers had tariffs set as high as 3,521%. (May 2025)
The House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” 215-214, covering an array of tax, energy and other issues. If passed by the Senate in its current form, this would end subsidies for clean energy years earlier than expected. The bill would end clean electricity production and investment credits in 2029 (revised downward from 2032 in earlier drafts) and would require projects to begin construction within 60 days of the bill becoming law to qualify, according to reporting by Bloomberg. The bill would also phase out consumer tax incentives on electric vehicle purchases.Analysis found that the bill will cost the U.S. 830,000 jobs by 2030 and cause the U.S. to emit 260 million metric tons more of GHG emissions in 2035 than under current policies, according to reporting by the Guardian. (May 2025)
The White House issued a memo that instructs federal agencies to stop calculating the social cost of carbon, except when “plainly required” by statutes. It instructs agencies to review whether regulations require consideration of GHG emissions and how. If required, agencies should “limit their analysis to the minimum consideration required to meet the statutory requirement.” If not required,agencies should modify their regulation or guidance to limit the consideration of emissions. (May 2025)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will rescind standards limiting four “forever chemicals” (persistent organic chemicals including PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX Chemicals)implemented by the Biden Administration in 2024. The EPA said it would keep the current
forever chemical regulations standards for PFOA and PFOS, however, it plans to propose a new rule (to be released in fall 2025 and finalized in spring 2026)
extending the compliance date from 2029 to 2031 to provide more time for states and water systems to develop the necessary treatment improvements. (May 2025)
The director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Atmospheric Protection told employees that “the Energy Star program and all other climate work, outside of what’s required by statute, is being deprioritized and eliminated,” as reported by The New York Times. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, Energy Star provides $40 billion in annual savings on utility bills while costing $32 million annually to administer. Also included in the planned cuts are the Climate Protection Partnerships division, which houses Energy Star, and the Climate Change division, which maintains the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, according to reporting from The Hill. (May 2025)
NEW YORK TIMES »
THE HILL »
A coalition of states sued the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), arguing that they were unlawfully withholding billions of dollars in funding allocated by Congress for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington State by sixteen states and the District of Columbia, requests the Court prevent DOT and FHWA from implementing President Trump’s executive order pausing disbursement of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funds. (May 2025)
President Trump signed an executive order to eliminate “the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible.” Disparate impact, which is a central principle in civil rights law, refers to practices that (intentional or not), while appearing neutral, disproportionately affect certain demographics. The order revokes several regulations (including presidential approval of Title VI in 1966) and orders agencies to “deprioritize enforcement of all statutes and regulations to the extent they include disparate-impact liability.” It also orders assessment of all pending investigations, civil suits, and positions “under every Federal civil rights law” that rely on a theory of disparate-impact liability within 45 days. (May 2025)
The Trump Administration dismissed all the contributors to the sixth National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive climate report mandated by Congress, due to be published in early 2028. The
nearly 400 contributing scientists and experts received an email saying the scope of the report “is currently being re-evaluated,” and that all contributors are being released from their roles. This comes after a contract with the consulting firm that manages the report was canceled last month. (May 2025)
President Trump signed an executive order to increase the mining of deep sea mineral resources in the U.S. The order aims to advance the country’s leadership in the exploration, identification, collection, and processing of these resources by streamlining permitting, increasing investment, and enhancing coordination between agencies. It states that the Secretary of Commerce will expedite the process for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and recovery both within the U.S. outer continental shelf, and areas beyond national jurisdiction within 60 days. (April 2025)
The Commerce Department announced its finalized antidumping and countervailing duties on solar panels from four Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam), which were under investigation for shifting subsidized Chinese-made solar panels to these markets for export to the U.S. The
duties go as high as 3,521% for four producer/exporters in Cambodia, which did not cooperate with the investigation. (April 2025)
A federal judge ruled that agencies including EPA and the Interior and Energy Departments must release climate and infrastructure funds they had illegally frozen. The funds were authorized in the previous Congress under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The judge said that agencies do not have “unfettered power” to neuter laws passed by a previous Congress. The ruling applies nationwide, not just to the funding of interest to the nonprofits that brought the lawsuit. (April 2025)
Two federal agencies have proposed rescinding the regulatory definition of “harm” to species under the Endangered Species Act. The
proposed rule by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) would
no longer include habitat modification as a harm to species, because the term is not named in the ESA’s prohibition of “taking” an endangered species. FWS and NMFS invite
public comments on the proposed rule. (April 2025)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to significantly scale back the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which requires about 8,000 industrial facilities to report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to reporting from ProPublica. EPA wants to eliminate reporting requirements for 40 of the 41 categories that currently submit data (all but certain oil and gas facilities). EPA staff were told they had one month to draft a new rule repealing most of the program. (April 2025)
President Trump issued an executive order
"Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.”The order instructs the Attorney General to identify all state and local laws, policies, and practices that burden the development and use of domestic energy resources, and
“expeditiously take all appropriate action to stop” their enforcement. It notes that priority should be given to identifying those laws purported to address climate change, GHG emissions, ESG initiatives, and environmental justice, and specifically references New York and Vermont’s climate superfund laws as examples. (April 2025)
President Trump signed
an
executive order
that aims to support the expansion of coal technology for power generation, steelmaking, and the use of coal byproducts for materials (e.g. building and battery materials). The order directs federal agencies to
revise any policies or programs that seek to transition the U.S. away from coal production and electricity generation. It also directs agencies to: identify coal resources on federal lands; lift barriers to coal mining;
identify regions where coal-powered infrastructure is available and suitable for supporting AI data centers; promote coal and coal technology exports; and outline funding mechanisms, programs and policy actions that can be taken to accelerate coal technology development. (April 2025)
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued
a Secretarial Memo
to establish an “Emergency Situation Determination” for over 112 million acres of National Forestry System (NFS) land. This comes after President Trump’s
executive order in March to expand American timber production by 25%. The memo will
“spur immediate action” from the U.S. Forest Service to direct field leadership to increase timber outputs, simplify permitting, remove National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, and reduce contracting burdens. (April 2025)
The Trump Administration cut funding for the program overseeing the
National Climate Assessment, a report detailing climate effects on the U.S. that is supported by NASA and produced every four years (with the next scheduled for 2027). NASA issued stop-work orders on contracts with ICF International, a consulting firm providing most of the technical support and coordination for the report.
It is unclear whether the next assessment (the 6th) will be published, however, it is required under a mandate from Congress. (April 2025)
The State Department sent letters to companies supplying U.S. embassies and consulates warning them that they must comply with the Trump Administration’s ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) or risk losing payments. According to reporting, contractors must sign a certification form complying with “Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Law” or provide detailed reasons why not, which will then be forwarded to the Department’s “legal services.” (April 2025)
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to end its legal defense of its climate disclosure rules. After the vote, SEC staff sent a letter to the court stating that the SEC withdraws its defense and that SEC counsel are no longer authorized to advance arguments the SEC had filed. As Bloomberg Law notes, the defense of the rules is now dependent on Democratic state attorneys general who joined the litigation in support of the regulations last year when legal challenges first occurred. (March 2025)
PR » BLOOMBERG LAW » ESG TODAY »
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement actions shall no longer “shut down any stage of energy production (from exploration to distribution)
or power generation absent an imminent and substantial threat to human health,” according to an
EPA memo dated 12 March 2025. The memo also shifts enforcement priorities for industries within the energy sector, including around methane emissions and coal ash. (March 2025)
The Trump Administration ‘rejected and denounced’ the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the U.S. “will no longer reaffirm them as a matter of course,” said a representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The 17 goals were adopted unanimously by all 193 UN member states in 2015. The U.S. ranks 46th in its overall progress in achieving the SDGs. (March 2025)
The United States withdrew from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a global finance program consisting of 10 donor countries that is helping several developing countries move beyond fossil fuels. The U.S. has also withdrawn from JETP agreements with South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam, which included commitments of over $4 billion in loans and grants. The U.S. also
withdrew from the board of the United Nation’s climate loss and damage fund. (March 2025)
The Trump Administration cut a program that monitored air quality at over 80 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, a program credited to
mobilizing local air pollution action in many countries.The State Department announced the end of this program in an email, citing “budget constraints,” according to reporting from the New York Times. (March 2025)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will take 31 actions to roll back over two dozen rules in what EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called “the largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history.” Among those rules being reconsidered are:
- The Endangerment Finding, which gives EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
- The Social Cost of Carbon, which calculates a price for societal damages from each ton of CO2 emitted;
- The Electric Vehicle Mandate and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles;
- The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, requiring facilities to report GHG emissions;
- Clean Power Plant Plan 2.0, reducing the GHG emissions of power plants;
- Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, limiting mercury emissions from power plants;
- The Good Neighbor Plan, addressing interstate transport of air pollution;
- PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which puts limits on the concentration of fine particulate air pollutants;
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for industrial facilities.
Details of how these will be changed or rolled back were not provided, and, as noted in the New York Times, “the announcements do not carry the force of law.” To proceed, EPA will have to go through the process of proposing, receiving public comments and finalizing the rules. (March 2025)
EPA notified recipients of funding from the National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator that it is terminating $20 billion in grants awarded during the Biden Administration as part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). EPA said “this termination is based on substantial concerns regarding the… GGRF program integrity,” and that the Agency would “re-obligate” funds “with enhanced controls.” (March 2025)
Climate United Fund, an investment fund consisting of three NGOs,
sued Citibank and EPA
to gain access to $7 billion in funds granted by the EPA under the GGRF and currently held by Citibank.The Fund, arguing that Citibank and EPA are unlawfully holding the funding, asked a judge to order Citibank to disburse the monies and prohibit EPA from interfering. This has been followed by
two additional lawsuits by the NGOs
the Coalition for Green Capital and
Power Forward Communities, which both sued Citibank for breaches of contract for the bank's refusal to disburse EPA funds. (March 2025)
President Trump signed an executive order invoking the “national energy emergency” to increase US production of critical minerals. The order instructs agencies to identify and review potential critical mineral projects and expedite their permitting. It also aims to prioritize mining on federal lands that are “known to hold mineral deposits and reserves;” instructs agencies to coordinate to expedite loans, capital assistance, and technical assistance; and coordinates the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to use their authority to advance the installation of commercial mineral production enterprises on identified lands. (March 2025)
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from terminating $14 billion in grants awarded to three climate groups (Climate United, Coalition for Green Capital, and Power Forward Communities)
under the Biden administration. The judge found that EPA “gave no legal justification for the termination.” (March 2025)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urged the White House to strike down EPA’s Endangerment Finding, according to reporting from the Washington Post. (The 2009 finding enables the regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.) President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy executive order on 20 January gave EPA 30 days to submit recommendations on the legality and continuing applicability of the finding. While EPA has not shared its recommendations publicly, the Agency confirmed it has submitted these to the White House. (March 2025)
President Trump issued an executive order that requires independent agencies to send proposed regulations to the White House for review, asserts that the White House can prevent agencies from spending on projects it disagrees with, and declares that legal interpretations of regulations by the president and the Attorney General are binding. The order would affect independent agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Securities and Exchange Commission. (Feb 2025)
President Trump signed an executive order establishing a National Energy Dominance Council to advise him on ways to “achieve energy dominance.” The Council is led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. It will advise the president on ways to improve the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation of U.S. energy; cut red tape and enhance private sector investments to promote innovation; facilitate cooperation between the federal government and domestic energy partners to ensure policy consistency; and consult with public and private sector stakeholders to expand energy production and address cost barriers. (Feb 2025)
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a memo to top department officials ordering them to “eliminate all climate change activities and the use of climate change terminology in DHS policies and programs.” The directive could lead to modifying or terminating climate-related contracts, ending participation in climate working groups, revising or rescinding climate policies, and ending climate-related reporting requirements. (Feb 2025)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified over 600 energy and infrastructure projects that are eligible to be fast tracked through environmental review under President Trump's National Energy Emergency declaration. The expedited permits include approval to destroy wetlands or impact waterways with little to no opportunities for local committees to review and voice concerns, according to the
Environmental Integrity Project. (Feb 2025)
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released
its interim final rule
to rescind all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations issued since the 1970s, which require federal agencies to consider the environmental impact of their work. The interim rule is
open for public comment for 30 days from being published. (Feb 2025)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda announced the SEC will pause its defense of its climate disclosure rule against legal challenges. The rule is currently being challenged in a federal appellate court. The rule, finalized in March 2024, requires emissions disclosures when that information might affect investment decisions. Uyeda, who voted against the rule when a commissioner, said he did not believe the SEC had statutory authority to address climate change issues or adopt this rule. (Feb 2025)
PR » THE HILL » NEW YORK TIMES »
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced he plans to revoke $20 billion in climate project grants awarded by the Biden Administration. He is calling for the termination of the financial agent agreement with the bank holding the funds, and for the return of the entire fund balance to the U.S. Treasury. Zeldin also plans to refer this matter to the Office of the Inspector General and Congress. (Feb 2025)
Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed an order directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to “take immediate action to unleash American Energy” in line with President Trump’s executive orders. Actions listed include (Feb 2025):
- Focus on expanding energy options instead of pursuing net-zero policies.
- Prioritize DOE’s R&D efforts on affordable, reliable, and secure energy technologies, including fossil fuels, advanced nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower.
- Undertake a comprehensive review of the DOE Appliance Standards Program, focusing on affordability and consumer choice.
- Enable the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology.
- Resume consideration of pending applications to export liquefied natural gas to countries without a free trade agreement.
- Strengthen grid reliability and security, bringing a renewed focus to growing baseload generation.
- Streamline permitting by exercising the DOE's legal authorities to expedite the approval and construction of reliable energy infrastructure.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
informed state transportation directors that the
Department of Transportation (DOT) will review the policies underlying the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, a federal clean energy program to expand the U.S. network of EV charging stations. FHWA also
rescinded NEVI program guidance and will update guidance according to “current U.S. DOT policy and priorities,” aiming to have a draft published for public comment in the spring. Through this rescission,
FHWA suspended the approval of all state EV infrastructure deployment plans for all fiscal years. While existing financial obligations will be reimbursed,
no new obligations may occur, and states will be “held harmless” for not implementing their existing plans. As Heatmap notes, this effectively freezes the $2.6 billion (of the $3.27 billion of total NEVI funding) that has not been awarded. (Feb 2025)
The Army Corps of Engineers temporarily paused permitting on 168 renewable energy projects across the U.S. to comply with President Trump’s
Unleashing American Energy
executive order.The pause, started 5 February, was supposed to end “on or about” 7 February. Heatmap reported that the Army Corps announced on 6 February that the pause had been lifted but could not confirm this. (Feb 2025)
The Department of the Interior issued an order suspending its staff from issuing “any onshore or offshore renewable energy authorization,” except for senior officials. This includes leases, amendments to leases, rights of way, and contracts. The order also suspended hiring personnel and issuing Resource Management Plans. It remains in effect for 60 days “or until any of its provisions are amended, superseded, or revoked.” (Feb 2025)
The Secretary of Transportation signed the
“Woke Rescission” Memorandum
directing department heads to eliminate all Biden-era programs and policies that promote climate change activism, environmental justice, and DEI initiatives. The memo gives agencies under the Department of Transportation (DOT) 10 days to identify all relevant programs and policies, and then 10 days to revoke them. In a separate action, the Secretary
also ordered
“an immediate review and reconsideration”
of all existing fuel economy standards applicable to vehicles from model year 2022 forward, and all fuel economy standards “at the earliest opportunity.” (Feb 2025)
The Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to halt its review of a case challenging California’s stricter standards for vehicle emissions and electric vehicles (EVs). Lower courts had previously thrown out industry and state lawsuits against the standards (reinstated in 2022 by the Biden Administration) finding they lacked the necessary legal standing. The request noted that the EPA ”should reassess the basis for and soundness of” the reinstatement and that this reassessment “could obviate the need for this court to determine” whether the challengers have legal standing. The Administration also
asked the Supreme Court to reconsider
two other environmental cases, both of which would determine which federal courts can take on cases related to certain EPA actions. (Feb 2025)
On Monday (27 January),
the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
issued an internal memo
freezing all federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs across the U.S. (including many clean energy and climate programs) in order “to determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities.” The following day,
a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcing this directive, after one lawsuit was filed by a group of nonprofits, and another by over 20 states. Then Wednesday,
the OMB
rescinded its memo. (Feb 2025)
The Federal Reserve Board withdrew from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a global coalition of central banks collaborating on climate risk management and green finance. The Fed noted that the NGFS’s work has broadened, covering a wider range of issues “outside of the Board’s statutory mandate.” (Jan 2025)
President Trump issued executive orders also affecting a wide range of social policies (Jan 2025):
- Ordered all agencies to terminate “illegal DEI and DEIA policies” (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), revoking several executive orders, including
Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity) from 1965, which ensures equal opportunity for women and people of color in federal contractors’ requirements.
AXIOS » - As noted in this
White House Fact Sheet, “federal hiring, promotions and performance reviews will reward individual initiative…and not, under any circumstances, DEI-related factors.” The Order also
requires “unmistakable affirmation” that contractors will not engage in DEI, according to the fact sheet.
AXIOS » - Required all agency heads to terminate all DEIA and environmental justice offices and positions, as well as equity action plans, initiatives, programs, grants, and performance requirements.
- Recognized two sexes, male and female, and required the use by agencies of terms based on sex, not gender, when “administering or enforcing sex-based distinctions.”
President Trump issued a series of executive orders and memorandums, affecting a wide range of environmental, energy, and climate policies (Jan 2025):
- The U.S.
formally withdrew from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and
rescinded the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan.
ESG TODAY » - Declared the first-ever
“National Energy Emergency,” authorizing the heads of agencies to identify and exercise “any lawful emergency authorities” to facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, “including, but not limited to, on Federal lands.”
NPR » - Signed the “Unleashing American Energy” order, which:
- Terminates the “Green New Deal,” pausing the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- “Encourages energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters”(“with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical mineral and nuclear energy resources”) and requires heads of agencies to review all agency actions that potentially burden the development of domestic energy resources, and develop and begin implementing action plans to suspend or revise these actions within 30 days.
- Reduces requirements for environmental considerations to “only the relevant legislated” ones in federal permitting or regulatory processes.
- Eliminates the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate,” terminating state emissions waivers and “considering the elimination of unfair subsidies” that favor EVs.
- Revokes twelve Biden Administration executive orders pertaining to climate action, clean energy, and environmental justice.
- Revokes
Executive Order 11991, from 1977, which, within 30 days,
shifts the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) from issuing binding rules
to only guidance on implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
LEGALPLANET » - Disbands the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, including estimates of the social costs of carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide, as it is “marked by logical deficiencies.”
- Requires the EPA to submit recommendations on the legality and continuing applicability of the
2009 “endangerment finding” enabling the EPA to conclude GHG emissions should be regulated as they endanger public health and welfare.
CIPHER » - Requires relevant agencies to identify all actions that impose undue burdens on domestic mining and take steps to revise such actions.
- Withdrew all areas
within the Offshore Continental Shelf for wind energy leasing, effective immediately. This memorandum also requires the “immediate review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices.”
AP »
President Biden signed an Executive Order to accelerate the development of the infrastructure needed for advanced AI operations in the U.S. The order directs the Department of Defense and Department of Energy to select government sites where the private sector can build AI data centers and clean power facilities, with agencies expediting permitting, coordinating the development of transmission lines, and facilitating grid interconnection. Developers will be expected to pay for the full costs of construction and operating the infrastructure and provide sufficient clean energy generation to support the data centers. (Jan 2025)
The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released final rules for the section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, clarifying eligibility for hydrogen production credits. To qualify, lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be no greater than 4 kg of CO2 equivalents per kg of hydrogen produced, divided into four tiers of credits, with hydrogen producing the lowest GHG emissions receiving the largest credit ($3/kg). The rules establish specific requirements for producing hydrogen from renewables (including incrementality and temporal matching), nuclear power, natural gas with carbon capture, renewable natural gas, and coal mine methane. (Jan 2025)
Treasury and IRS also released
final rules
for the Clean Electricity Investment and Production Tax Credits in tax code sections 45Y and 48E. The rules provide clarity around what zero-emissions technologies qualify for the credits, including wind, solar, hydro, marine, geothermal, nuclear, and certain waste energy recovery. These technology-neutral tax credits are expected to reduce electricity bills by up to $38 billion through 2030 and are
available to projects that began construction before 2025. (Jan 2025)
Treasury and IRS also released guidance on the Clean Fuels Production Credit (section 45Z). This provides a tax credit for the production of transportation fuels with lifecycle GHG emissions below certain levels. The credit
applies both to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and non-SAF transportation fuels. The credit consolidates and replaces pre-Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) credits for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and alternative fuels, and an IRA credit for SAF. (Jan 2025)
List of US Federal: Executive Branch News, 2024-2019 (PDF)
US Fed: Legislative Branch
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The Senate voted 51 to 44 to overturn California’s waiver from the Clean Air Act allowing the state to set stricter vehicle emissions standards, as well as two waivers related to the electrification of heavy-duty trucks and nitrogen oxide emissions. The Senate used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to revoke the waivers. (The CRA allows senators to overturn administration rulemaking with a simple majority, thus bypassing the Senate filibuster.) California Governor Gavin Newsom responded, announcing the state would file a lawsuit “to fight this unconstitutional attack on California in court.” The Government Accountability Office has previously issued legal findings that the waivers do not qualify under the CRA.(May 2025)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that Congress cannot use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to review or repeal EPA’s waiver that allows California to set its own vehicle emissions standards, as waivers are not rules subject to CRA but are instead adjudicatory orders. (March 2025)
The House and Senate both passed resolutions to overturn the Biden administration’s rule that requires large oil and gas producers to pay a fee on methane emissions (which EPA has estimated would prevent 1.2 million metric tons of methane entering the atmosphere). However, as the fee is mandated by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, fully undoing EPA’s obligation to levy the fees will require additional legislation. (March 2025)
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The chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and antitrust subcommittee chairman Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) wrote to over 130 U.S.-based companies, retirement systems, and government pension programs that are members in Climate Action 100+. Jordan and Massie asked the companies to explain their involvement with the group and to preserve materials pertaining to Climate Action 100+ and their efforts to advance ESG-related goals. (Aug 2024)
13 Senate Democrats wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Treasury to express concern about the burdensome restrictions in the proposed requirements for implementing the Section 45V Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen. The letter makes several recommendations to the 45V Credit guidance, offering alternative compliance pathways along the “three-pillars” of incrementality, temporal matching, and deliverability. (July 2024)
Ranking Republican member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (also Republican) wrote a letter to the director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), urging him to return the Agency to its "core mission of promoting energy security." They argue that the IEA has become an “energy transition cheerleader” and asked over 30 questions regarding the Agency’s analyses, recommendations, and expenditures. (March 2024)
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which will phase in a transition toward zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The rule includes an end to combustion truck sales in 2036 and establishes a phased transition of existing vehicles to zero-emissions, depending on the type (drayage trucks, yard trucks, and last mile delivery trucks by 2035, work trucks and day cab tractors by 2039, and sleeper cab tractors and specialty vehicles by 2042). In a separate announcement, CARB will require industrial and passenger locomotives built in 2030 or after to operate in zero-emissions configurations while in California, and in 2035 for freight line haul. (May 2023)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law barring state officials from investing public money based on ESG factors, and prohibiting bonds tied to ESG projects or that impose restrictions tied to ESG ratings. (May 2023)
Under its new state budget deal, New York is set to ban the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels (including furnaces, water heaters, and gas stoves) in new construction. For buildings under seven stories, this ban would go into effect in 2026, for larger buildings, 2029. The rule does not apply to existing buildings or retrofits. (May 2023)
A group of 25 Republican-led states filed a motion with a federal judge in Texas to block a Biden administration rule allowing retirement plans to consider ESG factors in selecting investments until its legal challenge’s outcome is decided (filed last month). The lawsuit claims the rule violates federal law regulating employee benefit plans by redirecting focus to nonfinancial factors. The rule covers plans that together manage $12 trillion on behalf of more than 150 million people. (Feb 2023)
Two members of Congress, Juan Vargas from California and Sean Casten from Illinois, announced the launch of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus (CSIC). CSIC will bring together members of Congress with experts to better understand ESG investing and inform policymaking that provides investor protections and transparency of information to market participants. (Jan 2023)
The U.S. Senate ratified the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, joining 137 countries in pledging to phase out the use of super-polluting greenhouse gases found in refrigerators and air conditioners. If successfully implemented, scientists estimate the treaty will prevent up to 0.5°C warming by the end of the century. (Sept 2022)
The House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on a party line 220-207 vote. President Joe Biden said he will sign the bill this week. The final bill appropriates $437 billion for climate, health subsidies, and drought relief and is estimated to generate $739 billion in revenue over ten years. (Aug 2022)
The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, paving the way for $739 billion in funding focused primarily on efforts to decarbonize the US economy, lower healthcare costs, revise the tax code, and reduce the federal deficit. According to independent modeling analyses from Energy Innovation and Evolved Energy Research, the bill’s $369 billion in climate-related provisions could:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42% by 2030 (2005 baseline), compared to a projected 24–27% reduction under current policies.
- Avoid at least 24 tons of emissions for every ton of emissions it allows with new land use provisions for fossil fuel development.
- Increase carbon capture 13-fold by 2030 compared to the current trajectory (with carbon capture accounting for up to 20% of CO2 cuts resulting from the bill).
- Lower annual U.S. energy expenditures by at least 4% in 2030—an annual savings of nearly $50 billion dollars—and drive more than $3 trillion in cumulative capital investment in clean energy infrastructure over the next decade.
The House of Representatives is expected to reconvene on Friday, August 12 to consider approving the bill. (Aug 2022)
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin reached an agreement on a draft revenue and spending bill—the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022—that allocates an unprecedented $369 billion over ten years to tackling energy security and the climate crisis. The funds, if approved, could put President Biden’s ambitions to reduce US emissions 50% by 2030 (2005 baseline) back in play. The bill’s authors, and independent analyses like this one from Rhodium Group, say the provisions of the plan could reduce emissions by up to 44% by 2030, and that additional action by the Biden administration, subnational governments, and businesses could put reductions over the 50% goal. Key climate-related provisions in the bill include (Aug 2021):
- $60 billion to accelerate US manufacturing of clean energy components like solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and the processing of essential minerals.
- Creation of a new Methane Emissions Reduction Plan, which includes financial incentives for oil & gas companies to monitor and trap methane in their operations. It also includes a new fee on excess emissions.
- Continuation of a tax credit of up to $7,500 for new clean vehicle purchases and, for the first time, up to $4,000 for used clean vehicle purchases. The bill also creates a 30% tax credit for commercial electric vehicles.
- Creation of a $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund intended to catalyze the development of decarbonization technologies and processes through direct investment and leveraging private capital.
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West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, citing concerns about exacerbating inflation, has indicated that he will vote against spending and tax legislation that contains climate mitigation measures. The move effectively kills those provisions—which had included hundreds of billions of dollars for funding and incentives to speed the transition to EVs, renewable energy, and more—in democrats’ pending bill. Without that funding, the Biden administration’s climate goals like halving GHG emissions by 2030 (2005 baseline) will be far more challenging to achieve and would rely heavily on increased executive action, especially if democrats lose the House this fall. (July 2022)
List of US Federal Legislative Branch News, 2021-2019 (PDF)
US Fed: Judicial Branch
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The Supreme Court ruled that federal agencies conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) can limit these to focus only on immediate impacts of the project. In its 8-0 decision, the Court found that judicial review of NEPA compliance cannot be used “to delay or block agency projects based on the environmental effects of other projects separate from the project at hand.” The case focused on a rail line in Utah that would move crude oil to refineries along the Gulf Coast. The Court ruled that its upstream and downstream impacts are separate from the project (i.e. increased drilling and refining) and cannot be considered in the review. (June 2025)
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the youth-based climate lawsuit Juliana vs. United States, ending the 10-year long climate case. The effort inspired over 60 youth-led climate lawsuits in over 50 countries and states. (March 2025)
The Supreme Court declined to hear an argument to restrict states from suing oil companies for financial damage related to climate change. The challenge was brought by 19 Republican state attorneys general against five states that have sued fossil fuel companies for deceiving the public about their greenhouse gas emissions. With the Supreme Court’s rejection, these lawsuits can now proceed. (March 2025)
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act. In its decision for the lawsuit of San Francisco vs. EPA, the court said that while EPA can issue permits that set specific water pollutant limits, it lacks the authority to make permittees responsible for the quality of “receiving waters” (i.e. “end-result” requirements). The court determined that this could impose undue burdens on permittees whenever the quality of receiving waters falls below applicable standards, even when permittees are in compliance with pollutant discharge limits. (March 2025)
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Seven customers filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, alleging it misled consumers on claims that some of its Apple Watches are carbon neutral, arguing the products depended on carbon offsets that were not “genuine” or “additional.” Along with damages, the plaintiffs are suing for an injunction to block Apple from marketing the watches as carbon neutral. (March 2025)
A federal judge rejected legal challenges brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a lawsuit targeting California’s climate reporting laws (SB 253 and SB 261). The Chamber argued that the laws violated companies’ first amendment rights, and that this was an attempt to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by shaming companies through disclosure. The court rejected these claims, noting that the law only requires disclosure, and does not impose liability for failing to reduce emissions. The lawsuit also challenged the laws on extraterritoriality grounds, and for pre-empting federal laws. The court found that as the reporting requirements have yet to be released, this challenge “is not ripe for review.” (Feb 2025)
A New York Supreme Court justice dismissed a New York City lawsuit to hold ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and American Petroleum Institute liable for misleading the public about their products’ role in causing climate change. The judge found no proof that the defendants conducted “greenwashing” campaigns. (Jan 2025)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for DC issued a decision invalidating a joint plan by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service regarding tourist flights over national parks due to failure to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Most notable is the Court, without prompting, challenged the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) rulemaking authority to implement NEPA, even though CEQ has overseen NEPA policy and implementation for over 50 years. The Court stated that the President cannot grant rulemaking power through an executive order. In the short term, this ruling will “likely further slow down the permitting process and increase litigation risk.” And if the ruling stands, it could weaken many rules implementing NEPA or lead to a piecemeal approach to NEPA practices across various agencies. (Nov 2024)
A judge refused a challenge brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups to disallow two California climate laws (SB 253 and SB 261) because they violated the First Amendment, according to ESG Today. These laws, which require disclosures of climate emissions and climate-related financial risks, could still be challenged, as the judge did not determine whether they fall under First Amendment protections or commercial speech. (Nov 2024)
The Supreme Court declined to put on hold a new federal rule targeting carbon pollution from coal and gas-fired power plants while litigation proceeds in a lower court. In an opinion, Justice Kavanaugh wrote that the challengers (states and power companies) are “unlikely to suffer irreparable harm” before the lower court completes its review as compliance work does not need to start until June 2025. (Oct 2024)
A U.S. District Judge in Maryland issued a ruling that the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Services’ “biological opinion” on the impact of oil and gas extraction in the Gulf of Mexico on protected marine life is in violation of the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge determined the NMFS opinion did not adequately address risks species face from oil spills and vessel strikes, and gave the agency until 20 December to either complete a new opinion or plan for changes in Gulf oil operations. (Aug 2024)
A U.S. district court barred Missouri from enforcing a state securities rule requiring advisors to disclose to clients when they consider ESG factors in investment decisions. The rule, adopted in June 2023, was determined invalid as it imposes requirements on brokers and advisors that do not exist in federal law, violates their free-speech rights, and is “unconstitutionally vague.” (Aug 2024)
The Supreme Court overruled the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council decision, reducing the power of federal agencies to interpret the laws it implements. The 1984 decision required courts to defer to federal agencies when creating regulations based on an ambiguous law. Courts will now be required to “exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority” (as the majority opinion states). (July 2024)
The Supreme Court also granted a temporary stay
on the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Good Neighbor Plan, which requires 23 upwind states to curb certain pollutants from drifting downwind to other states. The plan has already been paused in 12 states by courts while legal proceedings unfold. (July 2024)
The American Petroleum Institute (API) filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging EPA’s light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. API, joined by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and six auto dealers, argued that the EPA “has exceeded its congressional authority” with regulation that will eliminate most new gas cars and hybrids from the U.S. market in less than a decade. (June 2024)
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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its final rule on standards for six PFAS substances in municipal water systems. NAM, joined by the American Chemistry Council, alleged that the EPA had exceeded its authority, that the rules were excessively costly, and that no viable alternatives exist for some of the substances. (June 2024)
A federal court of appeals suspended a venture capital firm’s grant contest for Black women business owners while the case against the program by the American Alliance for Equal Rights proceeds. The lawsuit argues that Fearless Fund’s contest, which provides $20,000 to businesses that are majority owned by Black women, is discriminatory. (June 2024)
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that shareholders cannot sue companies under federal fraud law for not disclosing trends that affect their future revenue unless the omission makes another statement misleading. This came in the context of a 2018 case in which a shareholder sued an infrastructure company for failing to disclose that its revenues were vulnerable to an international phase-out of high-sulfur fuel oil. “A duty to disclose does not automatically render silence misleading,” but only if it “renders affirmative statements made misleading,” according to the Court’s decision. (April 2024)
The Supreme Court issued a ruling holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bars employers from discriminating in decisions like lateral transfers, without requiring employees to show the decision caused “significant” harm. The case supported police sergeant Jatonya Clayborn Muldrow, who argued that being transferred from the Intelligence Division to a uniformed job so a man could replace her lost her many perks and responsibilities even though her salary remained the same. The court determined that Muldrow had experienced discrimination as a “disadvantageous” change had occurred through her transfer. (April 2024)
A U.S. appeals court upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to grant California a waiver to set its own vehicle emissions standards. The court rejected a challenge by 17 Republican-led states and fossil fuel companies to revoke California’s authority, arguing they failed to prove how California’s emission standards would drive up costs for gas-powered vehicles in their states. (April 2024)
A U.S. District Court in Texas struck down a Department of Transportation rule that would have required states and cities to set targets for reducing GHG emissions from vehicles using the national highway system. The judge ruled that the DOT was not authorized to include environmental benchmarks in states’ assessments of highway performance. (April 2024)
A federal judge in Texas declined to block a Biden administration rule allowing employee retirement plans to consider ESG issues in investment decisions. The request of the court was brought by 25 states, who claimed that the rule creates a regulatory bias in favor of ESG strategies. (Sept 2023)
A legal settlement in federal court commits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to several reforms to better protect endangered species from pesticides. The agreement requires the EPA to develop a strategy to better protect endangered species from herbicides by 2024 and insecticides by 2025. (Sept 2023)
The Supreme Court ruled that businesses can refuse to serve same-sex couples if doing so would violate the owners’ religious beliefs. The Court concluded that the plaintiff in the case had a First Amendment right to refuse designing custom wedding websites for same-sex couples. (July 2023)
A federal judge in North Dakota temporarily blocked the EPA’s Waters of the United States rule (finalized in December) in 24 states, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by those states. The rule established protections for wetlands and seasonal streams and came into effect March 20. The judge argued that the rule “poses a threat to [states’] sovereign rights” and states would “expend unrecoverable resources complying with a rule unlikely to withstand judicial scrutiny.” The EPA responded, stating that the regulations were “the best interpretation” of the Clean Water Act, and that the agency is reviewing the decision and its options. (April 2023)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, dismissing Missouri v. Biden, in which several states attempted to prohibit the Biden Administration’s use of interim estimates of the Social Cost of Carbon in agency proceedings. The court explained that the states cannot preemptively challenge the Social Cost of Carbon outside of the context of a specific agency action. The court also noted that the estimate does not cause harm in itself and that the determining of the cost is a “sensible exercise of the President’s executive power” and should not be prohibited. Full ruling is here. (Oct 2022)
The Supreme Court has ruled in West Virginia v. EPA that the agency can't legally try to shift power generation away from fossil-fuels to cleaner sources. The 6–3 ruling established that the 1970 Clean Air Act's provision that the EPA enact "the best system of emission reduction" does not empower it to make decisions with sweeping economic and political impact and suggests that such decisions must be made by Congress. It is a development that presents new challenges to the Biden Administration's decarbonization goals; But, since the EPA's ability to regulate power plant emissions remain intact, the agency has said it will likely enact a suite of additional emission regulations—and fines for non-compliance—on fossil fuel plants. Doing so would reduce GHG emissions, with a likely side effect of making clean alternatives with falling costs, like solar and wind, more attractive. (July 2022)
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The US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending federal constitutional abortion rights and giving states authority to regulate abortions. Nearly half of US states have or are likely to pass laws banning or enacting strict measures regulating abortions. In response to the ruling, dozens of US companies have committed or reaffirmed their position to help employees access abortion services if denied in their state. The following outlets cover corporate responses and benefits: Bloomberg, NY Times, and Forbes. (June 2022)
The Supreme Court denied an emergency application by several Republican-led states to
prevent the Biden administration from factoring the social costs of GHG into government decisions. In April, the Federal District Court in Louisiana sided with the states and issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration’s use of its estimate of harms from carbon emissions, but the Fifth Circuit stayed the injunction. The emergency application by the states sought to reverse the appellate court’s stay. (May 2022)
A federal appeals court lifted a ban that blocked the Biden administration from using the “social cost of greenhouse gasses” (based on a dollar estimate of the damage caused by emitting 1 metric ton of GHGs into the air) it put into place in January 2021 for federal permitting, investment, and regulatory decisions. (March 2022)
A federal judge blocked the Biden administration from using the “social cost of greenhouse gases” (an estimate of the damage caused by emitting 1 metric ton of GHGs into the air)
it
put into place in January 2021 for federal permitting, investment, and regulatory decisions. The amount will revert from $50 per ton to the $10 or less per ton imposed by the Trump administration. (Feb 2022)
A federal judge struck down a 2020 environmental rule implemented by former President Donald Trump
that allowed pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals to be discharged into streams and wetlands. (Sept 2021)
A federal judge ordered ExxonMobil, BP, Hess Corporation, and Shell to help cover $7.2 billion’ worth of costs for capping and abandoning hundreds of wells in the Gulf of Mexico they previously owned. (July 2021)
A federal judge in Louisiana issued a
preliminary injunction blocking the Biden administration from pausing new oil and gas leases on federal land. (June 2021)
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of energy companies—including BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell—contesting a lawsuit filed by the city of Baltimore seeking monetary damages from the companies for costs caused by climate change. (May 2021)
A federal appeals court rejected New York City’s effort to hold oil companies—including BP Plc, Chevron Corp, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil Corp, and Royal Dutch Shell—liable to help pay the public costs of climate change. The three-judge panel remarked, “global warming presents a uniquely international problem of national concern. It is therefore not well-suited to the application of state law.” (April 2021)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
struck down the Trump administration’s approach to regulating carbon emissions from power plants (the “Affordable Clean Energy rule”), opening up avenues for the Biden administration to pursue tougher power plant regulations. (January 2021)
A
U.S. appeals court ruled that the Dakota Access Pipeline can continue operations, overriding a prior ruling made by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia requiring the pipeline to temporarily shut down until an environmental impact assessment is conducted. However, the appeals court
did not halt the prior ruling requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to
conduct an environmental impact assessment. (August 2020)
The
U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision to
suspend construction on parts of the
Keystone XL pipeline. (July 2020)
Bayer has agreed to pay around $10 billion to settle around 125,000 claims that its Roundup product causes cancer. The settlement will also resolve potential future litigation. (June 2020)
US States & Cities
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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that the updated Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) took effect 1 July 2025, following approval by the Office of Administrative Law. This amended regulation helps the state achieve legally mandated air quality and climate targets. It sets a declining target for the amount of carbon in transportation fuels used in California: by 30% by 2030 (up from the earlier 20% target) and by 90% by 2045. It requires producers that do not achieve established benchmarks to purchase credits from those that do. (July 2025)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul directed the state’s power authority to develop and construct an advanced nuclear power plant providing at least 1 GW of electricity. The power authority will now begin evaluating technologies, models, locations, and potential private sector partners. (June 2025)
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation that requires the labeling of 44 synthetic additives, preservatives and dyes in foods starting on 1 January 2027. The labels will warn that the ingredient “is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the United Kingdom.” As Texas has a population of over 31 million, the law could lead to changes in food industry practices across the U.S. (June 2025)
The North Carolina legislature finalized a bill that would eliminate the state’s statutory goal to cut carbon emissions by 70% by 2030. The new law reverses this mandate, which was set in a 2021 law, though it maintains the directive to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 (2005 baseline). The bill now goes to the governor, who can veto it, sign it, or let it become law without signing it. (June 2025)
New York State released draft rules for its mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting program that will require “certain sources” of GHG emissions to annually report emissions and related data to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Sources include: owners and operators of facilities (including electricity generation and landfills), suppliers of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), electric power entities and others. A fact sheet with fuller details, including reporting thresholds, is available here. This is the first step in establishing the state’s planned cap-and-invest system, though two other sets of rules are required to launch the system. (March 2025)
Missouri filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, alleging the company violated federal and state anti-discrimination laws. The lawsuit claims the company is using its DEI commitments as a pretext to unlawfully discriminate based on race, sex and sexual orientation in its hiring practices, training, and advancement opportunities. (Feb 2025)
133 mayors, council members, and county officials across 39 states wrote a letter calling on Congress to preserve the 13 clean energy tax credits available to state and local governments, noting that repealing these will upend “countless energy projects and jobs across our country.” The letter also noted that 85% of announced investments and 53% of new clean energy jobs benefited districts represented by Republican members of Congress. (Feb 2025)
22 states, led by West Virginia, filed a lawsuit against the state of New York opposing its Climate Change Superfund Act. The plaintiffs argue that the law is “overreach,” punishing fossil fuel companies for emissions that were regulated by the federal government and “produced legally.” Additional plaintiffs include three fossil fuel trade groups and a coal mining company. (Feb 2025)
Eleven Attorneys General, led by Texas AG Ken Paxton, sent a letter to six financial institutions warning them of potential legal actions over their DEI and ESG commitments. The letter, addressed to Bank of America, BlackRock, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley, asked the banks to clarify their positions on several diversity topics (including employment, board, and supplier quotas) and their climate policies and practices within 45 days “to avoid a lengthy enforcement action.” (Feb 2025)
The U.S. Climate Alliance, consisting of governors from 24 states and territories representing 60% of the U.S. economy, wrote a letter to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The letter asserts that the coalition “will continue America’s work to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and slash climate pollution,” and that alliance members are on track to reduce their collective GHG emissions 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. (Jan 2025)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law The Climate Change Superfund Act. This will require fossil fuel companies that have contributed significantly to GHG emissions to pay $3 billion per year for the next 25 years into a state fund for infrastructure projects to increase New York’s resilience to climate change. (Jan 2025)
A federal judge in Texas ruled that American Airlines violated federal law by choosing funds for its 401(k) plan from investment companies pursuing ESG goals. According to the ruling,
the company breached its fiduciary duty of loyalty in allowing its plan to be influenced by corporate goals unrelated to workers’ financial interests. However, the judge found that
the company did not breach its fiduciary duty of prudence as it was "acting according to prevailing industry standards.” (Jan 2025)
The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit against BlackRock, The Vanguard Group, and State Street Corporation for “conspiring to artificially constrict the market for coal through anticompetitive trade practices.” The suit claims the investment firms acquired “substantial shareholdings” in major coal companies to pressure the companies to reduce the production of coal. Ten other states also joined Texas in the lawsuit. (Dec 2024)
California voters approved Proposition 4, a ballot measure that will establish a $10 billion bond to fund climate-related projects across the state. These include efforts to improve drinking water, fight wildfires, protect and restore natural lands, and increase resilience against extreme heat and flooding. (Nov 2024)
The
Climate Commitment Act
was upheld in Washington State after an attempt to repeal it was defeated. This “cap-and-invest” law, passed two years ago, requires major greenhouse gas emitters to buy allowances to emit and uses the funds for government programs. (Nov 2024)
Voters in Minnesota voted to renew directing lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for another 25 years. Since 1991, the fund has supported at least 1,700 conservation projects with over $1 billion. (Nov 2024)
Voters in Louisiana approved an amendment that will allocate funds from offshore alternative energy projects to coastal restoration and protection (rather than to the state’s general fund). This is already the case for offshore oil and gas revenues. There are currently no completed offshore wind projects in Louisiana yet. (Nov 2024)
Utah launched Operation Gigawatt, an initiative to double Utah’s “reliable energy production” over the next 10 years, in order to address converging issues of population growth, electrification, energy-intensive industry growth, and the retirement of baseload power plants. It aims to increase transmission capacity, develop more energy production, enhance Utah’s policies to enable sources like nuclear and geothermal energy, and invest in innovation and research. (Oct 2024)
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two new bills into law, including the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which requires large companies doing business in California to report on their value chain emissions and climate-related financial risks. The final version includes amendments that delay Scope 3 emissions reporting based on a schedule determined by the California Air Resources Board. The Governor also signed the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, a first-of-its-kind bill in the U.S., which requires clothing and textile producers to pay into a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to manage the collection, sorting, and recycling of apparel and textile articles. (Oct 2024)
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The California Attorney General sued ExxonMobil for allegedly engaging in a campaign of deceptive marketing for several decades promising that recycling would address the increasing amount of plastic waste the company produces. The company is the world’s largest producer of polymers used to make single-use plastics. The lawsuit argues ExxonMobil’s recent promotion of “advanced” or chemical recycling of plastics is also misleading. (Sept 2024)
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that state environmental regulators can require livestock and poultry operations to improve their handling of manure that contributes to waterway contamination. The ruling came after the Michigan Farm Bureau contested state regulations requiring meat, milk and egg producers to improve practices for managing manure and other wastes. (Aug 2024)
A Maryland judge dismissed a lawsuit by Baltimore City attempting to hold oil companies responsible for climate change, explaining that greenhouse gas emissions fall under the federal Clean Air Act. The case, originally filed in 2018, targeted 26 companies. The city’s affirmative litigation chief said the companies were liable because they engaged in false marketing and concealed harms associated with their products, and will seek a higher court’s review. (July 2024)
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Vermont became the first U.S. state to enact a law requiring oil companies to pay for damage from climate change. This “Climate Superfund Act” requires the largest fossil fuel companies to pay for a share of state climate change costs proportional to their emissions from 1995 to 2024. (June 2024)
Republican attorneys general from 27 states, rural power companies, and industry trade groups are suing the EPA (in multiple lawsuits), attempting to block the recent rule that aims to reduce CO2 emissions from existing coal and natural gas power plants by 90% by 2032. One lawsuit by 25 states, led by West Virginia, is also asking the court to stay the regulation, preventing its implementation while litigation is underway. (May 2024)
West Virginia added four banks to a list of financial institutions barred from providing “banking services to the State” due to their “boycotts of fossil fuel companies,” based on a review of each institution’s ESG policies and other publicly available statements. This brings the total to nine banks. (April 2024)
Texas banned Barclays from participating as an underwriter in the state’s municipal bond market after failing to respond to requests for more information regarding its ESG policies. (Feb 2024)
The New Jersey Legislature passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Battery Management Act, which provides a framework for the collection, transportation, remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling of “propulsion batteries” (batteries used to propel electric and hybrid cars and trucks, as opposed to starter batteries). This makes New Jersey the first in the U.S. to pass a law providing industry guidance on recycling propulsion batteries and aims to support the creation of a circular economy in the state around EV batteries, according to Recycling Today. (Jan 2024)
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International Institutions, Collaborations & Rankings
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United Nations member states agreed to increase the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) budget by 10% to €81.5 million ($95.5 million) for the next two years, according to reporting by Reuters. Nearly 200 countries agreed to the increase. (June 2025)
The UN Ocean Conference concluded with a declaration signed by over 170 countries promising to take urgent action to protect the ocean. Noteworthy outcomes include (June 2025):
- 19 additional countries ratified the High Seas Treaty, bringing the total to 50 (60 are needed for ratification).
- Over 30 countries endorsed a statement by France to enact a moratorium on deep sea mining.
- 101 World Trade Organization member countries have ratified the agreement to curb harmful fisheries subsidies (totaling $22 billion). 10 countries remain to bring the agreement into force.
- 95 countries signed The Nice wake up call for an ambitious plastic treaty, calling for a global target to reduce the production and consumption of plastics and a legally binding phase out of the most problematic plastic products and chemicals.
The World Bank’s board lifted its ban on funding nuclear energy projects in developing countries.The bank will support efforts to “extend the life of existing reactors in countries that already have them, and help support grid upgrades and related infrastructure.” It will also support the development of small modular reactors. (June 2025)
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved draft regulations to reduce GHG emissions from ships, at its 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) session. The measures consist of a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions, including both a mechanism to reduce annual greenhouse gas fuel intensity (GFI) and an economic measure to charge laggards and reward leaders (with additional funds generated also supporting innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building). At the MEPC session, the U.S. withdrew from the talks, threatening “reciprocal measures to offset any fees charged to U.S. ships,” and urging other governments to not engage in the negotiations. However, a majority of countries approved the measures, which are set to be formally adopted in October 2025 before entering into force in 2027. In 2027, they will become mandatory for large vessels (over 5,000 gross tonnage), which emit 85% of total CO2 emissions from international shipping. (April 2025)
The president-designate of the next Climate Summit (COP30) published a letter outlining the vision for the talks, the 10th since the Paris Agreement was adopted and the “first to undeniably take place at the epicenter of the climate crisis.” Along with calling for kickstarting a “movement of movements” to fight climate change, the letter reinforces support for scaling up financing to developing countries for climate action to at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. It also invites past COP presidents and presidents of the COPs on biodiversity and desertification to join a “Circle of Presidencies” to honor the legacies of previous COPs and further the ongoing agenda and future process. (March 2025)
The 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) resumed and concluded this week in Italy, after it was suspended last fall in Colombia. The more than 140 countries that are part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed to a target of mobilizing $200 billion a year in biodiversity finance by 2030. This includes $20 billion from developed countries to support developing countries’ biodiversity efforts by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030. The agreement includes commitments to establish permanent arrangements for the financial mechanism, and outlines a roadmap of activities and decision-making until 2030. (March 2025)
The Cali Fund officially launched at the
resumed sessions
of COP 16, after being established at COP 16 last fall. This fund
encourages companies generating income from products drawing on genetic data to contribute a portion of their revenues or profits to biological conservation, supporting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, biodiversity-rich countries, and Indigenous communities whose genetic resources and traditional knowledge contribute to global scientific advancements.
No companies have made firm commitments yet, according to reporting from Reuters. (March 2025)
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The UK and Brazil launched the Global Clean Power Alliance to accelerate the clean energy transition globally. Twelve countries and the African Union signed up to join its first mission, the “Finance Mission.” This aims to harness the political leadership needed to unlock private finance so that no developing country is left behind in the effort to meet COP28 commitments to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency. (Nov 2024)
COP29 closed with an agreement to triple finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of $100 billion annually to $300 billion annually by 2035, and to “secure efforts of all actors” to work together to scale up finance to developing countries from public and private sources to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035. This agreement is called the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) and was agreed on unanimously by all nations represented (nearly 200). Along with earlier agreement on carbon markets at COP29, agreements were also reached on transparent climate reporting and on adaptation. (Nov 2024)
Six additional countries signed onto the Declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at COP29. This includes El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Nigeria, and Turkey, and brings the total signatories to 31 countries. (Nov 2024)
Countries reached consensus at COP29 on
the standards for Article 6.4, a key step toward establishing rules for an international carbon market (managed by the United Nations). This market, through efficient matching of buyers and sellers, could reduce national climate plan implementation by $250 billion per year, according to COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev. (Nov 2024)
Biodiversity COP16 concluded with two tangible outcomes. First, a new “Cali Fund,” operated by the United Nations, will direct a portion of profits from digitalized genetic information (much stemming from biodiversity) to the protection of nature. The fund encourages companies benefiting from this data to put aside either 1% of profits or 0.1% of revenue. Second, a new permanent body that will include Indigenous peoples in future decisions on nature conservation will be established, better incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into discussions. However, larger goals, including establishing a new framework for monitoring countries’ progress on addressing biodiversity loss, were not achieved. And only 44 countries (22%) have so far submitted National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (which were due by the COP). New decision text adopted urges countries to submit plans “as soon as possible.” (Nov 2024)
The Supervisory Body of the Paris Agreement’s A6.4 mechanism adopted the Sustainable Development Tool (SD Tool). This tool will be mandatory to use for carbon market projects developed under Article 6.4 to ensure these projects not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but support the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SD Tool has three main components: 1) It requires projects to identify, evaluate and mitigate any potential adverse impacts on the environment and community; 2) It provides a framework to measure and report on how the project drives sustainable and equitable development; and 3) It introduces a rigorous validation and verification process to ensure accountability in the market. A short technical analysis can be read here. (Oct 2024)
The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) announced it would deploy up to $1 billion in funding as part of CIF’s Industry Decarbonization investment program. CIF also launched a call for expressions of interest, inviting developing countries to participate in this first-of-its-kind program. (Up to 100% of total financing can be assigned to projects led by the private sector if drawing in private sector co-investments.) Eligible countries can submit expressions of interest here until 17 January 2025. (Oct 2024)
The United Nations General Assembly adopted The Pact for the Future, a document consisting of 56 actions around sustainable development, peace and security, science, youth, and global governance. Notable inclusions: accelerating efforts to address climate change and conserve the environment; strengthening collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030; prioritizing the eradication of poverty and food insecurity; reforming international financial architecture to address climate change; and developing measures of progress on sustainable development that complement and go beyond gross domestic product. (Sept 2024)
The World Bank Group announced it delivered $42.6 billion in climate financing in FY2024, 44% of total financing that year, and a 10% increase over FY2023. It aims to increase climate finance to 45% in FY2025. v
COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev wrote
an open letter describing the goals and agenda for the November climate conference. It includes a summary of
14 COP29 initiatives, including on finance and investment, digital action, hydrogen, energy storage, tourism, agriculture, and methane reduction from organic waste. (Sept 2024)
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) announced a new organizational structure, with a reconfigured senior management team, as part of its reform agenda and “50 by 30” vision (i.e. aiming to manage $50 billion in climate investments by 2030). (Sept 2024)
Azerbaijan, host of COP 29, announced it would launch a Climate Finance Action Fund, which aims to mobilize at least $1 billion to support mitigation projects in developing countries. Funds would be raised from voluntary contributions by fossil-fuel producing countries and oil and gas companies, either as a fixed sum or tied to the donor’s production. It would become operational once 10 countries pledge a combined $1 billion. (July 2024)
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the World Bank’s role as interim secretariat host and trustee of a climate change loss and damage fund to assist developing countries affected by climate change — a key step in operationalizing the fund. (June 2024)
Climate, energy and environment ministers of the G7 adopted a Joint Declaration that sets forth several new commitments and programs, including phasing out existing unabated coal power generation during the first half of the 2030s (or in line with countries’ net zero pathways). The Declaration also included commitments to reduce methane emissions, increase the security and sustainability of critical raw materials, encourage the growth of renewables, and more. (May 2024)
The United Nations established a Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, consisting of states and non-state actors, to develop a set of voluntary principles to safeguard environmental and social standards across the entire value chain. (May 2024)
The Global Environment Facility agreed to invest $1.1 billion for international action on biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control. Meeting as Council of the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) for the first time, the Council approved over 60 projects and programs, including four blended finance initiatives involving the private sector. These four initiatives, funded with $81 million, are set to mobilize $1.36 billion in outside investment. (Feb 2024)
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Competition Bureau Canada released final guidelines on environmental claims to help companies comply with anti-greenwashing laws. The document maps out guidance on claims about product performance, the environmental benefits of a product; and the environmental benefits of a business or business activity. It includes six principles to guide compliance, such as that claims should be truthful, specific, and substantiated. (June 2025)
Canada’s Minister of the Environment announced Canada will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels by 2035. This builds on its earlier 2030 target of 40-45% reductions below 2005 levels. (Dec 2024)
Barbados has completed the first debt-for-climate-resilience swap, in which the country replaced more expensive debt with more affordable financing. The $125 million in savings will be invested in improved water and sewage infrastructure, reducing Caribbean pollution, increasing irrigation, and replenishing groundwater. The Inter-American Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund are also providing upfront funding (as grants and loans) for the project. (Dec 2024)
The government of Brazil announced a new climate target of a 59-67% reduction in GHG emissions by 2035 (2005 baseline), the equivalent of up to 1.05 billion tons of CO2e. This will form the country’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). (Nov 2024)
The Canadian government released draft regulations to cap greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector at 35% below 2019 levels by 2030-2032. The government says this will incentivize the investment of the sector’s “record profits” into technically achievable decarbonization measures to produce oil and gas more competitively with less pollution, while helping the sector achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The regulations would establish a national cap-and-trade system applying to upstream oil and gas activities. It would be phased in for the first four years (2026-29), with large emitters first reporting their 2026 emissions and production in 2027. The consultation period will remain open until 8 January 2025. (Nov 2024)
Canada will impose a 100% tariff on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, matching U.S. tariffs. The duties apply to all EVs shipped from China, including those made by Tesla. Canada also announced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum from China. The moves are a response to China’s subsidies to its industries that western governments say give Chinese industry an unfair market advantage. (Sept 2024)
Grenada became the first country in the world to use a hurricane clause in a government bond, which allows the deferral of debt payments after a major natural disaster. This comes in the wake of hurricane Beryl, which caused damage equal to a third of the country’s annual economic output. (Aug 2024)
Canada released its 2030 Nature Strategy, which lays out how Canada will implement its nature protection goals under the Global Biodiversity Framework signed in 2022. It also introduced the Nature Accountability Bill in Parliament, which, if passed, will require the government to develop a national nature strategy and report on its implementation. (June 2024)
The Canadian government launched a new Federal Plastics Registry, requiring plastic producers and other companies across the plastics value chain to track plastic through its full life cycle as it moves through the Canadian economy. The registry aims to provide data to identify opportunities to reduce plastic waste and pollution. Reporting will be phased in over time and by sector. (April 2024)
Canada released an updated on design options being considered for the final Clean Electricity Regulations, based on feedback received during consultations. Four changes are being considered including: how to measure emissions performance of utilities (aggregated or applied to each unit); the underlying performance standard; whether emissions limits can be pooled in the same jurisdiction; and whether emissions overages are allowed if offsets are applied. The public can comment until 15 March 2024. (Feb 2024)
Canada finalized its regulation requiring 100% zero emissions light duty vehicles sales targets by 2035. For the 2026 model year, the percentage of ZEVs is at least 20%, and grows to 60% for 2030. (Jan 2024)
Canada launched a consultation on the creation of a Federal Plastics Registry, which will be used to monitor plastic from its creation to its end of life. The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how that plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life. The Registry would use that information to measure progress toward zero plastic waste and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
This consultation is open until 13 February 2024. (Jan 2024)
The Canada Growth Fund (a federal investment arm) committed to buy as many as one million metric tons of carbon credits from Entropy, a carbon capture and storage developer, helping to guarantee the future price of carbon in a
first-of-its-kind deal, according to reporting from Bloomberg and Reuters. The Fund will initially purchase
185,000 metric tons annually at C$86.50 ($64.93) per ton and has set aside C$1 billion to fulfill the first and second phase of the commitment.
The Fund aims to sell these credits to companies that cannot decarbonize as efficiently. (Jan 2024)
Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) and Ministry of Finance announced a new resolution (CVM Resolution 193) that aims to make sustainability reporting mandatory in 2026. Initially this resolution will allow public companies and investment funds to disclose sustainability reports (based on IFRS S1 and S2) on a voluntary basis starting in 2024. (Oct 2023)
Ecuador inked the largest debt for nature swap on record, a deal that will channel $12 million annually into environmental protection of the Galapagos Islands. The swap, with support from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Inter-American Development Bank, and Credit Suisse, creates a $656 million Galapagos Marine Bond that will finance conservation measures on the islands, while providing investors in this “blue bond” 5.645% interest. The deal cuts Ecuador’s debt by more than $1 billion. (May 2023)
Canada proposed new regulation to reduce plastic waste. These include: recycled content requirements mandating minimum levels of post-consumer plastics in packaging; labelling rules that would require more accurate information on recyclability; and compostability labelling rules that would prohibit “biodegradable or “degradable” on plastic packaging and single-use plastics (SUPs) and put limits on the use of the term “compostable.” The regulation would also expand collection programs in provinces, increase consistency in collection and recycling programs in Canada, and improve recycling infrastructure for packaging and SUPs. Stakeholders are invited to view the full framework and provide feedback before 18 May 2023. (April 2023)
Canada announced C$83 billion ($61 billion) in sustainable investment tax credits over the next decade in its 2023 budget. These include a C$25.7 billion through the Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit — a 15% refundable tax on investments in non-emitting electricity generating systems, abated natural gas-fired electricity, and electricity storage; C$11.1 billion on a 30% refundable clean technology manufacturing credit; as well as tax credits on clean hydrogen (C$17.6 billion), clean technology (C$15.8 billion), and carbon-capture (C$516 million), which were previously announced. (April 2023)
Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) published new guidelines on climate risk management. These will set out requirements for banks and insurance companies to manage and disclose climate-related risks, including governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. Also required will be the reporting of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, including financed, facilitated, and insured emissions. The banks and insurers are also directed to maintain capital and liquidity buffers for climate-related risks. (March 2023)
New standards released by the Canadian government will require large government suppliers (procurements greater than $25 million) to measure and disclose greenhouse gas emissions and set targets to reduce them. The measure takes effect on April 1, 2023 and will require suppliers to participate either in a federal program that tracks and verifies climate plans or an internationally recognized equivalent. The government also announced a new construction standard that will require all new major government construction projects to report and reduce their embodied carbon footprint. (March 2023)
Canada will require all new cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks sold in the country to be zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035, according to proposed regulations in December. Canada also introduced a series of interim sales mandates, requiring ZEVs to make up 20% of new vehicle sales by 2026 and 60% by 2030. There is a 75-day consultation period for these regulations with public comment possible here. (Jan 2023)
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced the launch of its Climate Tech Fund II, a new $400 million fund aimed at investing in and supporting Canadian climate teach and clean tech firms. This follows the $600 million Climate Tech Fund I launched in 2018, and brings commitments to $1 billion. (Nov 2022)
Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil's presidential runoff election. Lula has a history of empowering enforcement and monitoring agencies to stop illegal deforestation activities, with deforestation declining 43.7% during in his first term (from 2003 to 2006) and another 52.3% during his second term (until 2010). Under president Bolsonaro, deforestation surged 72%. (Nov 2022)
Canada released draft guidance on how new oil and gas projects should demonstrate "best-in-class" greenhouse gas emissions performance, following up on a government announcement first made in April. Companies are expected to identify best emissions performance on similar projects globally and show how their projects will match this performance, and how they will aim to get projects toward net-zero emissions. (Oct 2022)
Canada has released a discussion paper outlining proposals to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its oil and gas sector, which accounts for 27% of the country's total emissions. The paper puts forward two options to bring the sector's emissions into alignment with Canada's goal of net zero emissions by 2050 and 2030 interim targets: 1) Implement a cap-and-trade system that sets regulated limits on emissions from the sector, and 2) Adjust carbon pricing for heavy industry to create a cost incentive to reduce emissions. Alberta's provincial government has already raised objections, saying the proposals challenge the province's "constitutionally protected ability to develop [its] resources." The consultation period will run through September 30, 2022. (July 2022)
The Government of Canada launched the country’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, a key part of its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan that will give municipalities, foresters, farmers, Indigenous communities and others that register with the system a market-based incentive to undertake innovative projects that prevent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and remove GHGs from the atmosphere. Projects that meet specific criteria and follow a federal offset protocol for measuring GHG emissions reductions or removals, can then generate one offset credit for every ton of emissions they reduce or remove from the atmosphere, and can be sold to others to meet compliance obligations or emissions reduction goals. The first of five planned protocols was announced: the Landfill Methane Recovery and Destruction protocol, which will permit municipalities and other landfill operators to generate offset credits for recovering landfill gas and destroying it or repurposing it into energy. Future protocols under development will cover activities such as advanced refrigeration, agriculture, and forest management. (June 2022)
The Bahamas is developing a plan to be one of the first countries to monetize its natural ocean-based carbon sinks—primarily mangroves and seagrass meadows—on the voluntary carbon market. Officials there have identified about $300 million in assets and are still counting. They would be offered as “blue” carbon credits starting later this year, with revenue channeled into projects that would improve the nation’s readiness for climate change. Officials will be holding a regional meeting in coming weeks to try to bring other Caribbean nations into the initiative. (May 2022)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new budget includes significant tax incentives to encourage oil and gas companies to accelerate their efforts to lower emissions. The proposals for years 2022–2030 include refundable tax credits of (April 2022):
- 60% for investments in direct air capture (DAC) equipment.
- 50% for investments in all other carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) equipment.
Those rates will be cut in half for the period from 2031–2040, in a move meant to drive as much investment in this decade as possible. The budget also proposes a 30% tax credit for mineral exploration expenses, and specifically for many minerals essential to renewable energy generation and storage. (April 2022)
Canada has introduced its new “2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP),” laying out its roadmap to achieve 40–45% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 (2005 baseline). It is the first ERP to be issued since Canada’s 2021 adoption of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which enshrined Canada’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. (April 2022)
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India’s Ministry of Finance published a draft Framework of India’s Climate Finance Taxonomy, to facilitate increased resources to climate-friendly technologies and activities with an aim of achieving Net Zero by 2070. The draft outlines the approach, objectives, and principles that guide the taxonomy, as well as the methodology for classifying climate activities, projects and measures. The draft also includes sectoral coverage for power, mobility, buildings and agriculture, and will serve as the basis for developing sectoral annexes. Experts and the public are invited to comment by 25 June 2025 via email. More information here. (May 2025)
China released a work plan to include the steel, cement, and aluminum sectors in the country’s carbon trading program (expanding the program beyond power generation). The plan will extend the program to about 1,500 companies, increasing coverage to over 60% of CO2 emissions in China. The three added sectors represent about 20% of China’s total CO2 emissions. (March 2025)
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China announced it would develop initiatives to bring CO2 emissions to a peak before 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. This includes expanding its emissions trading system beyond power plants to new industries, such as steel, aluminum, and cement, as well as building offshore wind farms and “clean energy bases” in the country’s deserts. However, China also said it will continue to enhance coal production and coal's role as a baseline power source, according to reporting from Reuters. (March 2025)
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology began public consultations on regulations designed to tighten state control over its domestic rare earth industry. The draft regulations govern quotas for mining, smelting, and separating as well as monitoring and enforcement. (Feb 2025)
The Japanese government adopted new greenhouse gas reduction goals that would cut emissions by more than 70% from 2013 levels by 2040. To this end, the government also set new energy goals:
nuclear power would account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040 and renewables would cover 40-50%, up from nearly 23% today. Coal-fired power would supply 30-40%, down from nearly 70% today. The plan also calls for development of next-generation energy sources, such as solar batteries and portable solar panels. (Feb 2025)
Taiwan upgraded its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to a 26-30% reduction (from 2005 levels), up from its earlier 2030 target of a 23-25% reduction (also from 2005 levels), set in 2022. (Jan 2025)
The Hong Kong government launched a Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure, which sets out its plan to require large public companies to adopt the International Sustainability Standards Board(ISSB) Standards. It provides a pathway for companies to fully adopt the ISSB Standards no later than 2028, with large cap companies disclosing on a mandatory basis starting 1 January 2026. (Dec 2024)
China announced it would ban exports to the U.S. of certain critical minerals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony (China is a primary source of these minerals for the U.S.). This comes in retaliation to the U.S. Commerce Department announcing new restrictions curbing memory chip and chip making equipment exports to 140 Chinese companies. (Dec 2024)
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published its Sustainable Finance Action Agenda. This includes eight goals, including for banks to strive for net zero both in their own operations (2030) and financed emissions (2050) and increase transparency on climate-related risks and opportunities; supporting high-quality and comprehensive sustainability disclosures; closing talent and knowledge gaps in sustainable finance in the region; and supporting transition in the region through investment. HKMA will now work to implement the Action Agenda, providing further guidance and tools for the industry. (Oct 2024)
The Indian Supreme Court reprimanded two state governments for not addressing ongoing air pollution (from agricultural burning), reminding them of the Constitutional right to live in a pollution-free environment. The Court directed the governments to submit compliance reports by the next hearing. (Oct 2024)
China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment announced that China would strengthen the development of its carbon market, and plans to expand its emission trading scheme beyond power utilities to new industries, such as steel, cement, and aluminum, by the end of the year. However, according to Reuters, the enterprises covered will be granted “large amounts of free allowances during the 2024-2026 implementation phase” suggesting a “low bar” in these first years. (Sept 2024)
Australia passed a bill including mandatory climate-related reporting requirements for large and medium-sized corporations through both its Senate and House of Representatives. Reporting for large businesses will commence from 1 January 2025. Both bodies also passed a bill to establish a Net Zero Economy Authority, which is tasked with promoting an orderly and positive economic transformation as the world decarbonizes, supporting workers, coordinating government programs and policies, and helping investors find investment opportunities. (Sept 2024)
The President-elect of Indonesia shared plans to launch a new green economy fund aiming to raise $65 billion by 2028, according to Reuters. The fund would raise money selling carbon credits internationally from projects such as forest preservation and mangrove replanting, while helping Indonesia reach its goal of net zero by 2060. (Sept 2024)
China approved 11 nuclear reactors across five sites, a record amount of permits, totaling $31 billion in investment, according to reporting from Bloomberg. In related news, a new report by Greenpeace found that China cut the number of permits for new coal-fired power plants by 79.5% in the first half of 2024 (for a total capacity of 10.34 GW). (Aug 2024)
China released a plan to standardize carbon emission calculations across key sectors, with 70 national standards (e.g. on carbon accounting, carbon footprint, and carbon capture) to be published by the end of 2024. In 2025, China aims to have a standardized calculation and evaluation system in place for businesses, projects, and products, aiming to meet world-leading benchmarks for energy consumption. The country also aims to accelerate the creation of carbon footprint standards for photovoltaics, lithium batteries, and electric vehicles, as these are important export products. China also announced it would set quotas for key polluting industries and provinces, and introduce carbon label certifications for products (to determine the carbon footprint for all products). These new initiatives will track both carbon emissions and emission intensity, starting in 2026, during the next five-year plan period (2026 to 2030). (Aug 2024)
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The Australian government released its Sustainable Finance Roadmap, outlining its vision for delivering key finance reforms. These include: implementing climate-related financial disclosures; developing a preliminary finance taxonomy; developing a labelling regime for investment products marketed as sustainable; and supporting credible business transition planning through best practice guidance. (June 2024)
The Australian government announced large-scale investments in the country’s clean energy sector, including plans to invest A$8 billion (USD$5.3 billion) in hydrogen production and technology over 10 years. (May 2024)
China set a stronger energy intensity target for 2024, aiming for a 2.5% reduction in the amount of energy per unit of economic growth, according to Reuters. This comes after missing its 2023 goal of a 2% reduction, having only cut energy intensity 0.5% that year. (March 2024)
Singapore announced it will require all departing flights to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) starting in 2026. Singapore is aiming for a 1% SAF target from 2026, increasing to 3-5% by 2030. It will introduce a SAF levy to provide cost certainty for airlines and passengers, based on the current SAF target and price. (March 2024)
China announced it would compile an annual greenhouse gas inventory for the country as part of an effort to halt emissions growth before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, according to reporting from Reuters. Its last official inventory, submitted in 2023, covered 2017. (Jan 2024)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published final guidance on environmental claims, laying out eight principles to help businesses ensure any environmental marketing claims they make do not mislead customers. The principles include: Make accurate claims; Have evidence to support your claims; Don’t omit important information; Explain any conditions on claims; Avoid unqualified claims; Use easy-to-understand language; Visual elements should not mislead; and Be direct about your sustainability transition. In early 2024, the ACCC will release further guidance on emission and offset claims. (Dec 2023)
China will increase monitoring, reporting and data transparency of methane releases, according to a Ministry of Ecology and Environment document as reported by Bloomberg. China will deploy new technologies to identify and reduce methane emissions in power generation, industry, and agriculture, though specific targets were not set. (Nov 2023)
The Chinese government announced it will impose export controls starting 1 December 2023 on certain graphite materials and related products, including both natural graphite, and artificial graphite materials and related products with high purity, strength, and density, unless permission is granted. (Oct 2023)
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced it will triple its financing for climate-related projects by 2030 (compared to 2022 levels). This adds up to at least $7 billion in annual climate finance approvals by 2030.
India will set carbon emission reduction targets for four fossil fuel dependent sectors, said two unnamed government officials, according to reporting by Reuters. These include petrochemicals, iron and steel, cement, and pulp and paper and will set both reduction targets and emission intensity benchmarks for three years. They will also likely be the first sectors to trade on the country’s carbon trading market starting in April 2025.
Indonesia delayed its plan to announce investments from a fund of $20 billion pledged by wealthy countries and global lenders to speed its energy transition until later this year. The delay of Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) will provide more time for public feedback, and allow technical experts additional time to prepare a credible pathway, according to reporting from Reuters. (Aug 2023)
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced new investment and disclosure rules for ESG funds to “facilitate green financing” and mitigate greenwashing risks. ESG funds will be required to have at least 80% of their assets invested in securities aligned with their specific strategies (such as exclusion, best-in-class, and transition-related investments). Asset managers will also be required to provide monthly ESG scores for their holdings and provide explanations supporting their voting decisions, including whether the vote was made for ESG reasons. (July 2023)
The Australian government is planning to implement mandatory climate-related financial disclosure and is seeking feedback on these rules. Requirements would apply as soon as 2024 for large businesses, with a phased-in approach for smaller businesses. Views are especially being sought on whether the proposed positions relating to coverage, content, framework and liability are workable. This is the second consultation period and runs until 21 July 2023. The consultation paper and information on how to submit views is available here. (July 2023)
The Indian government will not consider new proposals for coal-fired power plants for the next five years, focusing instead on developing renewable energy. This is different than its draft national electricity plan released in September, which projected the country required nearly 8,000 MW of coal capacity by 2027. Instead the new strategy proposes building out more than 8,600 MW of battery energy storage. Building of new coal-fired plants could resume in 2027. Currently coal supplies around 75% of India’s electricity. (June 2023)
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched a pilot project to capture a larger share of the global electronics repair industry, promoting India as a global repair hub. This Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO) program will do so by relaxing customs and e-waste rules and allow companies to repair consumer electronics and telecom equipment imported from other regions. Repaired products will then be exported, not sold on domestic markets. The project will run for two months (from 1 June) before being assessed for setting a wider policy. (June 2023)
India announced it plans to mandate the use of 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for domestic airlines by 2025 (subject to approval by the cabinet), as reported by Reuters. This would total about 140 million liters of biofuels. The mandate could rise to 4-5% if biofuel supplies are available. (May 2023)
China announced it would enforce stricter emissions standards for vehicles starting 1 July. After that date, vehicles that do not meet the new standards (VI-b) will be banned from being produced, imported, or sold. The standards include stricter requirements on pollutants, including carbon monoxide, and require Real-Driving Emission (RDE) tests. For cars that have yet to meet the requirements of the RDE test, distributors will have until 31 December to sell these. (May 2023)
The Reserve Bank of India released a report that found India will need to spend about $1.05 trillion by 2030 to adapt its industries to be compliant with climate change norms. The bank recommended sector-specific approaches to climate risk mitigation, and, according to Reuters, is expected to set a disclosure framework on climate-related financial risks and guidance on climate scenario analysis soon. (May 2023)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP), a program that could significantly ramp up support for addressing climate change in the region. IF-CAP would raise funding from its partners (currently Denmark, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the U.S., and the UK) to provide loans for climate projects. The program would provide $5 in loans for every $1 made in guarantees, with an initial ambition of $3 billion in guarantees (and $15 billion in loans). According to the ADB, this is the first time a multinational development bank is using a leveraged guarantee mechanism for climate finance. (May 2023)
The central banks of Singapore and China launched the “China-Singapore Green Finance Taskforce (GFTF)” to deepen bilateral cooperation in green and transition finance and facilitate public-private collaboration required to finance Asia’s low carbon transition. GFTF’s priority areas include achieving interoperability between the Singapore and China taxonomies and piloting digital green bonds with carbon credits. (May 2023)
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched its Finance for Net Zero (FiNZ) Action Plan. This sets out MAS’ strategies to mobilize financing to catalyze Asia’s net zero transition and decarbonization activities in Singapore and the region. The plan has four strategic goals: to promote consistent and reliable climate data; foster sound environmental risk management practices and climate stress testing; support the development of credible transition plans; and promote innovative transition financing solutions. (April 2023)
South Korea weakened its 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector from 14.5% to 11.4% but maintained its goal of reducing emissions 40% by 2030 (from 2018 levels). The country eased targets in light of “domestic conditions including raw material supply and technology prospects.” South Korea also aims to increase nuclear energy from 27.4% (in 2021) of total power generation to 32.4% in 2030 and renewables to at least 21.6%, up from 7.5%. (March 2023)
Japan’s ministry of industry set a target for annual CO2 storage capacity of 6-12 million metric tons (MT) by 2030 as part of its long-term roadmap for carbon capture and storage. It aims to increase annual CO2 storage by 6-12 million MT every year from 2030, storing 120-240 million MT annually in 2050. The ministry also wants to have legislative frameworks in place to allow companies to launch full-scale CCS operations from 2030, according to reporting from Reuters. (Jan 2023)
The government of India announced cabinet approval of its National Green Hydrogen Mission, a strategy to establish the country as a leading green hydrogen production hub. India expects to produce five million metric tons of green hydrogen and generate $97 billion in investment and 600,000 jobs by 2030. The plan is also expected to reduce fossil fuel imports by more than $12 billion by 2030. The cabinet also approved more than $2 billion in incentives for the green hydrogen transition. (Jan 2023)
The Australian government published a consultation paper on the development of mandatory climate-related financial disclosures for large listed companies and financial institutions. Questions included whether ISSB standards are most appropriate, and what reporting requirements for Scope 3 emissions should entail. Responses can be submitted until February 17, 2023. (Dec 2022)
China announced it will build a “green technology innovation system” between 2021 and 2025 to tackle air, soil, and groundwater pollution, reduce waste, protect ecosystems, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This system, which will based in high-tech solutions using innovations in big data, biotech and artificial intelligence, will be backed by tax incentives and new “green technology banks.” (Nov 2022)
Australia joined over 120 countries committing to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030 across energy and resources, agriculture, and waste sectors. The Australian government will invest up to $3 billion for low emissions technologies and agricultural methane reduction. It will also make smaller investments in low-emissions livestock feed supplements, and capturing methane from landfills, coal mines, and gas infrastructure. (Oct 2022)
President Xi Jinping said China will prioritize environmental protection, vowing to “basically eliminate” heavy air and water pollution and bring soil contamination under control. He said China will promote green lifestyles, support low-carbon industries, and build a new energy system while continuing to promote the “clean and efficient use of coal.” (Oct 2022)
Indonesia will start subsidizing electric vehicle (EV) purchases in 2023 to achieve its goal of having 2.5 million EV users by 2025 to stimulate demand and reduce air pollution. This is a ninety-fold increase from its current total of 28,000 EVs, most of which are motorcycles. It is also considering subsidizing the conversion of internal combustion vehicles. (Oct 2022)
Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water released the Threatened Species Action Plan: Towards Zero Extinctions, which sets a path for threatened species conservation and recovery over the next 10 years. The plan sets objectives to prevent any new extinctions of plants and animals, and to protect and conserve at least 30% of Australia’s land mass. It prioritizes 110 species and 20 places, identified by independent scientists, to focus action where most needed. (Oct 2022)
Indonesia has issued new regulation to increase renewable energy use. The country aims to increase the proportion of renewables in its energy mix to 23% by 2025, up from its current 12%, and has set a new pricing system for renewables. It also plans to retire 15 gigawatts of coal power generation early, with the government helping to absorb losses. No new coal power plants can be built, other than those that service natural resources processing and are already in the pipeline. Coal currently makes up 60% of Indonesia’s energy mix. (Sept 2022)
The Australian Senate passed a new climate law that will make legally binding a 43% CO2 emissions cut from 2005 levels by 2030. This law marks the first time Australia has mandated climate targets. (Sept 2022)
GAIL, India’s state-owned natural gas utility, has set a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2040. Specifically it intends to achieve a 100% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and a 35% reduction in Scope 3 emissions. GAIL aims to produce green hydrogen and install 3 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. (Aug 2022)
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Recently elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new, more ambitious climate targets for Australia, in recognition of the fact that the country is one the world’s highest per-capita carbon emitters. To bring them more in line with the commitments of other developed economies, he pledged to cut carbon emissions by 43% (2005 baseline) by 2030, approximately 15% more than the previous government’s target. (June 2022)
China’s state planning agency announced a new five-year plan for its renewable sector, aiming for grids to generate 33% of power from renewable sources by 2025, up from 28.8% in 2020. The country pledged to nearly double current wind and solar capacity, increasing the combined capacity to 1,200 gigawatts by 2030. The plan also states an intention to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy use to 20%, up from 15.4% in 2020. (June 2022)
China has announced plans to plant and conserve 70 billion trees by 2030. The commitment is a response to the World Economic Forum’s 1t.org initiative, which has a mission of conserving, restoring, and growing 1 trillion trees by 2030 in support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. (May 2022)
China’s Shandong province, an industrial hub south of Beijing, issued a call for bids to construct 10 offshore solar farms in its shallow coastal waters. The capacity planned is 11.25 gigawatts—more than peak consumption in New Zealand—and is part of the province’s broader plans to build 42 gigawatts of solar and 35 gigawatts of wind power in its offshore areas, and China’s target of 1,200 gigawatts of wind ad solar by 2030. (May 2022)
Japan intends to help companies store carbon dioxide underground or under the seabed by 2030 to help the country achieve its 2050 carbon neutral goal. Japan also said it would store 120-240 million tons of CO2 a year in 2050. A new legal framework will be created to improve predictability for companies. (April 2022)
Taiwan announced plan to spend about NT$900 billion ($32 billion) between 2022 and 2030 to accelerate its use of renewable technologies, grid infrastructure, and energy storage. The announcement follows news that Taiwan will likely be 1–2 years behind on its goal of 20% renewable-sourced power by 2025—a milestone on its path to reach 60–70% renewable-sourced power by 2050. (April 2022)
China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that China aims to produce 100,000 to 200,000 tons of green hydrogen per year and have about 50,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2025. The statement also described ambitions to establish a comprehensive hydrogen industry spanning transportation, energy storage and industrial sectors and to "significantly improve" the portion of green hydrogen in China's energy consumption by 2035. (March 2022)
India unveiled the first phase of its new National Hydrogen Policy and announced plans to manufacture 5 million tons of “green hydrogen” (hydrogen produced using renewable energy) by 2030. It plans to mandate power plant use of green hydrogen and green ammonia in the second phase. (Feb 2022)
China released its five-year agricultural plan, which for the first time includes cultivated meats and other “future foods” as part of its strategy for food security. (Feb 2022)
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio outlined a new vision to transform Japan by implementing “liberal democratic capitalism” and investing in green technology, human capital, and digitization. He plans to more than double investment in green technology, introduce a carbon-pricing system, transition to clean energy, increase corporate disclosure, and utilize public-private partnerships to drive the development of new policies. (Jan 2022)
Taiwan's largest pension fund—the Bureau of Labor Funds, which has $199 billion worth of assets—will issue what a fund official says is Asia's first climate change-focused stock mandate, worth $2.3 billion. Selected asset managers are expected to deliver an additional 0.5% annualized return “on top of the performance of a climate index,” according to
Reuters, and all portfolio companies that the managers choose must be “index constituents.” (Jan 2022)
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List of Asia Pacific News, 2021-2020 (PDF)
European Union
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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) released a thematic note on sustainability-related claims used in non-regulatory communications. The guidance aims to address greenwashing risks in retail investor-focused communications, particularly labels, industry initiatives, and comparisons to peers. The note does not add new disclosure requirements but sets out four principles to follow.Sustainability claims should be: 1) Accurate; 2) Accessible; 3) Substantiated; and 4) Up to date. It provides a series of Do’s and Don’ts and examples of both good and poor practices. (July 2025)
The European Parliament rejected the European Commission’s proposed deforestation risk country benchmarking system under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). A motion brought forth by the European People’s Party (and passed) argued that the
benchmarking system was flawed and did not differentiate enough between countries (with just three risk categories of high, standard, and low). If rejected,
environmental groups are concerned this will further delay implementation of the EUDR.
The European Commission, however, is not obligated to act on Parliament’s resolution,according to reporting from ESG News. (July 2025)
The European Commission
proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 EU climate target of a 90% reduction in net GHG emissions (1990 baseline). It aims to give certainty to investors, encourage innovation and competitiveness, and help put the EU on course to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The proposal
introduces “new flexibilities” in how targets can be met, including the
limited use of high-quality international carbon credits from 2036-2040 (up to 3% of 1990 net emissions). The target proposal has been submitted to the Parliament and Council for discussion and adoption.
A Q&A document is available here.
(July 2025)
The European Commission launched a
Roadmap towards Nature Credits to incentivize private investments into actions that protect and preserve nature and support EU farmers, foresters, and others that undertake these actions. The roadmap outlines the steps required to develop nature credits, including establishing high-integrity and transparent methodologies, developing market demand and supply, and providing public seed funding and derisking facilities where necessary. The Commission has set out a timeline covering 2025-2027 and has
launched a call for interest for an expert group(applications due 10 September 2025). Additional information is available in this
Q&A document. (July 2025)
The European Commission adopted a new Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF), setting conditions under which member states can provide support to boost clean energy and industrial decarbonization. CISAF, which will be in place until the end of 2030, will simplify state aid rules in five areas, including: the roll-out of renewable energy and low-carbon fuels, transitional electricity price relief, decarbonization of production facilities, clean tech manufacturing, and de-risking of clean tech investments. (June 2025)
The EU Parliament and Council agreed on changes to the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). The changes create a new minimum for reporting of 50 metric tons per importer per year. This exempts 90% of importers, but retains coverage of 99% of total CO2 emissions from imports of iron, steel, aluminum, cement, and fertilizers. The final legislation includes safeguards to ensure this amount and prevent circumvention of the rules. Additional simplifications include the authorization process, calculation of emissions, and verification rules. The Parliament and Council now need to endorse the deal. It will then enter into force three days after publication in the EU Official Journal. (June 2025)
The European Commission plans to withdraw the
Green Claims Directive proposal, which was about to undergo negotiations with Parliament and EU countries to finalize the proposed rules.(These rules, introduced in 2023, would help protect consumers from greenwashing claims.) This comes after the largest political party in the EU Parliament, the European People’s Party, issued
a letter stating it would not support the outcome of the negotiations and requested the directive be withdrawn as it is too “administratively burdensome.”
The decision to withdraw the legislation still needs to be approved by the College of Commissioners, and lawmakers have said they plan to still move forward with negotiations, according to reporting from Politico. (June 2025)
Norway and Switzerland signed
a bilateral agreement to strengthen cross-border cooperation on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). This establishes a legal framework for the cross-border transport and permanent storage of CO2 as well as for the transfer of mitigation outcomes between the two countries. This comes one year after an earlier Declaration of Intent. Since then several companies from Switzerland and Norway have launched pilot projects within this framework and, with this agreement,
announced commercial deals on transfers of CO2 removals between the two countries (the first under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement). (June 2025)
EU countries agreed to support plans to scale back the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which the EU Parliament approved last week, according to reporting from Reuters. This will limit CBAM coverage to only 10% of companies (applying only to those importing over 50 metric tons of goods per year), but still cover 99% of CO2 emissions from the import of iron, steel, aluminum, cement and fertilizers. EU countries will now need to negotiate final changes with the EU Parliament. (June 2025)
The European Union is nearly on track to reach its 2030 emissions target, according to
a new assessment from the European Commission.
Member states are currently projected to reduce net GHG emissions by around 54% in 2030 (1990 baseline), just shy of its 55% target. In 2023, net GHG emissions were 37% below 1990 levels while the EU’s GDP grew by 68% over the same period. Member states are also
nearly on track to reach the 2030 renewable energy target of 42.5%, with current progress indicating a 41% renewable energy share. States’ efforts to
reduce energy consumption is projected at 8.1% versus a target of 11.7% by 2030, and with removal of carbon through the land sector,
there is a gap of between 45 and 60 million tons of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e). This is larger than the EU’s entire 2030 target of an additional 42 MtCO2e of net removals. The assessment notes that “the land sector has stored less and less carbon from the atmosphere in recent years,” and “the carbon sink is not expected to improve compared to current levels.” (June 2025)
The European Commission adopted a European Ocean Pact, a strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a blue economy and support coastal peoples. It aims to bring EU ocean policies under a single framework, presenting an Ocean Act by 2027. The Pact is oriented on six priorities: ocean protection and restoration; increasing competitiveness of sustainable ocean-based economic sectors; supporting coastal and island communities; advancing ocean research and innovation; enhancing maritime security; and strengthening ocean governance. (June 2025)
The European Union has offered to subsidize airline purchases of 216 million liters of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), according to reporting from Reuters. The EU has earmarked the sale of 20 million carbon emissions permits to help airlines cover the price gap between conventional fuels and SAF (including both e-fuels and biofuels). (June 2025)
The European Parliament endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to simplify the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This will exempt 90% of importers that import only small quantities of CBAM goods (under 50 metric tons per year). 99% of total CO2 emissions from the import of iron, steel, aluminum, cement and fertilizers will still be covered by the rules. Parliament will now start negotiations with the Council on the final shape of the legislation. (May 2025)
All 27 EU countries were classified as low risk under
the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), as were the U.S., Canada, China, and Australia.
Only four countries were included in the high risk category: Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, and North Korea. Other countries not included in low- and high-risk categories were categorized as “standard” risk. Risk levels will
determine how strict due diligence rules will be for companies bringing forest commodities into the European market. (May 2025)
The European Commission earmarked €992 million ($1.1 billion) in funding for 15 renewable hydrogen projects located in five countries across the European Economic Area. The projects are expected to
produce nearly 2.2 million metric tons of renewable hydrogen over ten years, avoiding over 15 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. The projects will receive a subsidy for every kilogram of hydrogen they produce and are expected to start producing hydrogen within five years. In parallel,
Spain, Lithuania and Austria will also deploy up to €836 million ($951 million) in national funding for hydrogen projects in their countries. (May 2025)
The European Commission issued new guidance to simplify compliance with its EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aiming to ensure that products imported to or exported from EU markets are “deforestation-free.” The revised rules include these provisions (April 2025):
- Large companies can reuse existing due diligence statements when goods previously on the EU market are reimported.
- An authorized representative can submit adue diligence statement on behalf of members of company groups;
- Companies cansubmit due diligence statements annually instead of with every shipment or batch placed on the EU market;
- Compliance of a company’s upstream suppliers can be documented using suppliers’ own due diligence statements.
The European Commission and Parliament came to a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposal to regulate and prevent microplastic pollution from plastic pellets across the value chain, including during transportation, especially at sea. The proposal includesbest handling practices for operators; clean-up requirements;mandatory certification for larger operators (and self-declarations for those companies handling fewer than 1,500 tons of pellet per year); and a harmonized methodology for estimating plastic losses. The Parliament and Council will now have to formally adopt the new regulation before it can enter into force. The regulation will become applicable two years after being published in the Official Journal of the EU (with maritime-specific provisions receiving an additional year for implementation), according to reporting from Edie. (April 2025)
The European Commission requested that the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) support its plan to simplify reporting requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) by developing technical advice. The request, in a letter to EFRAG, also set adeadline for the new advice for 31 October 2025, encouraging EFRAG to develop the advice “as soon as possible.” The letter requests that the technical advice shouldaim to reduce European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) data points by removing those deemed least important; prioritizing quantitative data points over narrative text; and further distinguishing between mandatory and voluntary data points, without undermining interoperability with global reporting standards. The advice should also clarify unclear provisions; improve consistency with other pieces of EU legislation; and provide clearer instructions on how to apply the materiality principle and report only material information. (April 2025)
EU member states approved the European Council’s proposal to delay implementation of key sustainability reporting and due diligence regulations. This includes a delay of two years for the application of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for large companies that have not yet started reporting; and a delay of one year for the first phase of the application (covering the largest companies) of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The Council will now negotiate with the Parliament to reach a provisional agreement. (March 2025)
The European Commission launched A European Steel and Metals Action Plan, outlining several initiatives to strengthen the metal industry’s competitiveness and support decarbonization. These include: ensuring an affordable and secure energy supply for the sector (including promoting faster grid access for energy-intensive industries and increased use of renewables); preventing carbon leakage by introducing legislation to extend the scope of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism; expanding and protecting European industrial capacities; and promoting circularity. (March 2025)
The European Commission launched a consultation seeking stakeholder feedback on its draft State Aid Framework accompanying the Clean Industrial Deal (CISAF). This CISAF will set out how member states can design state aid measures to support Clean Industrial Deal objectives, including accelerating the rollout of renewable energy, deploying industrial decarbonization, and ensuring sufficient manufacturing capacity in clean technologies. The CISAF will replace the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) and is intended to be in force until 31 December 2030. The consultation is open until 25 April 2025. Comment and learn more here. (March 2025)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would propose an amendment to the CO2 Standards Regulation, giving car companies three years, instead of one, to meet new CO2 emissions targets for their vehicles. While emissions targets would remain the same, compliance would be based on average emissions over the 2025-2027 period. (March 2025)
The European Commission introduced The Clean Industrial Deal, which maps out a plan toaccelerate decarbonization in the EU, while increasing industrial competitiveness and growth, particularly in addressing climate change. Main elements of the Deal include (March 2025):
- The Affordable Energy Action Plan to accelerate clean energy and electrification, improve efficiency, and decrease imported fossil fuels.
- The Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act to increase demand for EU-made clean products.
- An Industrial Decarbonization Bank to mobilize over €100 billion ($104 billion) to support EU-made clean manufacturing.
- A Circular Economy Act, with an aim to have 24% of materials circular by 2030.
- Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships to diversify supply chains.
The European Commission is proposing exemptions to 90% of importers covered by the EU’s Carbon Boarder Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as they produce only 1% of emissions included in the scheme. CBAM would onlyapply to companies importing at least 50 metric tons of goods per year (rather than the current threshold of €150 per shipment). The draft also
simplifies calculating reductions where CO2 prices are paid in other countries, based on average carbon prices in those countries. (March 2025)
The European Commission pledged “far-reaching simplification” in the fields of sustainable finance reporting, sustainability due diligence, and taxonomy (pp. 17-18) in its newCompetitive Compass for the EU, a productivity and global competitiveness roadmap. It also aims to reduce reporting for smaller companies by simplifying the Carbon Border Adjustment mechanism and by creating a new definition of small mid-cap companies.The Compass also includes a “joint roadmap for decarbonization and competitiveness,” (pp. 8-12) with a series of “flagship actions” to move forward over 2025 and 2026, including (Feb 2025):
- Clean Industrial Deal (Q1 2025);
- Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (Q3 2025);
- Electrification Action Plan and European Grids Package (Q1 2026);
- Circular Economy Act (Q4 2026).
Switzerland approved a new climate target of a 65% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, up from its earlier 2030 target of a 50% reduction. Emissions must also fall by 59% on average between 2031 and 2035. (Feb 2025)
Eleven European companies, investors, and trade associations, including Mars, Nestlé and Unilever,wrote an open letter to European Commission leaders in support of the EU’s sustainability due diligence and corporate reporting rules. In light of a forthcoming omnibus initiative to streamline corporate reporting, the letter asks Commission leaders to prevent the use of this omnibus process to renegotiate “already agreed and adopted legal texts,” particularly the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and clarify that position publicly. (Jan 2025)
The Swiss government opened a consultation on a new proposal to amend its Ordinance on Climate Disclosures. The current ordinance, in force since 1 January 2024, assumes obligations of large companies to report on climate matters is fulfilled by implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). With TCFD’s dissolution, the proposal shifts the obligation to report via an internationally recognized standard, or the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The proposal also establishes minimum requirements for net-zero roadmaps for financial companies. The amended Ordinance wouldenter into force on 1 January 2026 andthe consultation is open until 21 March 2025. (Dec 2024)
Starting 1 January 2025, Italy will require companies to buy insurance to protect their assets from floods, landslides, and other climate-related disasters, according to reporting from Bloomberg. The law will also require insurers to write these policies, and is backed by a€5 billion ($5.3 billion) reinsurance fund run by a state-controlled financial institution. However, the law could be delayed due to concerns that a large disaster could overwhelm the fund and that insurers will leave Italy’s riskiest areas. (Dec 2024)
The European Union reached a provisional agreement for a 12-month delay for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The agreement did not include adding a ‘no risk’ category of countries with reduced oversight. If formally adopted by the European Parliament and Council, the law will become applicable for large companies on 30 December 2025, and 30 June 2026 for micro- and small companies. (Dec 2024)
The Council of the EU adopted a regulation prohibiting products in the EU market that are made using forced labor (including both for sale within the EU and the export of these products from the EU market). The regulation will alsoestablish a database of forced labor risk areas to support assessment and investigation of possible violations. Once signed, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal and enter into force the following day. It will apply three years after entry into force. (Nov 2024)
The Council of the EU finalized a regulation establishing the first EU-level certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products. It is a voluntary framework with carbon removal activities needing to meet the following criteria to be certified: they must be quantifiable; additional; ensure long-term storage; and should do no significant harm and result in sustainability co-benefits. Activities must also be independently verified. Once entering the EU’s Official Journal, the regulation will enter into force 20 days later.Four years later, the Commission will establish an electronic EU-wide registry to ensure transparency and traceability of the certified removals. (Nov 2024)
The Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a new regulation on ESG rating activities, which aims to make rating activities in the EU more consistent, transparent, reliable and comparable in order to boost investors’ confidence in sustainable financial products.ESG rating providers established in the EU will also need to be authorized and supervised by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), while those outside the EU will need to obtain an endorsement, recognition, or an inclusion based on equivalence. The regulation will now enter the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force 20 days later, and apply 18 months after that. (Nov 2024)
The European Parliament voted to delay implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for one year, as well as amend the law to create a “no risk” category to exempt countries that pose little deforestation risk. The legislation will now need to be approved again by the EU Council and Parliament before entering into force. (Nov 2024)
A Dutch Court overturned a 2021 ruling that Royal Dutch Shell had to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 (from 2019 levels)in a case brought by Dutch environmental organization Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands). The court agreed with Shell that demands for companies to reduce emissions should be made by states not courts.
This ruling can still be appealed to the Dutch Supreme Court. (Nov 2024)
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued common enforcement priorities for 2024 corporate reporting. Among other topics, ESMA and European enforcers will focus in 2025 on materiality considerations in reporting under the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS); scope and structure of the sustainability statements; and disclosures related toArticle 8 of the Taxonomy Regulation. (Nov 2024)
The European Commission selected 85 net-zero projects to receive €4.8 billion ($5.2 billion) in grants from its Innovation Fund (with funding coming from the EU Emissions Trading System). The projects are located in 18 countries and range across a variety of sectors. They are expected toreduce emissions by about 476 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent over their first 10 years of operation. The next call for proposals will be launched in early December. (Oct 2024)
Germany awarded 15 companies support guarantees totaling up to €2.8 billion ($3.1 billion) under the country’s Climate Contracts for Difference scheme. The companies receive compensation (once annual emissions targets have been achieved) to cover the extra costs of reducing climate emissions. The projects are expected to reduce up to 17 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent over the 15-year term contracts. (Oct 2024)
PR » CLEAN ENERGY WIRE » REUTERS »
The European Commission proposed delaying implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation for 12 months (until 30 December 2025 for large companies, and 30 June 2026 for small enterprises),providing additional time to prepare. It also published additional guidance documents to provide further clarity (around issues such as legality requirements, timeframes, and product scope) andan international cooperation framework to support global stakeholders and member states. (Oct 2024)
Germany’s Environmental Agency rejected 215,000 tons of carbon credits derived from reducing pollution during oil and gas production. Authorities identified “irregularities” in these upstream emissions reductions (UER) credits, coming from eight climate projects based in China. (Sept 2024)
The Spanish government announced the approval of almost 300 renewable power projects with a total capacity of more than 28 GW. The projects comprise mainly photovoltaic power plants, as well as 43 wind farms and one hydropower plant, a total investment of over €17 billion ($18.4 billion). Spain intends to increase renewable-generated electricity to 81% of its total by 2030, up from about 50% now. (Aug 2024)
The European Commission approved a €998 million ($1.09 billion) Dutch initiative to support renewable hydrogen production. The initiative will fund construction of at least 200 MW of electrolysis capacity. The Dutch government expects this initiative to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately55,000 metric tons annually until 2030. (Aug 2024)
The European Union invested nearly €3 billion ($3.2 billion) of emissions trading revenues (via the Modernisation Fund) to support 39 energy projects in 10 EU Member States.This is the largest disbursement to date from the fund and includes projects ranging from reinforcement of transmission grids, and renewables, to upgrading EV charging infrastructure and the energy efficiency of buildings. (July 2024)
Spain’s Prime Minister announced a new €2.3 billion ($2.5 billion) plan to accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy, according to Reuters. This will include subsidies for green energy companies and hydrogen made from renewables, as well as support for agriculture, infrastructure and communities to transition to green energy. (July 2024)
The European Council formally adopted the first of its kind Nature Restoration Law, which will put measures in place to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 (and 30% for habitats in poor condition) and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. States will also have to make efforts toreverse the decline of pollinator populations and prevent significant deterioration of areas that have reached good condition after being restored. The regulation will now enter into force once published in the EU’s Official Journal. (June 2024)
The European Commission launched the European Solar Academy, the first in a series of Net-Zero Academies to train workers with the skills needed along net-zero value chains. It will provide learning content and credentials to certify the skills acquired in the training courses, deployed via local partners. (June 2024)
The three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), including ESMA, EBA, and EIOPA,published a joint opinion
recommending that the European Commission consider introducing a sustainability indicator that would grade financial products, such as investment funds and pension products. The ESAs also recommended improving definitions of sustainable investments; creating at least two categories for products to reduce greenwashing risks (such as “sustainability” and “transition” products); and simplifying the way disclosures are presented to investors. (June 2024)
The European Commission has provisionally concluded that the battery electric vehicles (BEV) value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidization and threatens economic injury to EU BEV producers. The Commission revealed the provisional countervailing duties it would impose on imports of battery electric vehicles from China starting 4 July if discussions with Chinese authorities do not lead to a resolution. Duties will range from 17.4% up to 38.1%. (June 2024)
The European Council announced final approval of the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which sets a framework for scaling up Europe’s capacity to manufacture clean technologies. By 2030, the EU seeks to manufacture at least 40% of its annual deployment of strategic net-zero technologies such as batteries, heat pumps, and grid-related technologies. (June 2024)
The European Council announced final approval of regulations for a new “Ecodesign” framework to establish sustainability requirements for nearly all products across the EU, and to ban the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear. The regulation also requires the creation of a new “Digital Product Passport” meant to help consumers and businesses make informed choices when purchasing products. (June 2024)
The European Union will leave the Energy Charter Treaty
(ECT) over concerns that it is no longer in line with the Paris Agreement as it protects fossil fuel investments and undermines efforts to fight climate change. The ECT was entered into force in 1988 as a multilateral agreement for cross-border energy industry cooperation. EU member states will have the opportunity to remain part of the ECT. (June 2024)
Italy, Germany, and Austria have agreed to cooperate on the development of a network to transport hydrogen from North Africa to northern Europe. The agreement is part of the EU’s strategy to secure renewable hydrogen supplies by 2030 to help decarbonize its most polluting industries. (June 2024)
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) released final guidelines on the use of sustainability language in investment fund names. At least 80% of assets in a fund whose name includes ESG or sustainability-related terms must meet ESG investment objectives. They also establish a transition category for investments that are not yet green but are headed there.The guidelines will apply three months after being translated into EU languages and published on ESMA’s website. (May 2024)
The EU Council formally adopted legislation requiring a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions from heavy-duty trucks and buses by 2040. The regulation included reduction interim targets of 45% by 2030 and 65% by 2035, which also apply to medium trucks and heavy trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons. The new rulesmaintain the existing 2025 target of 15% emissions reduction for heavy-duty trucks weighing over 16 tons. (May 2024)
The European Council adopted a regulation reforming the existing EU gas legislation and establishing common internal market rules for hydrogen and renewable and natural gases. This aims to advance the EU’s shift to low carbon gases, and provides specific rules for the transport, supply, and storage of natural gas and hydrogen. It alsoends long-term contracts for fossil gas lasting beyond 2049, and will set up avoluntary mechanism to support the hydrogen market for five years. The regulation will now be signed and published, and become applicable six months after publication. (May 2024)
The European Council adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). It will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The directive will apply three years after entry into force to companies with over 5,000 employees and €1.5 billion ($1.63 billion) in turnover, with more companies phased in in subsequent years. (May 2024)
The European Council gave itsfinal approval to delay the adoption of sector-specific reporting standards for EU companies and general sustainability reporting standards for non-EU companies until 30 June 2026, under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Once signed, the directive will enter into force on the 20th day after being published in the Official Journal. (May 2024)
The European Commission and EU consumer authorities sentletters to 20 airlines identifying several types of potentially misleading green claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law. The focus was on claims that CO2 emissions caused by a flight could be offset by climate projects or through the use of sustainable fuels.
The airlines have 30 days to respond, outlining proposed measures to address the concerns. (May 2024)
The European Parliament approved several directives this week including:
- The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), requiring firms and their upstream and downstream partners to prevent, end, or mitigate their adverse impacts on human rights and the environment. The rules will be gradually phased in, applying to EU companies (and non-EU companies reaching the same turnover thresholds in the EU) withover 5,000 employees and worldwide turnover of €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2027; over 3,000 employees and €900 million in turnover in 2028; and over 1,000 employees and over €450 million in turnover in 2029.
- The “Right to Repair” directive, requiring manufacturers to provide timely and cost-effective repair services for certain repairable goods (e.g. washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and smartphones). States will also be required to implement at least one measure to promote repair, such as repair vouchers and funds, offering repair courses, or conducting information campaigns.
- The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU. This will set packaging reduction targets (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040) along with banning certain single use plastic packaging from 1 January 2030.
- The “Net Zero Industry Act” to bolster EU production in technologies needed for decarbonization. This sets a target for Europe to produce 40% of its annual deployment needs in net-zero technologies by 2030 and to capture 15% of the global market value for these technologies. The law will also simplify the permitting process and set maximum timelines for projects to be authorized depending on their scope and output.
These now need to be approved by the Council before becoming law. (April 2024)
At the Our Ocean Conference,the European Union announced €3.5 billion ($3.73 billion) in commitments to protect the ocean. These include up to €1.9 billion to support sustainable fisheries, up to €980 million to fight maritime pollution, €264 million to support sustainable blue economies, and €103 million for ocean observation programs to help advance climate research, among other commitments.The EU, along with 13 other countries, also urged countries to ratify the UN Treaty of the High Seas to protect the world’s oceans. (April 2024)
Scotland will abandon its target to cut GHG emissions by 75% by 2030, but will keep its goal to reach net zero by 2045, according to reporting from the BBC. According to agovernment Climate Change Committee report, Scotland missed its annual target eight out of the past 12 years (though it had reduced emissions 49.2% by 2021 from 1990 levels). The report found that
the acceleration in emissions reduction needed to meet the 2030 target is now “beyond what is credible.” (April 2024)
Europe’s highest human rights court ruled in favor of the Association of Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland in a landmark climate ruling. This group, representing more than 2,000 Swiss women over 64 years old (and thus particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses) argued that the Swiss government was not doing enough to combat climate change, which increases heat risks. The court foundthe government had failed to quantify greenhouse gas emissions limitations and meet its past emission reduction targets and ordered the country to address these shortcomings.The ruling is binding and may affect the law in Europe and the outcomes of other pending court cases. The court dismissed two other climate cases, one by Portuguese youth, and one by a former French mayor. (April 2024)
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The European Council formally adopted the revised Energy Performance on Buildings Directive, which sets that by 2030 all new buildings should be zero-emissions, and that by 2050 EU’s building stock should be zero-emissions. New performance standards will set minimum energy performance standards for non-residential buildings and renovation targets for residential buildings, and provisions to phase out fossil fuel boilers by 2040. Once signed, member states will have two years to incorporate the rules into national legislation. (April 2024)
The European Parliament adopted a provisional agreement to establish a new voluntary certification framework for carbon removals to boost their deployment and monitor their quantity and quality. The framework includes different types of removals including industrial removal, carbon farming, and carbon storage in long-lasting products.The agreement now needs to be adopted by the Council. (April 2024)
The European Council removed a vote on the Nature Restoration Law from its agenda after failing to get necessary support from EU members. Eight member states withdrew support for the legislation at this final stage of passing the law. (April 2024)
The European Parliament adopted the Green Claims Directive, which would require companies to submit evidence about their environmental marketing claims before advertising products such as “biodegradable,” or “less polluting.”Green claims based solely on carbon offsetting will remain banned. EU countries would assign verifiers to approve claims. Companies that break the rules could lose revenues or face fines of at least 4% of their annual turnover. Parliament will have to follow up on this after European elections in June. (March 2024)
The European Parliament adopted the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to help reduce energy consumption and emissions from the building sector.All new buildings should be zero-emission as of 2030. Member states will have to
renovate the 16% worst-performing non-residential buildings by 2030, and the 26% worst-performing by 2033. Member states will also have to outline how they will adopt measures tophase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040. The directive, already adopted by the Council, now needs to be formally endorsed by the Council of Ministers to become law. (March 2024)
The European Parliament adopted its proposed revision of the Waste Framework Directive, to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU. The proposal establishes2030
waste reduction targets of
at least 20% in food processing and manufacturing (up from 10%)
and 40% per capita in retail, restaurants, food services and households (up from 30%). It would also
extend producer responsibility schemes for textiles, with member states being required to establish these schemes 18 months after the directive enters into force. Parliament will have to follow up on this after the June elections. (March 2024)
The European Council approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which would set obligations for companies to identify, prevent, and address impacts on human rights and the environment.This comes after a compromise that raises the threshold of companies covered to those with 1,000+ employees (up from 500), and those with revenue greater than €450 million ($490 million), up from €150 million.This cuts the scope of the CSDDD by about two-thirds. Other changes include a longer phase-in time (between 3-5 years depending on company size), and the exclusion of product disposal activities from the scope of the law. (March 2024)
The European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new rules to reduce, reuse, and recycle packaging. The rules set packaging reduction targets (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040), and require reductions of the amount of plastic packaging waste. Certain single use plastic packaging would be banned from 2030. PFAS substances (forever chemicals) would also be banned in food contact packaging. And consumers would have more options for reusable packaging and bringing their own containers (both 10% targets). Parliament and Council now need to formally approve the agreement. (March 2024)
The European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new rules that ban products made with forced labor from the EU market. The regulation would create a
framework for enforcing this ban, through investigations, digital tools, and cooperation with other countries. If an investigation concludes forced labor was used,goods can be removed from the EU market (with banned products being allowed back on the market if forced labor is eliminated). Parliament and Council now have to give final approval. Then EU countries would have three years to apply the new rules. (March 2024)
The European Parliament adopted a new landmark nature restoration law, setting a target to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. Member states will be required torestore at least 30% of habitats covered by the law by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050, and will have to adoptnational restoration plans detailing how they will achieve these targets. The law now needs to be adopted by the European Council. (March 2024)
The European Parliament approved strengthened rules on environmental crimes. It contains an
updated list of offenses, including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources, serious breaches of EU chemicals legislation, and pollution caused by ships.Penalties include imprisonment, requirements to reinstate or compensate for the damaged environment, and fines (potentially up 5% of annual worldwide turnover for companies).
The directive will enter into force 20 days following its publication in the EU Official Journal. (March 2024)
The European Council failed to endorse the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which would set obligations for companies to identify, prevent, and address impacts on human rights and the environment. Its status is now uncertain. (March 2024)
The European Council adopted new rules protecting consumers from misleading environmental claims and harmonizing sustainability labeling across the EU. Once signed, the directive will be published in the Official Journal and enter into force twenty days after, with member states having two years after that to integrate the rules into national law. (Feb 2024)
The European Parliament and Council reached aprovisional agreement to
establish the first EU-level certification framework for carbon removal to improve the EU’s capacity to quantify, monitor and verify carbon removal activities. This voluntary frameworkcovers permanent carbon removals, temporary carbon storage in products and from farming, and soil emission reduction from farming. Activities that do not result in carbon removals, such as avoided deforestation, are not included in the scope of the regulation.
Tailored certification methodologies for different types of removal activities will be developed. And an
EU registry will be established to create a high level of transparency about certified removals. The agreement will need to be formally adopted by both the Council and Parliament before it can enter into force. (Feb 2024)
The European Parliament and Council reached aprovisional agreement to strengthen air quality standards, setting stricter 2030 limits and target values for several pollutants, including
particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). For NO2 and PM2.5, the annual limits will be more than halved. Total air quality sampling points in cities will also be increased. Member states will have to createair quality roadmaps by 31 December 2028 setting out measures to comply with 2030 limits. The rules now need to be adopted by the Council and Parliament. (Feb 2024)
Germany will provide up to €3.53 billion ($3.8 billion) to procure green hydrogen and its derivatives from different import regions between 2027 and 2036. The funds will be used to compensate for the difference between global supply prices and prices hydrogen can be resold regionally and used economically. (Feb 2024)
The EU Commission approved €6.9 billion ($7.4 billion) in aid for hydrogen infrastructure projects. The project, the third Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hy2Infra, is expected to unlock a further €5.4 billion ($5.8 billion) in private investments, with 32 companies participating in 33 projects. The project will support the deployment of 3.2 GW of large-scale electrolyzers, 2,700 km of transmission and distribution pipelines, as well as storage facilities and handling terminals. (Feb 2024)
The European Council and Parliament reached a provisional deal on a directive topostpone the sector-specific European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), standards for small and medium-enterprises, and standards for third country companies (with €150 million turnover in the EU) until 30 June 2026 (two years after the original date). The agreement now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by the Council and Parliament. (Feb 2024)
The European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on new rules to strengthen the reliability and comparability of ESG ratings. ESG rating providers will need to be authorized and supervised by the Europeans Securities and Markets Authority and comply with transparency requirements. The agreement is subject to approval by the Council and Parliament before going through the formal adoption period. The regulation will start applying 18 months after entering into force. (Feb 2024)
The European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on common rules to promote the repair of goods for consumers, increasing consumers’ right to repair during a one year legal guarantee and increasing consumer options beyond that period. Once formally adopted, the rules will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. (Feb 2024)
The European Commission recommended a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, based onits impact assessment on pathways to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The announcement also noted several conditions needed to achieve this, including full implementation of the agreed 2030 framework and expanding the Green Deal into an “industrial decarbonisation deal.” A legislative proposal will be made by the next Commission (after elections).
The Commission also adopted anIndustrial Carbon Management Communication, providing details on how carbon capture technologies could contribute to this 90% target and net-zero by 2050. CO2 storage capacity would need to growfrom 50 million metric tons per year in 2030 to 280 million tons by 2040 and around 450 million tons by 2050. (Feb 2024)
The European Council adopted two regulations to phase down fluorinated gases (F-gases) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). Under the new rules, the consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will be completely phased out by 2050 and theproduction of HFCs will be phased down to a minimum (15%) as of 2036. ODSs will also be banned for almost all uses with exemption for the use of some ODSs as feedstocks.The laws will now be signed and enter into force 20 days after being published in the EU’s Official Journal. (Feb 2024)
The European Central Bank (ECB) announced it will expand its work on climate change, identifying three areas that will guide its activities in 2024 and 2025: 1) the impact and risks of the transition to a green economy; 2) the increasing physical impact of climate change; and 3) the risks stemming from nature loss and degradation. Specifically, the ECB will increase work ongreen investment needs; deepen analysis of theimpact on extreme weather events on inflation and the financial system; and
explore the role of ecosystems for the financial system. It will also launch its eighth environmental management program to support achieving its 2030 carbon reduction targets.Read more in the ECB’s
Climate and Nature Plan 2024-2025. (Feb 2024)
The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament approved a proposal to delay full enactment of the Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD) by two years. Specifically this includes delaying: 1) sector-specific sustainability disclosures (until June 2026), and 2) the adoption of the general sustainability reporting standards for non-EU companies until 2026. The committee also suggested that the Commission publishes the eight sector standards as soon as they are ready to increase the transparency and flexibility of the process. This will now move to member state negotiations to shape the final legislation. (Jan 2024)
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The EU Parliament voted to adopt a new law banning greenwashing and misleading product information. The law bans use of general environmental claims like natural, environmentally friendly, climate neutral, biodegradable, and eco. It will also regulatesustainability labels based on official certification schemes, and ban claims that products have a reduced, neutral or positive impact on the environment because of offsetting schemes. The law will alsoban unfounded product durability claims. (Jan 2024)
The EU Council and Parliament reached a provisional deal to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, including most smaller trucks, buses, and trailers. New targets include a 45% reduction by 2030, a 65% reduction by 2035, and a90% reduction by 2040. It also includes a100% zero-emission target for urban buses by 2035. The proposal will now go to member states. (Jan 2024)
The Norwegian Parliament voted to authorize seabed mining exploration, a first step in commercial-scale deep sea mining. This will open up 280,000 km2 of its national waters for exploration. The government said it would only begin issuing licenses once further environmental studies were carried out, according to reporting by the BBC. (Jan 2024)
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) released an update of its guidelines on ESG and sustainability-related terms in fund names, including details on the timing of their publication. The Guidelines are expected to be approved and published in Q2 2024, after publication of two revised texts initiated during reviews, with the Guidelines applying three months after publication. (Jan 2024)
List of European Union News, 2023-2019 (PDF)
Middle East/Africa
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Nigeria will require companies to disclose sustainability and climate-related financial information, according to Reuters. Reporting will be required from 2028 (2030 for small businesses), with voluntary compliance expected between 2024 and 2027. The standards will be based on the International Financial Reporting Standards, making Nigeria the first African country to adopt the standards. (March 2024)
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announced it would increase its allocation for decarbonization projects, technologies, and lower-carbon solutions to $23 billion (up from its earlier $15 billion target for 2030). These projects, which aim to meet its 25% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 target, include using 100% clean energy for onshore grid electricity needs connecting its offshore operations to the grid, and planting 10 million mangrove trees by 2030. (Jan 2024)
The United Arab Emirates strengthened its emissions reduction target from 31% to 40% by 2030, compared to a business-as-usual level. The UAE already set a net zero goal for 2050, making it the first Middle Eastern country to do so. (July 2023)
Iran announced it discovered what may be the second-largest lithium deposit in the world, containing 8.5 million tons. (March 2023)
Saudi Arabia announced it will invest one trillion riyals ($266.5 billion) to generate cleaner energy and expand and modernize its power grid. This will include infrastructure to produce and export clean hydrogen as well as increased investment in carbon capture solutions. (Feb 2023)
Saudi Arabia announced it is seeking $170 billion of mining investment for energy-transition metals by 2030, auctioning exploration licenses to foreign investors for the first time. The country is also setting up a new firm to invest in mining assets internationally, with the sovereign wealth fund and state mining company Maaden forming a company that will be funded with as much as $3.2 billion. The company will invest in iron, copper, nickel, and lithium, to provide metals for development in the country. (Jan 2023)
The Indian government set green hydrogen consumption targets for some industries in order to increase demand for the fuel. This includes setting goals for its largest shipping fleet company to retrofit at least two ships to run on green hydrogen-based fuels by 2027. All state-run oil and gas companies that charter 40 vessels or more for fuel transport will have to hire at least one green hydrogen-powered ship each year from 2027 to 2030. (Jan 2023)
India Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet has approved plans to cut the emissions Intensity of the country’s GDP by 45% by 2030 (2005 baseline) and achieve “about 50 percent” non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity in the same timeframe. The announcement comes ahead of the next round of global climate talks scheduled for November and comes with the caveat that implementation will require financial support from developed countries in excess of what is currently planned. (Aug 2022)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Circular Economy Council, comprised of 17 representatives of relevant federal and local government entities, private sector businesses, and international organizations, has approved 22 policies to support the implementation of UAE’s circular economy model, focused on four main sectors: manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transport. The Council also identified at least 16 circular economy activities designed to open business opportunities such as upcycling textile waste into new products, developing automated AI-enabled waste management solutions, and remanufacturing electronic waste. (July 2022)
Israel committed to
reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.
(Nov 2021)
MORE »
Bahrain committed to
reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
(Nov 2021)
MORE »
The United Arab Emirates committed to reaching net-zero by 2050 and plans to invest $163 billion in renewable energy. (Nov 2021)
MORE »
Saudi Arabia
committed to
net-zero GHG emissions by 2060
and
reducing 278 million metric tons of emissions annually by 2030.
Axios notes that the commitments “apply only to Saudi Arabia's internal emissions, which are roughly 2% of global CO2 emissions.” (Nov 2021)
MORE »
South Africa, the largest GHG emitter in Africa, started geological mapping at its first carbon capture and storage site
and said it plans to bring the project online in 2023. (Aug 2021)
MORE »
Oman announced plans to build one of the largest green hydrogen plants in the world, capable of producing 1.8 million tons of green hydrogen and up to 10 million tons of green ammonia annually. Construction for the $30 billion project is scheduled to begin in 2028. (May 2021)
MORE »
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan, the UAE, and the U.S. released a joint statement pledging to accelerate climate action, mobilize investments in a new energy economy and help the world’s most vulnerable cope with climate change. (April 2021)
The U.S. and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced plans to work together to coordinate financing to accelerate economic decarbonization, with a focus on renewable energy, hydrogen, industrial decarbonization, carbon capture and storage, nature-based solutions, and low-carbon urban design. (April 2021)
Saudi Arabia signed PPAs with 7 new solar power projects, equivalent to 3,670 MW. Some projects set a new world record for the lowest cost of solar-produced electricity—1.04 US cents per kWh. (April 2021)
Saudi Arabia is building a $5 billion green hydrogen plant powered entirely by sun and wind energy to lessen its dependence on petrodollars. The plant is expected to be completed in 2025. (March 2021)
Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, plans to build 10 gigawatts of solar energy capacity by the end of 2030. It seeks to generate 20% of its total energy production from renewable sources. (March 2021)
A global alliance of world leaders and organizations — including the European Union, the UK, Norway, and Saudi Arabia — helped raise $8 billion to ensure the collaborative development and universal deployment of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments against COVID-19. (May 2020)
United Kingdom
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The UK government launched a consultation on the implementation of “integrity principles” for carbon and nature credits, aiming to increase confidence in voluntary carbon and nature markets. The government says the carbon market could grow to $250 billion, and nature markets to $69 billion, by 2050, especially if participants follow these integrity principles:
- Suppliers should ensure that credits meet recognized integrity criteria that deliver environmental benefits.
- Buyers should disclose the planned use of credits as part of sustainability reporting.
- Users should consider how credits feed into wider transition plans that align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
- Claims involving the use of credits should accurately communicate an organization or product’s overall environmental impact.
- Participants should cooperate with others to support the growth of high-integrity markets.
- Credits should only be used to supplement ambitious climate action within value chains.
The consultation closes on July 10, 2025. (April 2025)
The UK government has been ordered by the UK High Court to publish an updated Carbon Budget Delivery Plan by 29 October 2025, after deeming its previous plan unlawful in May 2024. The ruling requires the government to set out policies to achieve near-term carbon reduction targets (under the Sixth Carbon Budget) through to 2037. (March 2025)
The UK shared new goals for all vessels that operate in UK waters and dock at UK ports to be carbon free by 2050 (along with interim targets of a 30% GHG emissions reduction by 2030, and an 80% reduction by 2040). As part of the strategy, the shipping sector will bebrought under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS); the use of
clean fuels and technologies will be increased; and new strategies to reduce
energy demand at ports and
decarbonize smaller vessels will be explored. (March 2025)
The UK Prime Minister announced a new climate target to cut UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 81% by 2035 (1990 baseline). This is an update of its 2021 target of a 78% reduction. (Nov 2024)
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced “temporary flexibility” to comply with the naming and marketing rules under its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements. The new rules come into force on 2 December 2024. However, firms now have until2 April 2025 to meet requirements for funds using the terms “sustainable,” “sustainability,” or “impact,” or a variation of these, but not funds using other sustainability-related terms. (Sept 2024)
The UK published initial extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging base fees for “year 1 of EPR for packaging,” beginning in 2025. Fees will be incurred from 1 April 2025. Final fees have yet to be calculated but are “first estimates” with refined figures being published in September. From year 2 on, fees will be modulated to ensure that packaging materials that have lower environmental impacts will be the least expensive for producers to use. (Aug 2024)
The British government increased the budget for the current annual renewable power auction by 50% to a record £1.5 billion ($1.92 billion) as part of its effort to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2030. The auction budget includes £1.1 billion for offshore wind, £185 million for onshore wind and solar, and £270 million for emerging technologies such as floating offshore wind and tidal. (Aug 2024)
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority published two consultations, one on expanding ETS to includeenergy from waste and waste incineration sectors from 2028 on, and one on howengineered greenhouse gas (GHG) removals (such as direct air capture) could be integrated and on whether nature-based removals could be suitable for the scheme. Stakeholders are invited to comment on Waste until 18 July, and onGHG removals until 15 August. (May 2024)
The UK government confirmed its target that requires at least 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK jet fuel mix by 2030 and 22% by 2040, which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will be implemented from 1 January 2025 (starting with a 2% requirement and increasing linearly to 10% in 2030). (April 2024)
The UK government will now require developers to deliver 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (providing a total biodiversity increase of at least 10%) when building new housing, industrial or commercial developments. This makes the UK the first country to make Biodiversity Net Gain a legal requirement, and will apply from April 2024 for small sites, and late 2025 for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. (Feb 2024)
The UK government released a roadmap outlining the largest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years. This sets out how the UK will increase generation of nuclear energy by up to four times, to 24 GW by 2050, enough to provide a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs. The government will also invest up to £300 million ($381 million) to launch a high-tech nuclear fuel program. (Jan 2024)
The UK will implement a new import carbon pricing mechanism for goods with a lower or no carbon price by 2027, ensuring imported products face a comparable carbon price to those produced in the UK. This carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) will apply to carbon-intensive products including iron, steel, aluminum, ceramics, hydrogen, and cement. The design and delivery of the CBAM is subject to further consultation in 2024, including the precise list of products included. (Jan 2024)
List of United Kingdom News, 2023-2019 (PDF)
Policy Forecasts
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Inevitable Policy Response (IPR) 2021: Policy Forecast (Principles for Responsible Investing – PRI) (March 2021)
- Building on findings from a survey of 200 policy experts in 21 countries, makes 10 major climate policy-related forecasts for investors, including:
- Carbon Pricing: Carbon Border Adjustments Mechanisms (CBAMs) will become increasingly prominent; the U.S. will announce a national carbon pricing system by 2025; the EU will have an ETS carbon price of $75/tCO2 by 2030
- Coal: India and China will end construction of new coal-fired power production by 2025; the U.S. will end all coal-fired power generation by 2030
- Clean Power and Industrial Plants: The U.S. will implement a binding 100% clean power standard for 2040; all major industrial economies (including the US, Germany, Japan, and China) will require all new industrial plants, led by steel and cement, to be low-carbon by 2040
- Zero Emissions Vehicles: China, France, Germany, Italy, and Korea will end the sale of fossil fuel cars and vans in 2035
- Agriculture and Land Use: The U.S., Canada, Australia, and other major agricultural producers will have comprehensive mitigation policy in place by 2025 to reduce emissions from production of crops and livestock; major tropical forest countries will end deforestation by 2030
Research & Trends
Climate Action & Policy Research
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Energy provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by about 190 million tons per year in 2030 and 470 million tons per year in 2035, according to analysis by REPEAT Project. It will also reduce cumulative capital investment in U.S. electricity and clean fuels production by $500 billion from 2025-2035; increase annual household and business energy expenditures by over $50 billion in 2035; reduce cumulative solar capacity additions by about 140 GW and wind capacity additions by about 160 GW through 2035; and decrease clean electricity generation by over 820 TWh in 2035 (more than nuclear or coal contributes today). (July 2025)
Opportunities for Industrial Modernization in Washington (Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)) — Explores industrial decarbonization pathways for Washington State, focusing on emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) industries under the state’s Cap-and-Invest carbon market program. Modeling found that existing and near-term technologies could reduce emissions from eight of the major EITE sectors by 39% by 2035 and up to 91% by 2050, specifically from energy and material efficiency and electrification in the early years, and from low-carbon fuels (e.g. hydrogen) and carbon capture in coming decades. However, this will require an additional 13,975 GWh of electricity annually by 2050 (a 65% increase in industrial electricity demand), reinforcing the need for states to support clean energy expansion and grid upgrades. (July 2025)
77% of the $137.2 billion in projects planned or under construction in the U.S. that qualify for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (45X) are located in Republican House Congressional districts, according to new analysis by Atlas Public Policy. These projects also account for 103,100 jobs. As the report notes, “elimination of the tax credit or reforms that make it inaccessible could have severe consequences for American manufacturing.” (June 2025)
78% of 8,500 listed companies provided no public disclosure about their direct and indirect climate policy lobbying, according to analysis of 250,000 annual reports by Danu Insight. 75% of firms also showed no evidence of having a climate lobbying governance process, while just 3.6% of companies had strong (3%) or comprehensive (0.6%) governance structures in place to manage climate lobbying risks and ensure alignment. (June 2025)
CEF hosted session, Business Case for Democracy with Dr. Vanessa Williamson from Brookings Institute (Recording, May 27, 2025)
Ten former officials of the U.S. Department of Labor issued an open letter urging federal contractors not to heed pressure from the Trump administration to abandon their diversity policies. The officials argued that the current administration cannot use an executive order to change legal standards established by Congress and cannot retroactively impose liability on contractors for complying with prior federal requirements. It also argued that threats of enforcement and certification requirements raise serious constitutional and other legal issues. (April 2025)
The American Chemistry Council and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers requested in a letter to the EPA that the agency exempt all chemical companies from rules finalized under the Biden Administration that require the monitoring and reduction of toxic pollutants, such as ethylene oxide and mercury. The letter states the new rule will cost companies $50 billion (versus the agency’s estimated $1.8 billion). (April 2025)
Unilever
assessed 26 industry associations
it works with on the associations’ climate policies and found that 18 had no misalignment with the company’s climate policies in 2024, up from 13 out of 27 in 2023. However, the assessment also found that
half are still only passively aligned on climate issues, meaning their direct climate engagement is limited. Unilever noted that it will “encourage a move from being ‘passively aligned’ to taking a constructive role,” including working with the groups to not just support scaling up renewable energy but rapidly phasing out fossil fuels. (April 2025)
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) published a vision for the future of energy storage in the U.S., setting out a target to deploy 10 million distributed storage installations and reach 700 GWh of total installed energy storage capacity by 2030. This is up from the 83 GWh of installed storage capacity currently, and from the 450 GWh projected for 2030 under a baseline scenario. The whitepaper outlines policy recommendations to open markets for storage development, build financial support, and grow a domestic storage supply chain. SEIA also released a 50-state guide to energy storage policies at the state level. (Feb 2025)
Climate Policy Monitor (University of Oxford Net Zero Regulation and Policy Hub) — Assesses how policies and regulations align with climate goals, exploring 30 jurisdictions in 2024 in three domains: 1) climate-related disclosure: obligations on companies and financial institutions to publicly report on climate risks; 2) transition planning: rules requiring companies to lay out steps they will take to align with climate goals; and 3) public procurement: rules that align government spending with governments’ climate goals. The Monitor finds 17 jurisdictions mandate companies to disclose emissions across their entire value chains and that government procurement rules collectively cover $9.7 trillion (also in 17 jurisdictions). (Nov 2024)
The continuation of current national climate policies will lead to a temperature rise of between 2.6°C and 3.1°C by 2100 (depending on whether current, unconditional, or conditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are enacted), according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2024. To get on a 1.5°C pathway, countries would need to collectively commit to cutting emissions 42% by 2030 and 57% by 2035 in the upcoming round of NDCs (to be submitted in early 2025). (Oct 2024)
Clean energy projects announced in the first two years of the Inflation Reduction Act are expected to add $238 billion to the U.S. GDP during construction and $20 billion annually over their operational lifetime, according to a first-of-its kind survey of nearly 930 business stakeholders. 621,000 direct and indirect jobs will also be created over the next five years, including 154,000 permanent jobs. (Oct 2024)
Playbook of Solutions (World Economic Forum (WEF)) — Explores 100 adaptable policy, finance, and de-risking solutions from 47 countries to mobilize clean energy financing in developing economies. The solutions, implemented over the past two decades, range from energy and climate policies, to guarantees and insurance, to bonds and debt swaps, and are detailed in an online database. The Playbook also highlights four national approaches, exploring how Brazil, Chile, Egypt and India raised billions in clean energy capital deploying a blend of strategies. (Oct 2024)
Policy Scenarios for Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) — Finds that comprehensive global policies addressing the entire plastics lifecycle can reduce plastic leakage into the environment by 96% by 2040. Without stronger policies, annual plastic production and use are projected to increase 70%, from 435 million tons (Mt) in 2020 to 736 Mt in 2040. And annual mismanaged plastic waste will increase from 81 Mt in 2020 to 119 Mt in 2040. However, using a mix of policies, mismanaged plastic waste could be nearly eliminated by 2040, preventing 74 Mt of plastics from entering rivers and oceans. This includes stringent policies to curb production and demand (limiting total plastics use to 508 Mt in 2040), combined with policies to quadruple recycling rates to 42%. This is projected to incur a 0.5% global GDP loss in 2040 compared to the baseline scenario but would result in “vastly improved environmental outcomes.” Global investment needs for plastic waste management are projected to amount to $2.1 trillion between 2020 and 2040. (Oct 2024)
Climate policies that achieved major emission reductions: Global evidence from two decades (Science) — Evaluates 1,500 climate policies that have been implemented between 1998 and 2022 across 41 countries and identified the 63 most successful ones. These 63 led to total emission reductions between 0.6 billion and 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2. Using machine learning, researchers identified 69 cases with the largest emission reductions, 63 of which were associated with at least one policy adoption or tightening. (Of the 69, 24 occurred in the building sector, 19 in transport, 16 in industry, and 10 in electricity. 48 were in developed countries and 21 in developing countries.) Conclusions from the analysis include (Aug 2024):
- Pricing is a “particularly effective policy” in sectors dominated by profit-maximizing firms.
- Policy combinations are effective and can have complementary or reinforcing effects.
- Successful policy mixes vary across sectors, thus policymakers should focus on sector-specific best practices when designing policy.
- Effective policies vary with levels of economic development, with pricing interventions relatively ineffective in developing economies.
The Global Regulations Radar (ERM Sustainability Institute) — Provides an overview of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) and the environmental, health and safety (EHS) regulations that have the greatest impact on companies across the globe. It includes information on the scope, timeline, and compliance requirements of such regulations and is intended to help companies track which major regulations they may be subject to and what actions they should take to comply. The report includes information on three regions: Europe, North America, and Asia and discusses a variety of regulations categorized under General Sustainability; Climate; and Materials (such as U.S. PFAS regulations and the EU battery regulation). It also includes a useful 2024-2030 timeline of ESG and EHS regulations on page 10. (July 2024)
Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs — (Energy Transitions Commission (ETC)) — Calls for industry and government collaboration to nearly triple the ambition of the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by COP30. This requires governments at the next NDC round to reflect existing policy commitments made at COP28 and nationally, as well as the latest technological progress. The result could be around 18 GtCO2 equivalent of mitigation per year in 2035 (up from the currently expected 6 GtCO2e), which would put the world on the path to a 2°C limit to warming. (June 2024)
Current pledges in national climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)) do not meet the global ambition to halt or reverse deforestation by 2030, according to a new UN-REDD report. Only 8 of the top 20 countries with the highest rates of tropical deforestation have quantified targets on forests in their NDCs and 11 contain quantified targets related to afforestation or reforestation. (June 2024)
Re-election of Donald Trump would decelerate the low-carbon energy transition in the U.S., resulting in about 55% or $5.3 trillion less investment in the US energy sector over 2023-50 compared to a net-zero scenario, says Wood MacKenzie. The analysis breaks down probable changes to US energy policy, including rolling back methane regulations and reducing incentives for electric vehicles, low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture projects. (May 2024)
Automakers with low levels of EV production lobby the hardest against policies to cut emissions from road transport, says a new report from Influence Map. The report examined climate strategies of 15 large automakers in Australia, the EU, Japan, India, South Korea, the UK, and the US. (May 2024)
War Plans Red & Blue: The Post Election Outlook for US Climate, Energy & Transport Policy (TD Cowen Washington Research Group) — Explores post 2024 U.S. election policy opportunities and risks, depending on outcomes in both the Presidential and Congressional elections. The report finds that outright repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is “overstated,” with the possibility of repeal or revision of select tax credits narrowing. However, the risk of IRA guidance revision (i.e. a change to credit implementation language) is “understated,” and could limit access to IRA’s tax credits. Both parties could also increase trade protectionism. 2025 could bring “legislative catalysts,” including debt ceiling, FY26 budget, and tax cut expiration, that could elevate policy volatility risk around IRA repeal. Policy implications for specific sectors (e.g. renewables, oilfield services, hydrogen) are also analyzed depending on which party wins, as are the impacts on over 75 companies. (April 2024)
The Inflation Reduction Act is projected to cut annual GHG emissions by 710 million metric tons (MMT) by 2030, according to analysis by the International Monetary Fund. This comes primarily through renewables and electric vehicles, with fiscal costs amounting to $700 billion through 2030. However, emissions reductions could be reduced by about a third due to permitting delays. (April 2024)
Filling the climate governance gap: Do corporate decarbonization initiatives matter as much as state and local government policy? (Energy Research & Social Science) — Analyzes CDP data to assess the respective roles of corporate initiatives and subnational public policies in driving corporate decarbonization in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. Finds that although corporate decarbonization initiatives are associated with greenhouse gas reductions, the primary drivers of corporate facility decarbonization were state-level climate policies, in particular financial incentives for energy efficiency. The study also found that total emissions by disclosing corporations increased substantially during that period, suggesting expansion of corporate and subnational efforts may be key to reduce overall corporate emissions. (March 2024)
The election of Donald Trump could lead to an additional four billion metric tons of U.S. emissions (CO2 equivalent) by 2030, compared to Biden’s plans, according to new analysis by Carbon Brief. U.S. emissions are projected to fall 28% below 2005 levels in 2030 under Trump, compared to 43% under Biden. The analysis accounts for Trump’s stated plans to roll back Biden’s climate policies, but not additional fossil fuel production Trump might support, or additional policies Biden might implement in a second term. (March 2024)
A review of intergovernmental cooperation on the mitigation of climate change (World Resources Institute (WRI)) — Analyzes 93 intergovernmental climate alliances and partnerships designed to tackle emissions. The paper finds that there has been a surge of cooperation since the Paris Agreement in 2015, and that nearly all national governments are members of at least one initiative. However, two-thirds of the initiatives have been established to share knowledge, and just 6% pursue the adoption of policies or the achievement of targets at the country level. Also, developed countries “dominate the landscape,” being involved in many initiatives (the UK leads the list at 71 of 93). Energy supply is the focus of the most initiatives, at 28%, with transport second at 18%. Also, while many have robust operational infrastructure, many lack transparency arrangements. (Oct 2023)
Views on the elements for the consideration of outputs component of the first global stocktake (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)) — Synthesizes governments’ and stakeholders’ views for the global stocktake at COP28, including ideas for national and collective policies. Some options listed include: tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030; cutting methane emissions by 40% by 2035; phasing out unabated coal power generation by 2040; phasing out fossil fuel use, exploration, and subsidies; and providing $200-400 billion in finance each year for a loss and damage fund by 2030. (Oct 2023)
Government Energy Spending Tracker (International Energy Agency (IEA)) — Tracks spending policies in 68 countries governing clean energy investment support and short-term energy affordability measures. Policies on clean energy investment include measures to support investment in energy infrastructures, renewables, electrification, efficiency, and energy sector supply chains. The report finds that (June 2023):
- $1.34 trillion has been allocated by governments to support clean energy investment since 2020;
- Direct incentives for manufacturers for bolstering domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies total around $90 billion;
- Since early 2022, governments have allocated $900 billion to short-term consumer affordability measures in addition to pre-existing support programs and subsidies;
- Affordability measures have blunted the impact of rising energy prices, but in 12 countries representing nearly 60% of the global population, the average household share of income spent on energy in 2022 increased;
- As high prices persist, the uptake of clean energy technologies is set to accelerate further, hastening the emergence of a new energy economy.
90% of Net Zero plans by 35 countries are unlikely to be achieved, according to new research in Science. The evaluation assesses countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions based on whether they are legally binding and have “credible” policy plans, and on whether and how fast the countries’ emissions are already declining. It ranks national efforts as “higher,” “lower,” or “much lower” confidence levels. World-leading emitters China and the US fall into the “lower” level, while India, Brazil, and Australia fall in the “much lower” level. The EU falls in the “higher” level. When only the most credible net-zero targets are included in the analysis, warming is projected to reach 2.4°C by the end of the century, well past the Paris goals. Only with lower and very low-credibility targets does projected warming remain below 2.0°C. (June 2023)
Increasing Recycling Rates with EPR Policy (The Recycling Partnership) — Explores how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs at the state level affected recycling rates and other key metrics. In this study of EPR for printed paper and packaging (PPP) across six U.S. states and seven jurisdictions worldwide, researchers found that (Feb 2023):
- EPR programs in five countries increased the collection and recycling of PPP to over 75%, with Belgium reaching 90% (the remaining two increased collection to over 60%);
- U.S. recycling rates are substantially lower than in jurisdictions with EPR programs, where rates ranged from 66% to 75%;
- By adopting EPR policies, U.S. states could increase their recycling rates by as much as 48%, as Colorado did after implementing an EPR policy (going from 21% to 70%);
- U.S. states with EPR policies retained between $13 million and $91 million in economic value of the recycled materials; reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and produced thousands of jobs.
The State of Nationally Determined Contributions: 2022 (World Resources Institute) — Since the first round of the Paris Agreement, 80% of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) have been updated, according to a new report by WRI. Key findings include (Oct 2022):
- By September 2022, countries have communicated 139 new or updated NDCs;
- The latest NDCs reduce 2030 emissions by about 5.5 gigatons of CO2 equivalent more than initial NDCs, a 7% reduction from 2019 levels. However, emissions must decline at least 43% from 2019 levels to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach;
- 77% of NDCs include greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets and 96% include sector-specific mitigation targets and other measures;
- 86% of NDCs include an adaptation component;
- 53% include estimates of climate finance requirements, and total $4.3 trillion: $2.7 trillion for mitigation, $1.1 trillion for adaptation, and $475 billion unspecified.
The U.S. government will spend an estimated $514 billion on climate technology and clean energy over the next ten years under three recently enacted laws (the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS acts, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), according to RMI. The investments are projected to reduce US emissions by around 40% and increase new cumulative capital investments by $3.5 trillion. Annual real federal spending on climate and clean energy is likely to be 3.5 times more than 2009-2017 levels and 15 times levels in the 1990s and early 2000s. (Aug 2022)
Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022 (Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy / Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network) — Ranks 180 countries on their efforts to address critical sustainability issues including air & water pollution, waste management, biodiversity & habitat protection, and the clean energy transition. The EPI projects 2050 emissions based on 40 performance indicators measured against internationally established targets. It does not account for pollution that spills across borders. Key findings include (June 2022):
- Most countries will not achieve the 2050 net zero goal established in the 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact.
- Denmark and the United Kingdom were the highest performers and are currently projected to reach net zero by 2050, having put in place some of the world’s most ambitious climate policies. The U.S. ranked 43rd (20th out of 22 wealthy democracies in the Global West).
- More than 50% of emissions in 2050 are projected to come from just 4 countries: China, India, the United States, and Russia.
- On the current trajectory, 24 countries will account for nearly 80% of 2050 residual GHG emissions.
- India ranks lowest on the scorecard, with worsening air quality and rapidly rising greenhouse gas emissions noted as urgent challenges.
- Factors noted for contributing to environmental success include good governance, country wealth, quality of life, independent media, and well-crafted regulations.
- The report assesses the impact of COVID-19 and describes how efforts to return to status quo policies “will erase the environmental gains achieved during the past few years."
ESG Regulatory Trends
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Carrots & Sticks: Beyond Disclosure in ESG and Sustainability Policy (GRI, Stellenbosch University Business School et al.) — Analyzes over 2,460 ESG and sustainability policies from 132 countries and 76 international and regional organizations from 1897 to the present. Key findings (March 2024):
- 55.2% of all policies are voluntary. This trend reversed after the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced in 2015, going from 52% mandatory prior to 2015, to 36% mandatory after.
- Less than 20% of policies exhibit a high level of restrictiveness on business. 75% fall in the low restrictiveness category, suggesting limited power of enforcement. Disclosure policies are two to three times more likely to be high restrictive on business.
- Of Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance (G), E-focused policies dominate, followed by S, and then G. E-focused policies tend to address climate change, energy, waste, and water. S-focused policies focus primarily on compensation.
- Certain SDGs dominate in policies, including SDG 8 (decent work) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
The number of material and credible national policy announcements on the land and nature transition doubled in the last 12 months, according to Inevitable Policy Response’s latest quarterly forecast tracker. More than two-thirds of tracked policies are in line with the well below 2°C climate goal, but only 1% with the 1.5°C goal. The tracker also forecasts that land utilized for nature-based solutions could grow 10-fold by 2035, equivalent to 10% of global agricultural land. (March 2024)
2023 Climate Risk Scorecard (Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets) — Assesses ten U.S. federal financial agencies across nine categories on their actions to protect capital markets, financial institutions, and communities from climate-related financial risks. This third annual Scorecard found the agencies have collectively taken more than 100 public actions to address climate-related financial risk between July 2022 and June 2023. Most of the assessed regulators have made meaningful strides in producing research and data on climate risk and incorporating climate risk into their supervision of regulated entities. All but one agency, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, have publicly affirmed climate as a systemic risk. And all agencies have expanded internal climate-related capacities, with six making significant progress, and four making some progress. Eight agencies also improved transparency regarding their actions to measure and manage climate-related financial risks at their regulated entities. However, only one agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission, has made any progress in including climate risk in regulation. (July 2023)
ESG regulations have increased 155% in the past decade, according to ESG Book analysis of more than 2,400 ESG regulations in more than 80 jurisdictions. 1,255 ESG policy interventions have been introduced worldwide since 2011, compared to 493 between 2001 and 2010. (June 2023)
ESG Battlegrounds: How the States Are Shaping the Regulatory Landscape in the U.S. (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance) — Summarizes the current efforts in the U.S. on ESG-related regulations, listing laws, policies, and statements by state, that both support and restrict ESG activities. The article also provides key takeaways including: an expected increase in ESG measures especially as the presidential election approaches; that the measures pose “significant legal, operational, reputational, political and financial concerns” for asset managers and companies; and that the measures are still relatively untested, resulting in uncertainties in their “ultimate interpretation and implementation.” (March 2023)
“Global Insights Report 2018: The Rise of ESG Regulations” (Datamaran, 2018) analyzes the growth of ESG regulations dating from 2012 in the financial services, utilities, and healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors across the U.S., Canada and the UK. The report points to an evolving regulatory landscape that increasingly favors more non-financial information from public companies.
Public Attitudes on Policy
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Twenty-two leading climate advocates and diplomats wrote an open letter calling for COP reform, arguing the current structure cannot deliver change at the exponential speed and scale needed to ensure “a safe climate landing for humanity.” Measures for reform include: Improving the selection process for COP presidencies; streamlining meetings to deliver concrete actions; improving accountability; ensuring robust tracking of climate financing; integrating the latest science; recognizing interdependence between poverty, inequality, and planetary instability; and enhancing equitable representation (including reducing fossil fuel lobbyist presence). (Nov 2024)
Large majorities of Americans believe climate change poses a significant risk and businesses, governments and individuals should be taking action, says a new report from Resources for the Future. 74 percent endorse the federal government taking steps to limit GHG emissions by U.S. businesses, with strong support for taxing importing emissions (84 percent support), paying for green skills training in the transition away from fossil fuels (78 percent), and increasing energy efficiency of products (cars, appliances, and buildings) through tax breaks (62, 68, and 69 percent, respectively). (Sept 2024)
80% of people globally want their governments to take stronger action to tackle climate change, according to the UN Development Programme’s Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024, which surveyed over 73,000 people across 77 countries. 81% want their countries to take more action to protect and restore nature and 86% want them to set aside geopolitical differences and work together on climate change. 72% were in favor of a quick transition away from fossil fuels. 49% said they think their country is doing well addressing climate change, while just 39% said business is doing well addressing climate change. (June 2024)
85% of people polled worldwide believe a global plastic pollution treaty should ban unnecessary single-use plastics, according to a survey of 24,727 people in 32 countries commissioned by WWF and the Plastic Free Foundation. 87% of people also supported banning plastic products that cannot easily and safely be recycled, and 90% supported banning hazardous chemicals used in plastic. (April 2024)
“2021 Edelman Trust Barometer” (Edelman) an annual assessment of global public trust in institutions, finds that business is the most trusted institution — compared to governments, NGOs, and media — and is the only institution seen as both ethical and competent. (January 2021)
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of U.S. voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports federal stimulus funding for the renewable energy industry, according to a survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. The report also finds that 71% of voters support legislation to achieve a 100% clean economy by eliminating fossil fuel emissions from the transportation, electricity, buildings, industry, and agricultural sectors in the United States by 2050. (July 2020)
“Politics & Global Warming” (Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, June 2020) analyzes survey responses from around 1,000 Democratic, Independent, and Republican registered voters in the U.S. to better understand how they view global warming, climate and energy policies, and personal and collective action. Select key findings included the following:
- A majority of registered voters (61%) believe global warming is “caused mostly by human activities.”
- 43% stated that a candidate's position on global warming will be "very important"when deciding who they will vote for in the 2020 presidential election.
- More than 85% of registered voters support policies that boost funding for research into renewable energy sources and increase renewable power generation on public land in the United States.
- 77% support U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement.
- 72% believe that corporations and industry should do more to address global warming.
- Only 2% say they are currently participating in a campaign to convince elected officials to take action on global warming. However, an additional 8% say they "definitely would" participate in such a campaign, and another 24% say they "probably would."
Climate Litigation News & Trends
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Edison Electric Institute (EEI) filed a petition for review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent power plant rules. The utility trade group noted that while it supported EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to provide paths to additional carbon reductions, it was intervening to preserve its ability to defend final elements of the rules that are consistent with the energy transition and customer reliability. (This is in contrast to an earlier suit by 25 states calling the rule unlawful.) EEI specifically noted it is seeking judicial review of EPA’s determination that carbon capture and storage should be the basis for compliance, which it argues is not ready for full-scale, industry-wide deployment, nor is there sufficient time to permit, finance, and build the infrastructure needed for compliance by 2032. (May 2024)
The U.S. Supreme Court denied the appeal by the American Petroleum Institute, ExxonMobil, and Koch Industries to stop Minnesota’s lawsuit against the companies for deceiving consumers about their products’ role in climate change. The case can now proceed in state court. (Jan 2024)
A New York judge ruled that Danone must face a lawsuit challenging its “carbon neutral” claim on bottles of Evian spring water. The judge called “carbon neutral” an ambiguous and confusing term, according to reporting from Reuters. (Jan 2024)
National Consumers League sued Starbucks in a D.C. court, alleging that the company is deceiving customers with its claims of “100% ethical” coffee and tea sourcing, citing evidence that it relies on farms that commit labor and human rights violations. (Jan 2024)
Truck engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. agreed to pay fines of $1.675 billion in a $2 billion settlement to address U.S. regulatory claims regarding its use of “defeat devices”
to bypass or disable emissions controls in certain pick-up trucks. This is the largest-ever civil penalty for a Clean Air Act violation according to the Department of Justice. Cummins will also spend $325 million to remedy the excess emissions. (Jan 2024)
The total number of climate change court cases has more than doubled since 2017 and is growing worldwide according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. As of December 2022, there have been 2,180 climate-related cases filed in 65 jurisdictions, including international and regional courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies, or other adjudicatory bodies. This has grown from 884 cases in 2017 and 1,550 cases in 2020. Of the cases, more than two-thirds have been filed in the U.S., and 17% in developing countries. (July 2023)
Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2023 Snapshot (The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment) — Between May 2022 and May 2023, 2,341 cases have been captured in climate change litigation databases, 190 of which were filed in the last year. Growth in cases is slowing, but diversity in cases is still expanding. Key trends include (July 2023):
- Seven new countries have now had climate litigation cases, including China and Russia;
- More than 50% of 549 assessed climate cases (in which an interim or final decision has been rendered) have direct judicial outcomes that can be understood as favorable to climate action;
- Most recorded cases are climate-aligned outcomes but non-climate aligned litigation (e.g. ESG backlash) is increasing;
- More cases are being filed against corporate actors, with a more complex range of legal arguments;
- There has been growth in ‘climate-washing’ cases challenging the accuracy of green claims and commitments over the past few years;
- Around 20 cases filed by U.S. cities and states against the Carbon Majors are now likely to go to trial;
- Challenges to the climate policy response of governments and companies have grown significantly outside the U.S.;
- Litigation concerning investment decisions is increasing and can help clarify the parameters within which decisions should be made in the context of climate change;
- High-emitting activities are now more likely to be challenged at different points in their lifecycle, from initial financing to final project approval.
Friends of the Earth France, Notre Affaire à Tous, and Oxfam France sued BNP Paribas over its “massive support” to fossil fuels and for its substantial contribution to climate change, arguing the bank violated a 2017 French law requiring companies to identify and reduce environmental risks. The three groups said the bank was involved in indirectly funding more than 200 new fossil fuel projects by eight oil and gas companies and urged the bank to immediately stop financing fossil fuels and adopt an oil and gas exit plan. This is the world’s first climate lawsuit against a commercial bank. (Feb 2023)
The legal organization Client Earth filed a lawsuit in the UK high court against the Board of Directors of Shell for failing to manage the material and foreseeable risks posed to the company by climate change. This is the first ever derivative action against a Board of Directors over failure to properly prepare for the energy transition. Institutional investors holding more than 12 million shares in the company and over £450 billion ($546 billion) in total assets under management support the claim. The lawsuit argues that the company’s transition plan has serious shortcomings and will only result in a 5% reduction in net emissions by 2030 and will force an abrupt pivot “to retain commercial competitiveness as the energy transition accelerates.” (Feb 2023)
While only 2% of corporate counsel surveyed reported ESG-related litigation in 2022, 28% said their exposure to this area increased in 2022, and 24% expect increased exposure in the coming year, according to Norton Rose Fulbright’s latest Annual Litigation Trends Survey. The food and beverage sector had the highest proportion of respondents (40%) who expect increased exposure to ESG disputes in the coming year, possibly related to lawsuits tied to recycling and single-use plastics, according to the report. Also, of those concerned with class actions in the coming year, 37% said ESG-related class actions are an area of future concern. (Jan 2023)
Three environmental organizations, ClientEarth, Surfrider Europe, and Zero Waste France, have sued France-based food and beverage company Danone over its plastic usage. The organizations sued Danone under the French “Duty of Vigilance” law, which requires large companies to have plans to assess and prevent operational impacts on the environment and human rights. The groups are calling on the company to assess its plastic footprint; the impacts its use of plastics has on the environment, health, and human rights; and based on the assessment, create and implement a deplastification plan with specific and dated objectives. (Jan 2023)
The Price of Plastic Pollution (Minderoo Foundation) — Corporate liabilities from plastic pollution, including environmental clean-up, ecosystem degradation, shorter life expectancy and medical treatment, could exceed $20 billion per year in the United States, and $100 billion globally between 2022 and 2030. Beyond 2030, corporate liabilities may increase by an order of magnitude. This report is a first-ever attempt to calculate quantitative estimates from both the social costs and corporate liabilities to plastics, chemicals, and waste companies from all forms of plastic-related pollution. Manufacturers of chemical additives used in plastics are most exposed to litigation risk. The report concludes with action steps for corporates, insurance companies, policymakers, and investors, particularly focused on more fully disclosing plastic-related pollution risks. (Oct 2022)
H&M / DECATHLON — H&M and sporting goods chain Decathlon have made commitments to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to remove sustainability-related labels from their products and websites, and to improve the use of sustainability claims in the future, following an investigation by ACM. ACM found that H&M uses sustainability claims such as “Conscious” and “Conscious Choice,” without explaining what they mean, or providing a description of the sustainability benefits of the products. H&M and Decathlon also agreed to make donations of €400,000 and €500,000, respectively, to sustainable causes “to compensate for their use of unclear and insufficiently substantiated sustainability claims.” (Sept 2022)
Environmental law nonprofit ClientEarth is suing Shell’s board of directors for “mismanaging climate risk” and “[failing] to properly prepare” the company for the net-zero transition. ClientEarth says this is the first-ever legal case of its kind. (March 2022)
A panel of lawyers for the Netherlands-based Stop Ecocide Foundation unveiled draft law defining “ecocide,”
making the case that the International Criminal Court should adopt it to prosecute environmental offenses by governments and companies. (June 2021)
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“Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2020 Snapshot” (Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, July 2020) provides an overview of trends and developments in climate change litigation from May 2019 to May 2020. The report finds that 58% of cases filed outside of the U.S. had outcomes favorable to climate change action, 33% had unfavorable outcomes, and 9% had no discernible likely impact on climate policy.
“Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2019 Snapshot” (Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy) provides an overview of trends and developments in climate change litigation from May 2018 to May 2019. The report finds that more than 75% of climate change cases were filed in the United States.