The Commission’s proposal seeks to reshape EU Sustainability requirements by amending CSRD, CSDDD, EU Taxonomy, and CBAM.
On 26 February 2025, the European Commission (Commission) published its much-anticipated first...more
3/4/2025
/ Amended Regulation ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Corporate Governance ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Taxonomy
The Corporate Governance Code recommends that the board of directors promote, in the most appropriate forms, dialogue with shareholders and other stakeholders relevant to the company, thus tying the goal of "sustainable...more
1/23/2025
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Investors ,
Italy ,
Regular Business Communications ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Shareholders ,
Sustainability ,
Transparency
The draft guidelines outline expectations for institutions to adopt forward-looking strategies and incorporate scenario analysis into their management framework to assess resilience against the negative impacts of ESG...more
1/20/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Capital Requirements ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Stress Tests ,
Sustainable Finance
The guidelines set out requirements for institutions regarding the identification, measurement, management, and monitoring of ESG risks....more
1/14/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Capital Requirements ,
Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRDIV) ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Finance ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Sustainable Finance
Through the course of 2024, the development of the ESG and sustainability landscape was dynamic. We anticipate that this dynamism will intensify in 2025, given the implementation and potential amendment of ESG-related...more
The announcement follows declarations to simplify regulatory frameworks for businesses, and an overall drive to increase competitiveness in Europe.
On 8 November 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen...more
11/13/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Competition ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On October 6, 2024, the Hong Kong Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Products Providers (VCoC) was published to establish and promote a consistent, interoperable, and proportionate voluntary code for providers offering...more
On 23 September 2024, the Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) announced that it will begin incorporating the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS Standards) issued by the International Sustainability Standards...more
10/8/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Issuers ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
IFRS ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD, or the Directive) took effect beginning 2024 and requires mandatory sustainability reporting by a first set of companies in 2025. Under the terms of the CSRD, the...more
10/2/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Infringement ,
Member State ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
In the December 2023 edition of Regulatory Updates in Asia ESG we provided an update on how jurisdictions across Asia are responding to the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards. Several regulators in...more
9/3/2024
/ Asia ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
COP ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hong Kong ,
IFRS ,
International Regulatory Standards ,
IOSCO ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The FAQs aim to clarify key aspects of the CSRD, including the scope of the rules, compliance dates, and exemptions.
On 7 August 2024, the European Commission (Commission) published a set of frequently asked questions...more
8/14/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Parent Corporation ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
Subsidiaries ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Third Country Entities (TCEs)
On 5 July 2024, the final text of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was entered into the Official Journal of the EU. The CSDDD will enter force on 25 July 2024. This marks the final key step in the...more
7/15/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Member State ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The CSDDD is set to impose mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for in-scope companies.
On 5 July 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was published in the...more
7/9/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Member State ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The Standards provide a framework for all Chinese companies’ sustainability disclosures and the applicability extends beyond listed companies.
On May 27, 2024, China’s Ministry of Finance published the new Corporate...more
7/5/2024
/ China ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
IFRS ,
Ministry of Finance ,
Privately Held Corporations ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Sensitive Business Information ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The ISSB’s new two-year work plan aims to reduce complexity and build on market-leading frameworks and standards.
...more
On 16 May 2024, the government published updated guidance regarding the UK Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) framework.
The SDR was first set out in Greening Finance: A Roadmap to Sustainable Investing in...more
5/28/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
New Guidance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Transitional Arrangements ,
UK
For the first time, the Court has confirmed that the adverse impacts of climate change fall within the ambit of human rights protection under the European Convention of Human Rights, obliging States to implement effective...more
The Eighth Circuit is poised to determine the fate of the SEC’s final climate regulation, potentially by the end of the year.
On March 21, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit was selected as the court that...more
4/9/2024
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Case Consolidation ,
Chevron Deference ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Final Rules ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Rules of Civil Procedure ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The long-awaited rules, already at the center of political debate and litigation, represent another global regulatory effort to integrate climate considerations into financial reporting.
On March 6, 2024, nearly two years...more
The court’s decision is the latest development in the litigation over the SEC’s final rules, which have faced numerous legal challenges since their adoption.
On March 15, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit...more
3/21/2024
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Annual Reports ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Popular ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation
Following extended negotiations, the directive was endorsed with a significantly narrower scope that would reduce the number of companies affected.
On 15 March 2024, EU Member States endorsed the Belgian Presidency’s...more
3/18/2024
/ Belgium ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Council ,
European Parliament ,
Germany ,
Member State ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The guidelines aim to transform China’s approach to ESG by introducing sustainability disclosure rules for large listed companies.
On February 8, 2024, under the auspices of the China Securities Regulatory Commission...more
3/15/2024
/ China ,
Climate Change ,
Compliance ,
Compliance Dates ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Shanghai Stock Exchange ,
Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) ,
Stock Exchange ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On March 6, 2024, in a 3-2 vote, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted final rules requiring registrants to disclose certain climate-related information in registration statements and annual reports. ...more
3/7/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
Climate Change ,
Compliance ,
Compliance Dates ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Final Rules ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Registration Statement ,
Regulation S-K ,
Regulation S-X ,
Risk Management ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
The stock exchanges of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore have partnered to advance sustainability in ASEAN through the development of an interregional ESG ecosystem.
On February 15, 2024, Bursa Malaysia Berhad...more
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have made some significant changes to the European Commission’s proposal.
Key Points:
..The agreed text includes important clarifications on the scope of the regime and...more