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 Compass aims to address concerns about productivity and maintain Europe’s leading role in sustainable innovation and climate neutrality....more
2/3/2025
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Circular Economy ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Renewable Energy ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
Strategic Planning ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
The consultation covers new methodologies for the financial sector’s GHG emissions reporting, including regarding avoided emissions, or “scope 4” emissions.
On 3 December 2024, the Partnership for Carbon Accounting...more
12/24/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
IFRS ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UK
The Forced Labour Regulation creates a framework for investigation and enforcement against products made with forced labour.
On 19 November 2024, the EU Council (Council) adopted a regulation prohibiting products made with...more
12/2/2024
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Due Diligence ,
Enforcement ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Investigations ,
Member State ,
New Regulations ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
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 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
Denmark’s unprecedented carbon removals fund has facilitated the coexistence of corporate and national carbon claims in carbon accounting.
In the past few years, stakeholders in the carbon market have debated how to...more
6/20/2024
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Denmark ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Energy Projects ,
Market Participants ,
Paris Agreement ,
Subsidies ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
This guidance aims to support the preparation and analysis of reports using the European Sustainability Reporting Standards.
On 31 May 2024, EFRAG published the first three Implementation Guidance (IG) documents relating...more
6/19/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Materiality ,
New Guidance ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
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
On 24 March 2024, the European Parliament approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) with a vote of 374 in favour (compared with 235 votes against and 19 abstentions)....more
4/26/2024
/ Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Parliament ,
Member State ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
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
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
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
As the first EU country to transpose the CSRD into national law, France will gradually replace the EFPD with sustainability reporting under the new directive.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (the CSRD)...more
Amid new regulations, increased enforcement and litigation, and higher stakeholder scrutiny, companies will need to adopt an integrated and nuanced approach to ESG.
In some ways, 2023 was a challenging year for ESG. This...more
1/17/2024
/ Advertising ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Business Strategies ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Liability ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Popular ,
Privately Held Corporations ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Shareholder Activism ,
Strategic Planning ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Trade Policy ,
Transparency
For in scope companies, disclosures may be required as early as the reporting period for the 2024 financial year.
On 22 December 2023, the Commission Delegated Regulation specifying the first set of European...more
1/8/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
International Regulatory Standards ,
Materiality ,
Public Consultations ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices