Let’s face it petrolheads, one of your reasons for not joining the move to electric vehicles is your range anxiety; the risk of your vehicle running out of charge and the need to find somewhere convenient to re-charge it....more
The drive to achieve a carbon-neutral future is accelerating. Through the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, nations committed to curbing climate change by limiting global temperature increases to no more than 2°C above...more
On July 4, 2024, the UK general election took place, and the Labour Party won with a significant majority. After 14 years of Conservative Party rule, a number of changes are now expected in respect of the UK's position on...more
Our national climate goals of net zero emissions, renewable energy transition, electrified vehicle fleets, clean steel, green hydrogen, and the rest of the package focus on the ramp-up of clean energy sources and end uses. As...more
The 2024 General Election is imminent and all four of the biggest political parties have now released their election manifestos. With the push to net zero remaining critical in accordance with the UK’s domestic and...more
Energy is the cornerstone of our society and its availability, or lack thereof, touches every corner of our lives and impacts every business, regardless of sector. The availability of affordable energy on-demand is essential...more
The road to decarbonisation - From the copper belts of Zambia and the lithium and cobalt deposits in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the manganese mines in Gabon, the African continent holds much of the promise...more
Congress returned for the second half of the 118th Congress in January with an immediate agenda focused on avoiding a government shutdown, a priority that has been punted several times through continuing resolutions, and...more
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD)’s 2024 Energy Transition Outlook Survey Report points to a new phase in the multi-generational journey to Net Zero. While 56% of our respondents are deepening their focus on their transition...more
On June 15, 2023, the Government of British Columbia (the Government or Province) announced that BC Hydro would be moving forward with a call for new sources of 100 percent clean, renewable emission-free electricity, notably...more
The securitisation industry is already very familiar with data reporting requirements. The growing need for disclosure supporting sustainability credentials will only add to this. We discuss below issues relating to ESG...more
A soft target for negotiating a smaller version of the Build Back Better Act (BBB) climate and social legislation by Memorial Day has passed with no resolution, although neither the White House nor Senate Democratic...more
EPA has now formally restored its waiver under § 209(b) of the Clean Air Act that allows California’s greenhouse gas emissions standards and Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, notwithstanding the preemption of state vehicle...more
The Target near our home has a 20-unit Tesla supercharger station in the parking lot. I smiled the other day as I drove past it and saw all but one charger occupied (my “tank” was full). But then I drove on and saw hundreds...more
The president’s executive order aims to use the US government’s procurement power to achieve “carbon pollution-free electricity” by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. On December 8, 2021, President Biden issued an...more
In less than a week, the Rules Committee of the US House of Representatives (the “Rules Committee”) released two versions of modified legislative text of H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The first version was released on...more
On September 22, 2021, partner Edward Zaelke moderated a panel on green transportation at the US Embassy in London during the US and UK Climate Change Business Forum, Winning the Race to Zero: Journey to COP26. Panel guests...more
Clean energy initiatives and legislation continue to advance with unprecedented direction, momentum and clout in the federal government. President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats remain fiercely committed to enacting...more
The implications of climate change have gone from an esoteric topic that a very limited number of companies focused upon just a few years ago to one that is becoming more mainstream by the day. President Biden campaigned on...more
Senior Democrats from the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce introduced on March 2, 2021, their comprehensive climate bill, the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation's (CLEAN) Future Act. The...more
Noble Energy Shareholders OK $4.1B Sale to Chevron - "The addition of Noble will boost Chevron's U.S. shale oil holdings, making it the No. 2 producer behind EOG Resources, according to data from Rystad Energy." Why this is...more
Focus - California’s statewide rent-cap proposal gets two key changes - The Mercury News – May 20 - A closely-watched bill that would ban steep rent hikes throughout California has been softened — slightly — in an effort...more
Sustainable Development Focus - How residential and office developers are preparing for the realities of net zero - URBAN LAND - Mar 12 In 2017, California passed the first net-zero building code in the United States...more
Sustainable Development Focus - More companies prefer green bonds, carbon taxes - GreenBiz - Feb 7 Companies that are serious about reaching aggressive emission-reduction targets are increasingly turning to green bonds,...more
Sustainable Development Focus - More electric cars, more solar power expected as state struggles to reach tough new climate standards - San Jose Mercury News - Aug 28 - Under a landmark bill sent to Governor...more