While ensuring accurate environmental claims is a laudable goal, unclear standards risk deterring businesses from informing the public of their efforts to achieve environmental goals. Ultimately, if businesses are deterred...more
US formally submits notification of withdrawal from Paris Agreement. On January 27, 2025, Dorothy Camille Shea, the US acting ambassador to the United Nations, submitted a notification of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement...more
Over the past several weeks, each of the major US banks have announced their withdrawal from the Net Zero Banking Alliance (presumably in response to the policy priorities of the second Trump Administration). Although...more
On 17 December 2024, the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance (the “Platform”), an advisory body to the European Commission (the “Commission”), has published a briefing note to the Commission, outlining their proposals for a...more
In honor of Pro Bono Month, let’s explore why GCs are increasingly concerned with social initiatives as an evaluation strategy — and how the industry is responding....more
“Net zero” is a topic as hot as the climate these days. With so much regulatory attention being placed on it, companies that do not communicate their net zero efforts appropriately or, worse, intentionally make false and...more
With a Little Nudge from the FTC—NAD Able To Take a Closer Look at "Smarter Reviews" Advertising - Following a referral to the FTC, a "review" site suspected of improperly making advertising claims that look like editorial...more
How to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy is a hot regulatory topic for most major economies around the world – and is set to continue ascending the agenda in the years to come. As sustainability-related...more
Taxonomies will play a critical role in channelling investment towards sustainable activities. But while alignment between frameworks is critical , a one-size-fits-all approach can never be effective....more
In September, ahead of the Conservative party conference, Rishi Sunak announced a step back from the Government’s net zero policy and targets. This was followed up last week by the Government’s formal response to the Climate...more
The UK’s financial services regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has delayed the release of its policy statement setting out the final rules of the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDRs), leaving asset...more
The risk of an accusation of “greenwashing” is now an important concern for many companies. Greenwashing is an ill-defined concept but, nevertheless, is increasingly a source of litigation and regulatory scrutiny – with more...more
This week, Congressmen Jim Jordan (R-OH), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Dan Bishop (R-NC), sent a letter on behalf of the House Committee on the Judiciary to three major asset managers and two non-profit organizations (the...more
On April 25, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on ESG (APPG) published a report on environmental, social and governance issues. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of the House of Commons and...more
The Net Zero transition will not be smooth. The scale of the investment required and the appetite and ability of countries to implement new policy – both now and in the years to come – will cause unprecedented disruption and...more
The final report of the independent review of net zero has been published: "Mission Zero: Independent Review of Net Zero". The review was established in September 2022 to assess the government's approach to achieving its...more
The call highlights the challenges in developing alignment between global ESG reporting standards. The European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), two of the world’s leading public financial...more
With the SEC’s disclosure proposal comment period recently ending and likely climate-related disclosure regulation coming soon, it is imperative that companies begin to not only understand how to compile this information, but...more
The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recently proposed landmark climate-related disclosure rules draw attention to a broad scientific consensus that to avert catastrophic consequences from climate change, the...more
Introduction - The asset management industry has been sounding the alarm for some time about the risks and opportunities posed by climate change. While private equity giant, Carlyle, is the most recent financial institution...more
Introduction - Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recently published its 2022 updates to its benchmark proxy voting policies. The policies will govern ISS’ voting recommendations for shareholder meetings held on or...more
The U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has announced the U.K. Government's plans to make the U.K. the world's first net zero financial centre. Under the plans, U.K. financial institutions will need to have robust...more
There can be no doubt 2021 is already shaping up to be a watershed year, including on the SEC enforcement and securities litigation fronts. Pressure from all directions has been coalescing to drive change in the way...more
There is no doubt that COVID-19 and its impacts are forcing society and governments around the world to reassess their priorities. Society more than ever values sustainability and, as we exit from COVID-19, there is growing...more
UK organisations have grappled in recent years with CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (“CRC”) and with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (“ESOS” - now in its second phase). Now it is time to get to grips with Strategic Energy...more