The UK's Climate Change Act 2008 requires the UK government to set five-year carbon budgets that cap total greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. The UK is currently operating within its Fourth Carbon Budget, which covers the...more
We review 2024 developments and thought leadership in transition planning and transition finance. We reflect on the progress made in 2024 following the Transition Plan Taskforce’s publication of its Disclosure Framework in...more
The first U.K.-EU summit since Brexit was held in London on May 19, 2025 to reset the relationship for greater mutual benefit. An ambitious Strategic Partnership was agreed to drive progress on a renewed agenda for EU-U.K....more
A Major Milestone in Decarbonizing the Maritime Sector and a New Source of Demand for Green and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Derivatives and Biofuels - On April 11, 2025, the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) 83rd session...more
ESG Dive posted an interesting article yesterday on trends to watch in 2025. With the upcoming change in presidential administrations, some are predicting a course reversal on ESG; however, as this article notes, although we...more
As delegates from the Indonesian government were in Azerbaijan making headline grabbing announcements at COP29, Baker Botts was pleased to host an evening seminar in Jakarta on 13 November 2024 with a panel of experts sharing...more
The new UK Government has taken several recent steps in its mission to achieve security of supply of affordable clean energy. We discuss its autumn flurry of energy and infrastructure related announcements in our article New...more
Two weeks after setting a nationwide deadline for removal of lead pipes, the Biden administration is imposing strict new limits on dust from lead-based paint in older homes and child-care facilities....more
In the recent case of Friends of the Earth v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities & others; South Lakeland Action on Climate Change v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities & others...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
“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
Greenwashing Beef Production - On February 28, New York State Attorney General (NYAG) Letitia James filed a lawsuit with the New York Supreme Court against meat processing company JBS USA for misleading the public about its...more
Australia continues to be a highly active jurisdiction for climate-related lawsuits. Since our last update in August 2023, we have seen a steady stream of suits commenced against corporations and government bodies in relation...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
We asked our global white collar crime team for their views on the key challenges in 2024 for in‑house investigations teams and white collar crime lawyers, and how to manage the associated risks. Here is what they said. ...more
Africa needs to significantly increase its electricity production to ensure universal access to its expanding population. It also needs to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Small modular reactors (SMRs) offer a potentially...more
Access to energy underpins our day-to-day and powers global economic prosperity and development, yet consumption of energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for approximately 60% of total global...more
According to an annual report published on October 18, 2023, members of the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) have stepped up their commitments by setting new intermediate targets in four key areas, i.e., sub-portfolio...more
As the aviation industry pins its hopes on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, Joe Clinton, Matthew Townsend, Richard Chamberlain and Ying-Peng Chin outline the regulatory, investment...more
As the appetite for giga-scale low-carbon hydrogen projects grows, major questions arise about what it takes to actually get these projects financed, built and into production at a speed and on a scale needed to meet Net Zero...more
Carbon capture and storage is increasingly being put forward as a key part of reaching Net Zero. As the technology, regulation and market strategies evolve and new projects are commissioned around the world, Joe Clinton and...more
The aims of ESG investing and Islamic Finance structures are already closely – though not perfectly – aligned. Middle Eastern governments are looking to diversify away from oil and gas. This, Samer Eido and Afsha Karim...more
The UAE published its long-awaited hydrogen strategy last week, aiming to outline the key steps needed to position the UAE as a top global producer of low carbon hydrogen by 2031 and to support the UAE’s announced target of...more
Much of the attention on California of late has focused on the passing of two climate-related disclosure laws; namely, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (“CCDAA”) (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk...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