UK government seeks views on the costs, benefits and practicalities of Scope 3 emissions reporting to inform whether it endorses the International Sustainability Standard Board’s sustainability disclosure standards.  The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (“DESNZ“) has launched a call for evidence on Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions (“GHG“) reporting. Scope 3 emissions are … Read more

Background In autumn 2021, individuals affiliated with Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Fridays for Future and Greenpeace filed claims at various German courts against automakers (BMW AG, Mercedes-Benz AG and Volkswagen AG) and Germany’s largest oil and gas company (Wintershall Dea AG). The plaintiffs inter alia requested an order that the automakers are to cease and desist from … Read more

5 November 2021 was Climate Law and Policy day at COP 26 in Glasgow. I was lucky enough to speak on an expert panel hosted by the EBRD on “Reallocating International Capital and the Role of Law”. Wearing my McDonald Clan tartan tie, and beamed in via Zoom, I delivered an abridged version of the … Read more

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its 2021 AR6 climate change report (Report), as well as a summary for policy leaders. The Report addresses the current understanding of the climate system and climate change as well as the future possibilities of what could occur. In early 2022, the IPCC plans … Read more

On 14 July 2021, as part of its ‘fit for 55’ package of policies to combat climate change (which we reported on here), the EU has proposed new legislation to strengthen CO2 emissions standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The new measures are intended to amend the current framework establishing automotive CO2 … Read more

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 entails a significant increase in the share of energy production from renewable sources in order to develop an integrated energy system. In light of the new targets, the 32% share of renewable energy to be developed by 2030 set by the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) is … Read more

On 14 July 2021, the European Commission published its ‘fit for 55’ package providing a set of measures aimed at reaching the target of a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990 thresholds). Such legislative proposals represent a pragmatic response to the European Green Deal, presented on 11 December 2019, which … Read more

In one of our previous articles we provided an update on greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation in Russia covering, among other matters, the draft Russian law on reduction of GHG emissions. With active discussions regarding the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in the background,[1] the revised draft finally became law on 2 June 2021[2] (the … Read more