The Australian government is consulting with stakeholders on two policy papers drafted for a proposed Guarantee of Origin (GO) Scheme for hydrogen and renewable electricity certification. Consultation on the policy papers closes on 3 February 2023. Snapshot The Guarantee of Origin (GO) Scheme is proposed to measure, track and verify greenhouse gas emissions, initially for … 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

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

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

Intense, continued focus on sustainability has put pressure on the oil and gas sector to openly demonstrate its efforts to effect change across the environmental, social and governance (ESG) spectrum. The sector is still a  critical one for energy transition, and for ensuring access to energy in developing markets, so it is important that the … Read more

We’re delighted to share with you a major new report exploring the key trends and pressure points as general counsel mobilise to help companies tackle the high-stakes environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda. Drawing on 20 extensive interviews with legal chiefs at major companies across the world, we explore the increasingly central role GCs are … Read more

The European Commission (the Commission) published a draft legislative proposal for the long-awaited European Green Bond Standard (EU GBS) which was published alongside the Strategy for Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy on 6 July 2021. The EU GBS is intended to be a voluntary “gold standard” for green bonds and will provide a … Read more

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a consultation on mandatory climate-related disclosures by publicly quoted companies, large private companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs). Context of the proposed mandatory disclosure requirements The UK Government aims under its 2019 Green Finance Strategy for all listed companies and large asset owners to make disclosures … Read more