The Enforcement Angle: The New Mexico Environment Department
Join Sidley for the Environmental Law Institute’s People Places Planet podcast series, “The Enforcement Angle.” Through this series, Sidley partners discuss state and federal enforcement of environmental laws and regulations with senior enforcement officials and thought leaders on environmental enforcement in the United States and globally. The featured guests offer their insights into the challenging environmental issues facing corporations today.
Extensive Climate Disclosure Requirements Proposed for Federal Contractors
On November 10, 2022, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, composed of the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and chaired by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy in the Office of Management and Budget, issued a proposed rule that would require certain federal contractors to disclose climate-related information to the System for Award Management (SAM) and, in certain instances, make such information publicly available on its website. (more…)
Best Practices For Auto Boards During Industry Revolution
The Nikola case stands at the intersection of several emerging risk areas in the automotive industry. For example, as regulators in the U.S. and European Union continue to ratchet up the pressure on climate change goals, and environmental, social and corporate governance, boards need to be extra careful about their companies’ commitments to going carbon neutral and the efficacy of electric vehicles.
That means putting clear plans and metrics in place to ensure appropriate follow-through and effective communications with investors so that they are well-informed about the caveats, risks and limitations.
EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive — What Do UK- and U.S.- Headquartered Companies Need to Know?
Non–EU companies with a significant presence in the EU or with securities listed on an EU-regulated market will become subject to new EU rules on corporate sustainability disclosures (the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, or CSRD). The text of the CSRD has now been agreed by the EU institutions.1 CSRD is expected to become EU law later this year. Once implemented into the national law of EU member states, its requirements will be phased in from 2024.
China Plans To Adopt ESG-Disclosure Framework Based on International Sustainability Standards Board Standards
In speaking at the recent Boao Asia Forum Annual Conference, Vice Chairman Fang Xinghai of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) announced that the CSRC is preparing new reporting standards and would adopt the new disclosure rules prepared by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). (more…)
SEC Brings First Enforcement Action Over ESG Disclosures
In late April, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought its first enforcement action over alleged false and misleading claims made in a mining company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures. The complaint relates to the 2019 collapse of the company’s dam that injured hundreds and released 12 million tons of mining waste into the environment. (more…)
U.S. Treasury’s Federal Insurance Office Eyes Climate Risk Factors in the Insurance Sector
In February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Insurance Office (FIO) announced that it would be joining the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System. FIO intends to address climate-related financial risks and their effects on the insurance sector. (more…)
CDP Releases 2021 Company Environmental Scores
On December 7, 2021, the CDP (formerly the Climate Disclosure Project), a climate research and environmental disclosure platform, announced the release of its 2021 company environmental scores. The CDP noted that over 13,000 companies reported environmental data to the CDP, which is nearly a 37% increase from the 2020 reporting cycle. (more…)
Key Takeaways: People Places Planet: The Enforcement Angle Podcast Featuring SEC’s Kelly Gibson
This Sidley Update provides key takeaways from the most recent “The Enforcement Angle” episode as part of the Environmental Law Institute’s People Places Planet podcast. The episode is hosted by Justin Savage, partner and global co-leader of Sidley’s Environmental practice, and Ranah Esmaili, who recently joined the firm as a partner in the global Securities Enforcement and Regulatory practice from the SEC’s Asset Management Unit within the Division of Enforcement. Justin and Ranah talk with Kelly Gibson, director of the Philadelphia Regional Office for the SEC and leader of the Climate and ESG Task Force within the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.
Read more here.
Global Reporting Initiative Revises its Universal Standards on Sustainability Reporting
On October 5, 2021, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) revised its Universal Standards on sustainability reporting. GRI is one of several stakeholder-led organizations that publishes voluntary standards for sustainability reporting. Through its standards, GRI seeks to promote standardized environmental, social, and governance reporting by companies and industries to their stakeholders. (more…)