
Green Economy Law Blog
Texas Passes Anti-ESG Law in Sign of Changing Times
The fact that Texas, a state famous for its oil industry, felt it necessary to pass a law of this sort signals the industry’s growing consternation with an increasingly climate-conscious and oil un-friendly investing environment.
Dutch Court Orders Oil Giant Shell to Reduce Emissions in Historic Climate Case
Last week, the Hague district court ordered oil giant Royal Dutch Shell to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2019 levels by 2030. The ruling appears to mark the first instance of a court requiring a major corporation to lower emissions on account of their climate impact.
Washington to Become Second State With Broad Carbon Pricing Program
The program will cover three-quarters of the state’s emissions, meaning that once in place, Washington will become the second US state (after California) to price most in-state emissions. Collected program revenues will be allocated to a “climate investment account” to support Washington’s green transition.
Youth Activists Win Historic German Climate Case
2019’s Federal Climate Change Act violates the fundamental rights of Germany’s youth population by “irreversibly offload[ing] major emission reduction burdens onto periods after 2030,” thereby saddling the young with responsibility for older generations’ emissions and environmental inaction.
Explaining Canada’s Constitutional Carbon Pricing Decision
In a 6-3 split ruling, the court declared the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act a valid exercise of the federal government’s jurisdictional authority under the Canadian constitution. Here’s why.
So Begins the Era of ESG Regulation
Not only should ESG standardization be by law, but governments are starting to show that ESG standardization will be by law.
Canada Releases Draft Carbon Offset Market Regulations
The draft regulations show the Department planning to manage a closely-monitored federal carbon offset marketplace that would allow participants to register greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects by submitting detailed applications verified by accredited third parties.
Canada to Review, Consider Expanding Industrial Emission Pricing System
Canada’s federal ministry of the environment and climate change recently announced it will review Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) regulations with an eye to increasing emission reductions, covering additional industrial activities, correcting current standards not aligned with activities performed by participating facilities, and improving efficiency.
Canada Begins Formulating Carbon Offset Protocols Under Pollution Pricing System
Canada’s department of the environment and climate change recently announced it is developing first phase federal carbon offset protocols for advanced refrigeration systems, forest management, landfill methane management, and “enhanced soil organic carbon” (presumably referring to what is commonly known as regenerative agriculture).
EU Lawmakers Advance Carbon Border Adjustments Resolution
If implemented, EU carbon border adjustments would place a duty on imports from jurisdictions lacking a sufficient price on carbon emissions. This would protect European industries subject to the bloc’s carbon pricing system from competition with producers in countries with weaker environmental laws, as well as ‘leakage’, wherein businesses relocate operations to environmentally lax jurisdictions to increase cost competitiveness (i.e., ‘offshoring pollution’).