The Second District Court of Appeal (Div. 6) has issued a November 22, 2022 Order modifying its opinion and denying rehearing in G.I. Industries v. City of Thousand Oaks (2022) ___ Cal.App.5th ___, without changing the judgment. That case expanded existing law under the Brown Act and CEQA by holding, on an issue of first
Next Up for Massachusetts Building Emissions Reductions: Tackling the Clean Heat Challenge
This week, the Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat released its final report. The report seeks to establish a framework for a long-term reduction in emissions from heating fuels, to align with the Commonwealth’s emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050 and the 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap.
According to the 2050 Roadmap, on-site combustion
California Air Resources Board Releases Updated 2022 Scoping Plan
On Nov. 16, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its updated 2022 Scoping Plan to outline policies and actions California proposes to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier. Under the Plan, CARB proposes to shift every sector of the state’s economy away from petroleum
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group submits draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards to the European Commission
On 23 November 2022, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (“EFRAG“) submitted the first set of draft EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (“ESRS”) to the European Commission.
As discussed in our previous blog post (which you can read here), the draft ESRS – which in-scope entities will be required to report against under the Corporate
BOEM Slated to Act on Two Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Activities in 2023
We’re closely monitoring offshore wind activities in the Gulf of Maine. Interested in learning about state-led offshore wind efforts in Maine? Check out this recent blog post on the Maine Offshore Wind Roadmap.The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is responsible for the development of offshore
Government Proposes Federal Contractors and Their Suppliers Disclose GHG Emissions
The implications of this reach far beyond only Federal contractors impacting nearly every sector of the US economy.
Momentum Builds Toward California Offshore Wind Reality
California’s first upcoming offshore wind lease sale, scheduled for December 6, 2022, is the next major step forward for clean energy in the Golden State.
By Nikki Buffa, Jennifer K. Roy, Janice M. Schneider, Daniel P. Brunton, Nathaniel Glynn, and Brian McCall
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and
Study: Growing Wildfire Risks Threatening California’s Climate Policies
The 2020 wildfire season alone released more carbon dioxide than what California reduced through years of emission cuts.
By Marc Campopiano and Joshua Bledsoe
California is a recognized leader in climate policy, but a wildfire crisis is threatening to unwind progress towards the state’s ambitious climate goals. In 2006, with the passage of AB 32,
European Council Adopts Negotiating Position on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
The Council’s position includes a number of differences from the European Commission’s original proposal, including in relation to the requirement to diligence the broader value chain.
By Paul A. Davies, Michael D. Green, and James Bee
On 30 November 2022, the European Council (the Council) — which comprises the views of the EU Member
Business and Human Rights: Corporate Human Rights Benchmark 2022 shows that corporate respect for human rights has gained momentum
On 21 November 2022, the World Benchmarking Alliance – a non-profit organisation that develops benchmarks to hold companies to account for their part in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – published its 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Insights Report (the “2022 Report”).
Compared to previous iterations (which we have discussed in a previous