On November 4, 2022, the City of Philadelphia filed suit against companies it alleges manufactured or distributed PFAS-containing AFFF and/or other PFAS Products. The City asserts claims in its capacity as a water provider, a wastewater treatment operator, and as an owner of property, e.g., the Philadelphia International Airport. The action appears to have been
U.S. Interior Department Initiates Actions to Protect Colorado River System, Reduce Deliveries
Building on the Department of the Interior’s August 2022 announcement addressing the ongoing “megadrought” crisis in the Western United States, and October 2022 announcement that provided new “drought resilience” and mitigation funding opportunities, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) on Oct. 28, 2022, published a notice of intent (Notice) to prepare a supplemental environmental
OSHA Highlights Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace
By James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, Mark A. Lies, II, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Patrick D. Joyce, Brent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is beginning to review work related stress as a workplace hazard falling under its jurisdiction.
OSHA, citing a Centers for Disease Control and
Greenberg Traurig’s Environmental Practice Receives 39 Rankings Nationally and in 15 U.S. Markets
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received the most first-tier national rankings in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2023 “Best Law Firms” report for the 12th consecutive year and received the most national and metro rankings of any law firm included in the report. More than half of the firm’s Environmental Practice U.S. offices were ranked as
Biden Announces New Initiative on “Game-Changing” Technologies for Achieving Net-Zero Emissions
On November 4, 2022, the White House announced a new initiative to support research and development projects on 37 “game-changing” technologies to advance the Biden Administration’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Led by an interagency working group, the “Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative” will direct billions of dollars under the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS
Hong Kong Launches International Carbon Marketplace, Singapore Introduces ESG Hub
Hong Kong’s Core Climate aims to facilitate trading of carbon credits, while the Hub plans to expedite Singapore’s ESG ecosystem growth.
By Farhana Sharmeen, Paul A. Davies, and James Bee
On 28 October 2022, the Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited (HKEX) launched Core Climate, Hong Kong’s International Carbon Marketplace. The birth of
What could the US EPA’s proposed Superfund listing for PFOA and PFOS mean for industry?
On 6 September, the US EPA released its proposed rule to add perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to the list of hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund.
If finalized, these hazardous substance designations could have a significant impact on many industries, from creating
What to Expect from COP 27
COP 27 began in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, yesterday. It begins inauspiciously, set against the global impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting food and energy insecurity and dramatic price rises which have pushed climate change down domestic political agendas across the world and increased demand for new sources of fossil fuel to
UK Sustainability Disclosure Framework – New FCA Greenwashing Rules under consultation
The UK’s financial regulator – the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) – on 25 October 2022, published its “Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”) and investments labels” Consultation Paper (CP 22/20) (the “Consultation Paper”).
This follows the FCA’s July 2021 “Dear AFM Chair” letter regarding improving the quality and clarity of authorised ESG and sustainable investment funds and
International Sustainability Standards Board Updates: Progress Towards A Global Baseline
In October 2022, the International Sustainability Standards Board (“ISSB”) met to discuss comments received and future work pertaining to the ISSB’s proposed disclosure standards for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information (“Draft S1”) and Climate-related Disclosures (“Draft S2”).
The ISSB’s reconsideration of topics addressed in its proposed disclosure standards provides insight into the progress the