On 1 December 2023, the Energy Secretariat, through Resolution 970/23 (“Resolution”), created the National Program for the Measurement and Reduction of Emissions from Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Activities.
Hydrocarbon-producing companies must submit: (i) an annual plan for the measurement of emissions; and (ii) a comprehensive five-year plan for the reduction and/or capture of emissions before the Hydrocarbons Sub-Secretariat, which will be in charge of issuing further complementary regulations.
On 14 November 2023, through Resolution 385/2023 of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the National Strategy for the Use of Carbon Markets (ENUMeC) was approved.
The ENUMeC aims to promote the implementation of carbon markets and the development of projects that contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change in Argentina, in line with the international climate commitments undertaken by Argentina (under the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol).
The Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS), Singapore’s advertising standards watchdog, has found an electronics company in breach of the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice (SCAP) for greenwashing or marketing that exaggerates the sustainability of a product.
This is the ASAS’ first finding of a breach of the SCAP as a result of greenwashing. The advertising standards watchdog has previously received one other complaint about greenwashing since 2020, but the advertisement in that case was found not to have breached the SCAP.
Gathering at a pivotal moment, the 28th Conference of the Parties unfolded against the backdrop of projections that 2023 is poised to be recorded as the warmest year on record. The accelerating impacts of climate change served as a stark reminder of the urgency addressed throughout the conference.
Baker McKenzie’s Global Climate Change practice was on the ground in Dubai, continuing a decade’s long commitment to be actively engaged in understanding how UNFCCC negotiations create opportunities for clients, and drawing from our observations, we’ve compiled a concise report outlining our perspective on the outcomes at COP28.
Federal Decree No. 11,786/2023 was published on 21 November 2023, establishing the National Policy for Quilombola Territorial and Environmental Management (PNGTAQ). The policy aims to, among others, support and promote territorial and environmental management practices of quilombola communities, strengthen the territorial and environmental rights of these communities, and promote the implementation of public policies in an integrated manner and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
From Tuesday, 12 December 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) will have new powers to commence an inquiry and ensure compliance when it ‘reasonably suspects’ an organization is not complying with its positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (“Sex Discrimination Act”). The positive duty commenced in December 2022 following the passing of legislation to implement a recommendation in the Respect@Work Report.
On 14 December 2023, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a compromise on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), paving the way for its formal adoption by both institutions and thus the CSDDD’s entry into force before year end. The CSDDD is intended to significantly reshape corporate due diligence obligations regarding human rights and environmental standards in the EU and beyond. With its imminent enactment, the EU Member States will have two years to enact national laws providing for respective corporate due diligence obligations, similar to that already provided for by the German Supply Chain Act in its current form.
The South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition recently published a White Paper on the manufacture, sale and use of Electric Vehicles in South Africa. The move is a decisive step on the path to the transformation of the country’s automotive industry.
On 29 November 2023, the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (“Regulations”), came into force, implementing a number of changes to Phase 3 of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme which requires in scope organizations to undertake a mandatory energy assessment of their UK energy consumption. As a result of the changes introduced by the Regulations, participants are required to include more information in the Phase 3 notifications of compliance that they are required to submit to the Environment Agency to confirm that they have completed their energy assessment.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is one of the legislative measures under the “Fit for 55” package in the EU’s European Green Deal. The CBAM is a measure designed to complement the EU’s Emissions Trading System, targeting imports of carbon-intensive products, including Thai exporters.