Germany: Constitutional Court Allows Special Session of Outgoing Parliament to Vote on Amendments to Constitutional Budget Rules
On March 13 and March 17, 2025, the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht, BVerfG) rejected several emergency petitions seeking to enjoin the holding of a special session of parliament on March 18, before the new parliament that was elected on February 23 is constituted on March 25. The special session was convened to vote on … Continue reading “Germany: Constitutional Court Allows Special Session…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2025-03-19
Article
Sweden: Supreme Court Rejects Climate Case for Lack of Standing
On February 19, 2025, the Swedish Supreme Court announced that it had rejected a climate case on admissibility grounds, declaring that individuals who have not experienced individual and specific harm cannot seek relief on behalf of others. (Supreme Court Case Ö 7177-23 (in Swedish).)Procedural HistoryThe case, dubbed the “Aurora Case” (Auroramålet), involved a claim by … Continue reading “Sweden: Supreme Court Rejects Climate Case…
Contributor:
Hofverberg, Elin
Date:2025-03-06
Article
Netherlands: Appeals Court Overturns Landmark Climate Change Decision that Ordered Royal Dutch Shell to Reduce CO2 Emissions
On November 12, 2024, the Dutch Court of Appeals in The Hague (Gerechtshof Den Haag) overturned a 2021 lower court decision that had ordered the energy company Royal Dutch Shell to reduce CO2 emissions by a net 45% by 2030. The lower court ruling marked the first time that a national court had ordered a … Continue reading “Netherlands: Appeals Court Overturns Landmark Climate…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-12-09
Article
Germany: Federal Court of Justice Finds “Climate Neutral” Advertisement Unfairly Deceptive
On June 27, 2024, the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH), held that an advertisement describing products as “climate neutral,” without explaining that the products’ neutral carbon balance was achieved by purchasing carbon offsets rather than by reducing emissions, was deceptive and therefore violated competition law. The decision by Germany’s supreme court for civil and … Continue reading “Germany: Federal Court of Justice Finds…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-07-30
Article
Sweden: Supreme Court Will Determine Admissibility of Climate Case Against Swedish Government
On April 25, 2024, the Swedish Supreme Court announced that it will grant leave (prövningstillstånd) to hear a climate lawsuit, commonly known as the “Aurora Case” (Auroramålet), to determine whether a group action can be brought in court against the Swedish state over measures it has taken or failed to take related to climate change.Procedural … Continue reading “Sweden: Supreme Court Will Determine Admissibility…
Contributor:
Hofverberg, Elin
Date:2024-05-28
Article
Switzerland: European Court of Human Rights Finds Switzerland Failed to Implement Regulations to Combat Climate Change
On April 9, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered a landmark decision, ruling that the Swiss Confederation had failed to comply with its duties under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) concerning climate change. It ruled that the Swiss state’s inactions violated article 8 (right to respect … Continue reading “Switzerland: European Court of Human Rights…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-05-14
Article
European Union: New Directive to Protect Consumers from Greenwashing Enters into Force
On March 27, 2024, Directive (EU) 2024/825 on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition entered into force. The new directive amends the existing Consumer Rights Directive and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive to provide consumers with better information about product lifespan and reparability and to protect them from greenwashing. Greenwashing is “the practice of giving … Continue reading “European Union: New Directive to Protect…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-04-29
Article
European Union: New Rules to Reduce Fluorinated Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substance Emissions Adopted
On February 20, 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 and Regulation (EU) 2024/590 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 were published in the European Union’s (EU’s) Official Journal. The two regulations, which aim to reduce fluorinated … Continue reading “European Union: New Rules to Reduce…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-03-26
Article
Colombia: Decree No. 44 of 2024 on Temporary Natural Reserves Enacted
On January 30, 2024, Colombia enacted Decree No. 44 of 2024 as a part of the country’s commitment to sustainable development, biodiversity protection, and the harmonious management of its natural resources. This legislation establishes temporary reserves of natural resources within the framework of mining-environmental regulation, addressing the challenges of environmental degradation and ensuring the sustainable … Continue reading “Colombia: Decree No. 44 of 2024…
Contributor:
Alvarez, Stephania
Date:2024-03-13
Article
United Kingdom: Environment Agency May Use Unlimited Financial Penalties Against Polluters
On December 1, 2023, an amendment to the Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010 entered into force in the United Kingdom, removing the 250,000 pound sterling (approximately US$315,000) cap to the variable monetary penalties the Environment Agency can impose for certain environmental offenses. This means that an unlimited variable monetary penalty may now be imposed … Continue reading “United Kingdom: Environment Agency May Use…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2024-02-01
Article
European Union: Environmental Delegated Act Establishing Technical Screening Criteria for Nonclimate-Related Objectives of the EU Taxonomy Published
On November 21, 2023, the European Commission’s Environmental Delegated Act was published in the European Union’s (EU’s) Official Journal. The act establishes technical screening criteria (TSC) for economic activities that make a substantial contribution to one or more of the nonclimate environmental objectives of the EU Taxonomy Regulation. The four nonclimate-related objectives are sustainable use … Continue reading “European Union: Environmental Delegated Act Establishing…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-01-02
Article
International: Fund to Assist Developing Countries Vulnerable to Climate Change Operationalized at COP28 United Nations Climate Summit
On November 30, 2023, parties attending the COP28 summit on climate change in Dubai agreed to operationalize a loss and damage fund to assist developing countries that are vulnerable to climate change. Several nations pledged seed money to establish the fund.Background to the Conference of the Parties (COP)In 1992, world leaders gathered to seal the … Continue reading “International: Fund to Assist Developing Countries…
Contributor:
Friedman, Sarah
Date:2023-12-07
Article
New Zealand: Major Environmental and Planning Laws Enacted
On August 23, 2023, the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 (NBA) and the Spatial Planning Act 2023 (SPA) received royal assent in New Zealand. These two pieces of legislation, to be phased in over about a 10-year period, will form part of a new framework that will replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), … Continue reading “New Zealand: Major Environmental and Planning…
Contributor:
Buchanan, Kelly
Date:2023-10-09
Article
Tuvalu: Constitutional Amendment Enshrines Statehood in Perpetuity in Response to Climate Change
According to news reports, in early September 2023, the Parliament of Tuvalu enacted constitutional amendments that include a new definition of statehood. The Constitution of Tuvalu Bill 2022, available on the website of Tuvalu’s Department of Foreign Affairs, includes the following wording regarding statehood in article 2:(1) The State of Tuvalu within its historical, cultural … Continue reading “Tuvalu: Constitutional Amendment Enshrines Statehood in…
Contributor:
Buchanan, Kelly
Date:2023-09-28
Article
Germany: Government Publishes Federal Aid Framework for Green Transformation Technologies
On August 7, 2023, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz, BMWK) published the Federal Framework for Transformation Technologies (Bundesregelung Transformationstechnologien), which implements the European Union’s (EU’s) state aid framework “Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF)” into German law. The Federal Framework allows the German government to … Continue reading “Germany: Government Publishes Federal Aid Framework…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-08-15
Article
Switzerland: Voters Approve Law Codifying Net Zero Target by 2050
On June 18, 2023, Swiss voters approved by a vote of 59.07% to 40.93% the Climate and Innovation Act (Klima- und Innovationsgesetz, KIG). The act codifies a net zero target — “cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible” — by 2050. Voter turnout was 42.54%. The act does not introduce new … Continue reading “Switzerland: Voters Approve Law Codifying Net…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-07-06
Article
Panama: Government Issues Resolution Declaring Environmental Emergency due to Severe Drought
On May 31, 2023, the Panamanian government published a resolution declaring a state of environmental emergency because of a prolonged drought in the country.The resolution explains that the drought has caused a significant decrease in water volume in the country’s main reservoirs that provide drinking water for the population and fresh water for the agriculture … Continue reading “Panama: Government Issues Resolution Declaring Environmental…
Contributor:
Guerra, Gustavo
Date:2023-06-22
Article
Germany: Voters in Berlin Reject Statutory Amendment Codifying Climate Neutrality by 2030
On March 26, 2023, German voters in the city-state of Berlin rejected an amendment to the Berlin Climate Protection and Energy Transition Act (Berliner Klimaschutz- und Energiewendegesetz, EWG Bln) that would have codified the goal for Berlin to become climate neutral by 2030 as a legally binding obligation. Even though 50.9% (442,028) of the participants … Continue reading “Germany: Voters in Berlin Reject Statutory…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-04-27
Article
Italy: Law on Constitutional Status of Italian Islands Enters into Effect
On November 30, 2022, Constitutional Law No. 2 of November 7, 2022, amending article 119 of the Constitution (updated text) entered into effect in Italy. The new law concerns “the Recognition of the Particularities of Islands and the Overcoming of the Disadvantages Deriving from Insularity.”Background to Constitutional Law No. 2The Italian insular territory encompasses about … Continue reading “Italy: Law on Constitutional Status of…
Contributor:
Figueroa, Dante
Date:2023-01-19
Article
India: Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, Allowing for a Carbon Credit Trading System, Comes into Force
On December 26, 2022, India’s Ministry of Power issued a notification that the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 would come into force on January 1, 2023. The act, among other things, allows the government to provide for a carbon-trading scheme and specifies an energy conservation code for large commercial and other buildings. The act also … Continue reading “India: Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022,…
Contributor:
Ahmad, Tariq
Date:2023-01-18
Article
Australia: Land Court Finds against Proposed Coal Mine due to Impact on Climate Change and Human Rights
On November 25, 2022, the Land Court of Queensland issued a decision in a case in which a First Nations-led group of young people from across the state, who had formed an entity called Youth Verdict, along with other interested parties, challenged a proposed coal mining project on the grounds that it would adversely affect … Continue reading “Australia: Land Court Finds against Proposed…
Contributor:
Buchanan, Kelly
Date:2022-12-29
Article
New Zealand: Legislation to Implement Free Trade Agreement with United Kingdom Enacted
On November 15, 2022, the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Act 2022 received royal assent in New Zealand. The act amends New Zealand law as part of implementing the free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the United Kingdom (U.K.), which was signed on March 1, 2022 (New Zealand time; February 28, 2022, … Continue reading “New Zealand: Legislation to Implement Free…
Contributor:
Buchanan, Kelly
Date:2022-12-28
Article
Australia: Legislation Setting Emissions Reduction Targets Enacted
On September 14, 2022, the Climate Change Act 2022 (Cth) came into effect in Australia. The act, which sets out Australia’s emissions reduction ambitions, was passed in conjunction with the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Act 2022 (Cth). The minister for climate change and energy explained that the acts lay the foundation on which Australia’s policies … Continue reading “Australia: Legislation Setting Emissions Reduction Targets…
Contributor:
Buchanan, Kelly
Date:2022-11-17
Article
International: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XLIV Concludes with Adoption of Several New Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions
The Consultative Parties of the Antarctic Treaty met for their annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) from May 23, 2022–June 2, 2022, in Berlin, Germany. The Consultative Parties consist of the original 12 signatory parties to the Antarctic Treaty and other parties that demonstrate a substantial research interest in Antarctica. These meetings are authorized under … Continue reading “International: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XLIV…
Contributor:
Myers, Louis
Date:2022-09-01
Article
United Kingdom: Amid Historic Heat Wave, Unions Call for Legal Limit on Maximum Temperatures in Workplaces
In July 2022 the United Kingdom (U.K.) battled an extreme heat wave, which recorded historic peaks in temperature. On Friday, July 15, 2022, the U.K.’s Meteorological Office issued the country’s first ever Red warning for extreme heat, warning of a possible record-breaking level of 40°C (104°F) to affect most of England in the days following. … Continue reading “United Kingdom: Amid Historic Heat Wave,…
