Germany: Government Seeks to Protect Critical Infrastructure
On September 10, 2025, the German federal government published a comprehensive proposal to strengthen the physical resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure. The proposal would transpose Directive (EU) 2022/2557 on the resilience of critical entities into national law. On November 3, 2025, the proposed act was submitted to the German Bundestag (Parliament), which referred it … Continue reading “Germany: Government Seeks to Protect Critical…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2025-11-28
Article
Germany: Court Dismisses Major Case Against Electricity Company RWE for Climate Change Effects in Peru
On May 28, 2025, the Higher Regional Court Hamm dismissed a lawsuit against the German electricity company RWE brought by a Peruvian farmer who sought partial reimbursement for the costs of measures he took to protect his property from the effects of climate change. The plaintiff alleged that RWE’s global greenhouse gas emissions from its … Continue reading “Germany: Court Dismisses Major Case Against…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2025-07-29
Article
France: Labor Code Updated to Combat Workplace Dangers from Extreme Heat
As of July 1, 2025, employers in France must implement stringent measures to mitigate heat-related risks and protect employees, in accordance with the decree of May 27, 2025. (Order of May 27, 2025, on Heatwave Alert Thresholds for Worker Protection, J. O. June 1, 2025.)In response to the growing frequency of extreme heat events, the … Continue reading “France: Labor Code Updated to Combat…
Contributor:
Gilbert, Louis
Date:2025-07-23
Article
United Arab Emirates: Climate Law Takes Effect, Supplementing National Emissions Strategy
On May 30, 2025, the United Arab Emirates officially brought into force Federal Decree Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects, changing the nation’s approach to climate governance. This legislation positions the UAE as the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to establish a binding legal … Continue reading “United Arab Emirates: Climate Law Takes…
Contributor:
Sadek, George
Date:2025-06-24
Article
United Kingdom: Agreement with Palestinian Authority Commits to Bilateral Cooperation
On April 28, 2025, the government of the United Kingdom and the Palestinian Authority signed a memorandum of understanding supporting an independent Palestinian state and pledging cooperation on a range of issues.The memorandum “establishes a new framework to guide and enhance the bilateral partnership of the [U.K. and the Palestinian Authority] and strengthen their international … Continue reading “United Kingdom: Agreement with Palestinian Authority…
Contributor:
Feikert-Ahalt, Clare
Date:2025-05-28
Article
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
Germany: Court Stops Removal of Tree Houses in Camp Protesting Expansion of Tesla Factory
On May 16, 2024, the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg (OVG Berlin-Brandenburg) ruled that activists protesting an expansion of a Tesla factory located in Grünheide, Germany, could continue using tree houses built as part of a protest camp. The local authorities had ordered the tree houses to be removed, citing violations of building regulations. The … Continue reading “Germany: Court Stops Removal of Tree…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-07-25
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
Italy: New Energy Incentives Enter into Force
On December 10, 2023, Legislative Decree No. 181 of December 9, 2023 (L.D. No. 181), approving measures on energy security, the promotion of renewable energy sources, and support for energy-intensive businesses and reconstruction in territories affected by floods, entered into effect in Italy.L.D. No. 181 contains measures to promote the self-production of renewable energy in energy-intensive … Continue reading “Italy: New Energy Incentives Enter…
Contributor:
Figueroa, Dante
Date:2024-02-06
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
International: G20 Summit Leaders Release Final Declaration
On September 9–10, 2023, leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) nations met in Delhi, India, for the 2023 G20 summit meeting. The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (final declaration) outlined 10 distinct areas where G20 countries have pledged their commitment to new initiatives and to continued support for ongoing goals of the G20 and … Continue reading “International: G20 Summit Leaders Release Final…
Contributor:
Myers, Louis
Date:2023-09-18
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…
