SPOTLIGHT
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Change Timeline
1985 – 2021 – Route to COP26

Eye on ESG Blog
The Eye on ESG Blog is designed to provide practical guidance to global businesses and clients amid the important and growing impact of ESG issues on their institutions and businesses, as well as the latest updates on new ESG-related developments.
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Climate Risk Management and Community Reinvestment in the US: Competing or Complementary Priorities?
Michael Hsu, the acting comptroller of the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), unveiled the concept of climate redlining as a new aspect of his agency’s initiative for addressing climate-related financial risks. He recognized an inherent tension between the goals of lending to underserved communities and managing climate-related financial risks.

Tax Meets ESG: Emerging Corporate Governance Risks and Opportunities
At the intersection of Tax and ESG and there are increasing external pressures for greater transparency into a company’s global tax position.

How Asset Managers Are Using New Sustainability Taxonomies Globally
The sustainable investing market is witnessing remarkable growth. The field, however, has been challenged by greenwashing claims and a lack of consistency in identifying what, exactly, makes an investment “sustainable”.

Climate Change and Investment Treaty Arbitration
In this episode, Kwadwo Sarkodie and Charles Harris are joined by Rachael O’Grady, partner in the International Arbitration practice of Mayer Brown’s London office. Our speakers discuss the overlapping of the Climate Change and Investment Treaty legal frameworks, and the interplay between them.

Strategies and Risks in the Wake of COP26
Now that COP26 is behind us, what are the implications going forward? The two-week long UN global climate summit – postponed by a year due to COVID – brought some 40,000 delegates, together with high expectations of a reboot of our approach to pressing climate challenges, to Glasgow, and certainly included plenty of drama.

The CFA Institute releases Global ESG Disclosure Standards for Investment Products
Evaluating, and comparing, the ESG credentials of different investment products presents significant difficulties. In a welcome development in the move towards addressing these issues,the CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals, published its first voluntary Global ESG Disclosure Standards for Investment Products (the “Standards”).

TCFD: Preparing for Mandatory Reporting
Many UK companies will soon be mandated to make TCFD-aligned disclosures. This follows the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) introduction of the Listing Rules (Disclosure of Climate-Related Financial Information) Instrument in December 2020, which requires companies with a UK premium listing to disclose on a comply-or-explain basis against the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations in their annual reports.

Climate Litigation in Brazil: New Developments in Seeking Government Action Towards More Ambitious Legislation
On October 26, just a week before the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26), 70 NGOs led by Observatório do Clima filed a public civil action claiming that the current Brazilian National Policy on Climate Change, set forth by Law no. 12,187/2009, is inadequate and unable to provide a response to the current climate crisis.
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Webinar: ESG and Climate-Related Risks: A Primer for Fund Managers in Hong Kong
In this interactive event, we will provide an overview on the latest ESG trends and regulatory developments with particular focus on the enhancements to the Hong Kong SFC’s Fund Manager Code of Conduct that will take effect later this year. We look forward to you joining us for an exchange of ideas on this exciting topic.

Webinar: UK/Europe ESG/SDGs and Energy Transition – Sessions I and 2 – February 9 & 24
ESG/SDGs and Energy Transition are key issues for Japanese investors in the UK and Europe in 2022. In this two-part webinar series, Mayer Brown lawyers based in London and Tokyo will brief you on the major opportunities, pitfalls and risks related to ESG/SDGs (9 February) and Energy Transition (24 February) in the region.

Ecolabels Survey & Overview
Whether ecolabels are an unfamiliar concept, or your business is beginning to undertake, or already underway with, an ecolabelling project we would be interested to hear your thoughts on this topic.

New York Regulator Issues Proposed Guidance for Insurers on Managing Financial Risks from Climate Change
On March 25, 2021, the New York Department of Financial Services issued for public comment “Proposed Guidance for New York Domestic Insurers on Managing the Financial Risks of Climate Change”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.

Carbon Capture Use and Sequestration Boot Camp Webinar
Join Mayer Brown on April 6, 2021, for our Carbon Capture Use and Sequestration Boot Camp – from Feasibility to Execution.
WATCH

Carbon Emissions in Brazil: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Luiz Gustavo Bezerra discusses carbon emissions in Brazil.

Net Zero: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Tim Baines and Luiz Gustavo Bezerra discuss Net Zero and Carbon Markets.

Sustainable Development in Asia: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Mark R. Uhrynuk discusses sustainability and related regulatory developments across Asia.

Climate Change and the Biden Administration: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Christina Thomas and Jonathan Becker discuss the recent changes that the Biden Administration has implemented, as well as the changes on the horizon, in relation to climate change.

Corporate Strategies to achieve Net Zero (Portuguese): Recognising Earth Day Globally
Luiz Gustavo Bezerra discusses corporate strategies to achieve Net Zero (in Portuguese).

Green Claims: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre discusses the significant changes that are expected relating to Green Claims rules.

Biodiversity: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Thomas Delille and Luiz Gustavo Bezerra discuss the Nagoya Protocol to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Brazilian Biodiversity Law.

ESG Trailer: Recognising Earth Day Globally
Watch our ESG Trailer: Recognising Earth Day Globally
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ESG and Directors’ Duties
In this audio clip, James Whitaker briefly discusses the important role of company directors in promoting positive environmental practices.

UK Pensions Law: Podcast on Climate Risk Reporting Requirements
Mayer Brown Counsel Beth Brown provides background on the Pension Schemes Act 2021 and outlines the regulations in the consultation paper, as well as considerations for trustees seeking to understand and prepare for these future requirements.

ESG Developments in Financial Services
As demand for sustainable finance continues to surge, our finance, environmental and regulatory professionals are all constantly working on the latest ESG-related developments for various financial market participants.