Sustainable development definition

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ESG board advisory—checklist

ESG board advisory—checklist Investors care about the environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards that their portfolio companies are demonstrating, and regulators (such as the FCA in the UK) are making ESG disclosures a priority for public companies. For more on ESG, see Practice Notes: ESG—new starter guide and Sustainable business and environmental, social, governance (ESG)—introduction for companies and advisors. As institutional shareholders invest record amounts in ESG-conscious funds and companies, boards of directors are looking for ways their companies can design and implement a business strategy that produces a sustainable future and remain relevant in a world where climate change, social injustice, pandemics, disease prevention, and wellness are the new normal. This checklist provides guidance for boards to help formulate their ESG strategy. The key takeaways include that boards: • need diverse members with appropriate ESG skills to make sure their companies' strategies are sustainable and relevant • should consider issuing green bonds to fund sustainable projects and to access ESG capital • should know their ESG proxy...

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Development of EU climate change policy

Development of EU climate change policy Context Humans are increasingly influencing the climate and the earth's temperature by burning fossil fuels, cutting down rainforests and farming livestock. All of this adds enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming. Some gases in the earth's atmosphere act a bit like the glass in a greenhouse, trapping the sun's heat and stopping it from leaking back into space. Many of these gases occur naturally but human activity is increasing the concentrations of some of them in the atmosphere, in particular: • carbon dioxide (CO2) • methane • nitrous oxide • fluorinated gases CO2 is the greenhouse gas most commonly produced by human activities and it is responsible for the majority of man-made global warming. Other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, are emitted in smaller quantities, but they trap heat far more effectively than CO2. Rising emissions are caused by: • burning fossil fuels (ie coal, oil...

Competition law and sustainability—global developments tracker

Competition law and sustainability—global developments tracker This document aims to track and summarise legislative, guidance and other policy developments which help reveal the approach of global competition authorities in tackling the issue of how competition law can contribute towards achieving sustainability objectives. 2025 Jurisdiction and body Details Developments Australia (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) The ACCC releases a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation with conditions to allow the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute and industry participants to collaborate on sustainable finance initiatives for five years • Press release published—17/04/2025 UK (CMA) CMA publishes its third informal opinion under its Green Agreements Guidance (the Guidance). The Guidance is intended to provide greater certainty for businesses on how competition rules apply to agreements and arrangements between competitors aimed at achieving environmental and sustainability goals • Guidance published—05/02/2025 UK (CMA) CMA issues informal guidance to the Builders Merchants Federation in relation to its Green Agreements Guidance • Informal guidance published—28/03/2025 Taiwan (Taiwan Fair Trade Commission) TFTC “Guidelines on Concerted Actions...

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Environmental policy

Environmental policy [Insert organisation name] is a signatory to [insert details of any environmental initiatives to which the organisation is a signatory, eg the United Nations Global Compact or the Science Based Targets initiative]. The organisation is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and mitigating adverse environmental impacts resulting from our operations. We actively support the achievement of global environmental objectives, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This policy outlines our commitment to responsible environmental stewardship, in alignment with international standards and best practices. 1 What are environmental impacts? 1.1 ‘Environmental impacts’ refer to those impacts set out in the ISO 14001, the UN Global Compact and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. 1.2 According to ISO 14001 environmental impacts refer to any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, resulting from an organisation's activities, products, or services. 1.3 Examples of environmental impacts include: 1.3.1 Climate change—energy use, transportation, and greenhouse gas emissions from operations significantly contribute to global warming; 1.3.2 Resource depletion—the consumption...

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Financial Services—other developments (23/5/2025)

A round-up of other developments, which have not been covered in full by the LexisNexis Financial Services practical guidance team but may nevertheless be of interest.

Children’s rights, media trust in focus for Irish media regulator

MLex: Ireland's media regulator, the Coimisiún na Meán, has said the creation of a diverse, creative and trusted media landscape are part of its strategy statement for 2025-2027 and its 2025 work program. The strategy also prioritizes fundamental rights, particularly for children, alongside democratic values and public safety. By focusing on strategic outcomes and delivery tools, the regulator aims to spearhead regulatory efforts both nationally and across the EU, ensuring the sustainable development and inclusivity of the media sector.