Building long-term integrity in the voluntary carbon market

In recent years, an important question has arisen in relation to the voluntary carbon market (VCM) as it continues to expand: How do we elevate and maintain its integrity?

Financial Services Regulatory Developments in ESG

ESG is high on the regulatory agenda. Businesses, governments, regulators, financial services firms and individuals all have a part to play in tackling climate change and this view is increasingly shared across society.

EU scales up green subsidies: How to benefit from support for clean investments

On February 6, 2024 the Council of the EU and the European Parliament agreed a provisional version of the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which is now expected to be formally adopted by the end of April 2024.

Financing onboard carbon capture: What are the options?

Norton Rose Fulbright’s legal experts explore potential finance options for carbon capture systems and the particular complexities related to mortgaged vessels

ESG and sustainability

Law for a sustainable future

Energy transition newsletter: Issue 4

Insights from our global team on the frontline of legal innovation and solutions for the energy transition Stay in touch with the latest in the transition by subscribing to our newsletter. Register

Hydrogen and ammonia: 2024 trends, opportunities and risks in light of Japanese regulatory change

Japan is now making a renewed push for the development of its hydrogen/ammonia economy, with the country targeting consumption of 20 million tons per year by 2050. With the goal of hydrogen and ammonia making up 1% of the country’s primary energy mix by 2030, there is now heightened attention on Japanese energy policy and regulatory change with key market-players watching closely for emerging investment opportunities.

Building the Japanese hydrogen economy: Support for industrial scale projects

To accelerate the global hydrogen/ammonia economy, the Japanese government has recognised the need to support the development of commercial/industrial scale hydrogen supply chain.

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures publishes draft sector-specific guidance

On 7 December 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) published draft sector-specific guidance setting out how industries with high impacts and dependencies on nature can implement the TNFD’s LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) in their internal decision-making processes and reporting (the Guidance).

Hydrogen Tax Credit Guidance

New hydrogen tax credit rules released by the US Treasury just before Christmas will make it hard to finance projects that use electrolyzers to produce clean hydrogen until it is possible to do hourly matching of distant intermittent wind and solar electricity with hydrogen output.

Beyond COP28: Our insights

The 28th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28) took place on November 30 - December 12 in Dubai.

UK Energy Act 2023: Summary of the provisions relating to hydrogen

Introduction of the revenue support business models for both low carbon hydrogen projects and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects are some of the key measures provided in the Energy Act 2023 (the Act). In this fourth briefing in our Energy Act analysis series, we consider the provisions which are designed to stimulate growth of the hydrogen economy in the UK. We will address CCS separately in a future briefing.

EU Taxonomy Regulation and aviation: A transition to sustainability

On 21 November 2023 the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485 of 27 June 2023 amending Delegated Act EU 2021/2139 (also known as the Climate Delegated Act) (the Delegated Regulation) was published in the Official Journal heralding the inclusion of aviation as a transitional activity within the EU Taxonomy Regulation on and as from 1 January 2024.

UK Energy Act 2023: Merger control and competition law changes

On 26 October 2023, the Energy Act 2023 (Energy Act), the largest piece of primary energy legislation in over a decade, received Royal Assent and became law. The breadth of the Energy Act is impressive, covering areas such as energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, regulation of nascent technologies such as CCUS and hydrogen production and strengthening the regulatory landscape around more established sectors including offshore wind and oil and gas.

New changes: the UK emissions trading scheme (UK ETS)

CCS hubs: How useful is the analogy with an LNG Liquefaction project?

The context of this paper is an observation that there are many oil and gas fields around the world and particularly in South East Asia that are reaching the end of production, and in South East Asia a number of the largest gas fields have LNG export facilities associated with them.

Client Alert: The European Commission has released its Wind Power Action Plan

The European Commission (EC) has just published a European Wind Power package including a Wind Power Action Plan, which aims at helping the European wind industry navigate the current challenging cont...

The details of the renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production financial support schemes are becoming clearer

In 2023, there are several major developments and breakthroughs in the hydrogen sector at both national and European level.

Global carbon capture and storage regulations: A driver or barrier to CCS project development?

In this briefing, Norton Rose Fulbright’s global carbon capture and storage (CCS) team give a brief overview of the CCS regulatory framework in their respective home jurisdictions and share their views on whether more needs to be done to speed up CCS project development.

Consultation opens on new Circular Economy Regulations: Mitigating risks to essential waste services

On 14 August 2023 the Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) released the draft Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) (Risk, Consequence and Contingency) Regulations 2023 (Risk Regulations), for public comment.

Future policy framework for Power CCUS: Government Response

In July 2022, the government published its call for evidence on the future policy framework for the delivery of power with Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) (Call for Evidence), seeking views on how best to support the continued deployment of power CCUS projects beyond Track-1 of its Cluster Sequencing process.

The Alberta Utilities Commission releases an update on the renewables pause

This legal bulletin is an update to the legal bulletin published on August 8, 2023, titled Alberta pauses renewable project approvals and initiates inquiry.

Held and ors v State of Montana – a watershed ruling?

The Montana District Court has handed down a potentially landmark judgment in climate litigation in which the State’s constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment was used as the basis to challenge its energy policy.