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Sustainability
Global | Publication | October 2020
The rise in prominence of environmental, social and governance (ESG), or sustainability issues, is increasingly significant for businesses globally. The escalation of sustainability issues into a core business concern has been a steady and continuous progression over the past several years as the legal and regulatory landscape changes and expectations of investors, employees, consumers, regulators and other stakeholders grow.
Now more than ever, investors are prioritizing ESG risks and opportunities and incorporating sustainability criteria into their investment and valuation decisions. ESG issues such as climate change, labour standards, human rights, modern slavery and corporate governance are assessed to determine the long-term impact these issues may have on future corporate growth. Investors perceive companies with strong sustainability programs as one of the key indicators of sound and reliable performance going forward.
In this section, we explore the rapidly changing legal and regulatory landscape, including standards and initiatives as they relate to ESG, as well as how sustainability issues, policies and markets are affecting food companies and agribusinesses.
Thought leadership
Publication
Alberta launches agribusiness challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Food producers, processors and agribusinesses are facing increasing pressure to expand the production of locally-grown food, while curbing emissions and operating in a more sustainable manner.
Publication
Environmental, social and governance performance and cannabis
The link between positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and economic growth is not new.
Publication
Innovation in sustainable agricultural practices
Climate change is a critical and emotionally-charged issue.
Publication
Climate change and the food and agribusiness sectors: adaptation, mitigation and innovation
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report on the Impacts of Global Warming warned that the world is already seeing the consequences of global warming of 1°C, with more frequent and extreme weather, rising sea levels, diminishing Arctic sea ice, ocean acidification, land degradation and desertification, among other changes.
Publication
Agricultural infrastructure for resilience against climate change
Climate change is a significant challenge for agriculture.
Publication
Transitioning from brown to green: the use of transition bonds and green bonds, and sustainability-linked financing in agribusiness
Two of the most pressing issues currently facing our planet are rising carbon emissions and increasing global food demand.
Senior Advisor
Email
keira.brennan@nortonrosefulbright.com
Head of Amsterdam
Email
saskia.blokland@nortonrosefulbright.com
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US Consultores em Direito Estrangeiro
Email
charles.johnson@nortonrosefulbright.com
Director: Global Head of Consumer Markets
Email
rosalind.lake@nortonrosefulbright.com
Recent publications
Publication
Dutch Supreme Court Clarifies Anti-Abuse Rule: Lessons from April and July 2025 Rulings
On 25 April and 18 July 2025, the Dutch Supreme Court issued new rulings that further clarify the scope and application of the anti-abuse provisions in the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 (CITA) and the Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax Act 1965 (DWTA).
Publication
Brief update on the Omnibus: CSRD and CS3D simplification – negotiating positions
The ‘Omnibus package’ is due to be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council. When initially published by the European Commission on 26 February 2025 (see our previous publication on this here), the Omnibus instantly drew attention in light of the significant changes it sought to introduce to the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
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