Sustainability

Climate change and sustainability are set to be defining issues of this decade. CMS is committed to addressing our own impact on the environment and approach to sustainability, as well as advising clients with their related legal needs.

The shift to a sustainable energy sector and the decarbonisation of existing energy systems, a growing market for sustainable investments, increased focus on ESG criteria in urban planning, tax reforms and sustainability incentives to reach climate goals – these are just a few of the developments that are shaping the business environment.

Our teams are helping clients to navigate this rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape and advising on first-of-their-kind deals.

To find out how CMS can support you and your business with sustainability click here >>

Recent Articles

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    09/05/2024
    Scotland

    Facilitating Marine Restoration – How Best to Ensure Success

    Marine restoration activities have been highlighted in the press recently particularly the successful oyster restoration project in the Firth of Forth. So far many restoration projects in Scottish waters are principally small projects led by communities that seek to (re)create a habitat or introduce a previously decimated species. It has been highlighted to the Scottish Government by those looking to initiate larger scale restoration projects that there are two key challenges to a project’s namely: (i) a complicated consenting process which does not specifically cover restoration; and (ii)...
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    29/04/2024
    United Kingdom

    Food Advertising and Environmental Claims: A Balancing Act for Businesses

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has published a report on its research into consumer understanding of environmental claims in food advertisements (Environmental claims in food advertising - ASA | CAP). While some of the findings are unsurprising, they also reveal important insights into inferences consumers draw from different kinds of claims, and challenge the view that reducing their environmental impact is a primary focus for consumers who respond to environmental claims. Businesses should:Take care with the implications of their claims, which may be unexpected;Use clear and specific...
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    17/04/2024
    England and Wales

    AI-driven enforcement comes of age in UK with AI systems reshaping advertising and regulation and enforcement – ASA’s 2023 Annual Report

    The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has published its 2023 annual report, describing 2023 as a watershed year for its digital strategy.Together, the ASA and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) secured the amendment or withdrawal of 27,378 ads in 2023, a remarkable 92% of which resulting from proactive work largely powered by the ASA’s Active Ad Monitoring System. In December 2022, the ASA ran 20,000 ads through the system, which rose to over 600,000 ads per month by the end of 2023. This system forms a key part of the ASA’s 2024 to 2028 strategy on AI-assisted...
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    15/04/2024
    Luxembourg

    Bill of law for the transposition of CSRD in Luxembourg

    IntroductionFollowing the adoption of the corporate sustainability reporting directive:1 (the “ CSRD ”), the Member States of the European Union (the “ EU ”) are required to implement its relevant provisions into their national laws and regulations by 6 July 2024. At the date of this publication, only France, Hungary, Romania, and Czech Republic implemented CSRD into their national law. In this context, the long-awaited Luxembourg Bill of law 8370 was introduced before the Luxembourg Chambre des députés on 29 March 2024 (the “ Proposal”).To...
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    03/04/2024
    Ukraine

    Register of Damage for Ukraine is open for claims submission

    On 2 April 2024, the Register of Damage for Ukraine opened the claims submission process for compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. The launch took place as part of the Ministerial Conference "Restoring Justice for Ukraine" co-hosted by the Netherlands, Ukraine and the European Commission at the World Forum in The Hague.As a reminder, the official website of the Register of Damage for Ukraine was launched on 4 March 2024. The website contains the following:documents governing the work of the Register;answers to frequently asked questions on the Register’s...
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    13/03/2024
    International

    After EU Commission's first decision on Carbon Contracts for Difference, Germany initiates bidding of EUR 4bn

    The European Commission approved the first Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) scheme under the new Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 (CEEAG).Following the Commission's decision, on 12 March 2024 the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) initiated the first bidding process with a total volume of EUR 4bn. With this funding scheme, Germany is taking a pioneering role in Europe and internationally in the field of state aid for climate protection. Concept of contracts for differenceA contract for difference entitles...
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