Sharing our knowledge and expertise
Explore our insights on climate change, business & human rights, sustainable finance, inclusion & diversity, energy transition, and more.
Sustainability & ESG Trends 2026: evolving trends
The sustainability and ESG landscape is shifting rapidly, driven by geopolitics, macroeconomic pressures and technological advances. Over the past year, businesses have had to navigate a minefield of emerging standards, political volatility, increased public scrutiny and litigation activity across multiple jurisdictions. Yet this is also a moment of strategic opportunity.
Find out more about Sustainability & ESG Trends 2026: evolving trendsESG highlights
Blogs: Sustainability, ESG and Business and Human Rights Insights
Current policy trends, legal developments and emerging risks connected to business' approaches to and responsibility for ESG, sustainability, human rights and the impacts of climate change.
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EU ETS Phase V: The Commission's blueprint for carbon pricing beyond 2030
The European Commission has published a proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for the period 2031–2040 (Phase V), launching what is likely to become one of the most politically significant climate reforms of the current legislative cycle.
Find out more about EU ETS Phase V: The Commission's blueprint for carbon pricing beyond 2030
Critical minerals in Latin America: a strategic outlook for investors
Latin America presents a strong opportunity for investors in critical minerals. This briefing outlines the key opportunities, risks and mitigation strategies for investors.
Find out more about Critical minerals in Latin America: a strategic outlook for investors
SFDR 2.0: first look at proposed EU sustainability disclosure regime changes for funds
Investment funds managed and marketed in the EU have had the first sight of proposed revisions to the bloc’s sustainability-related disclosures regime under plans unveiled by the European Commission on 20 November 2025.
Find out more about SFDR 2.0: first look at proposed EU sustainability disclosure regime changes for funds
Scaling the Global Carbon Markets
In this new report, we examine recent developments concerning both the Paris mechanisms and the voluntary carbon market, and revisit our 2022 recommendations to consider what actions need to be taken if the Paris mechanisms and the voluntary carbon market are to reach their full capabilities and deliver critical climate action.
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Proposed reforms to strengthen corporate reporting under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015
Proposed amendments to the corporate transparency requirements in the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the "Act") include the introduction of mandatory content requirements for the statement, declaration of statement accuracy from signatories and the possibility of stringent financial penalties for non-compliance with the duties in the Act.
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Dutch lower court finds Netherlands’ climate policy breaches human rights of inhabitants of Bonaire and falls short of UN climate commitments
The Hague District Court held that the Dutch State’s mitigation and adaptation measures concerning Bonaire fall short of the Netherlands' obligations under the UN climate framework and violate Article 8 ECHR. The Court found that the State’s current approach fails to adequately protect the private and family life of Bonaire’s inhabitants from climate-related risks. Without prescribing specific figures, the Court ordered the State to incorporate economy wide absolute emission reduction targets, including interim targets up to 2050, into national legislation and to draw up and implement a national adaptation plan covering Bonaire by 2030.
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French court awards first-ever damages under the French Duty of Vigilance Law
On 12 March 2026, the Paris Court awarded the first damages under the Duty of Vigilance Law, confirming its extraterritorial reach and liability—while granting only very limited compensation.
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Case management in litigation alleging worker abuse in supply-chains: key takeaways from Limbu v Dyson
On 14 January 2026, the High Court handed down a significant case management decision in Kumar Limbu & Others v Dyson Technology Limited & Others [2026] EWHC 38 (KB), setting the procedural direction for claims brought by 24 Nepalese and Bangladeshi migrant workers against 3 Dyson companies. The ruling provides important guidance on the management of complex, high-value group litigation involving claimants, many of whom the Court considered could be regarded as vulnerable, and allegations of serious human rights abuses in global supply chains
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Calls for reform of UK corporate human rights-related obligations
The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner adds to growing calls for stronger human rights-related obligations on corporate entities, proposing legislation addressing serious human rights harms, a forced labour import ban, and mandatory human rights reporting.
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EU ETS Phase V: The Commission's blueprint for carbon pricing beyond 2030
The European Commission has published a proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for the period 2031–2040 (Phase V), launching what is likel...
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UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – a primer
The UK government is in the process of launching its UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (UK CBAM), a new tax on imports of specified carbon-intensive goods ...
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SEC Proposes Rescission of Climate-Related Disclosure Rules
On May 29, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed to rescind its climate-related disclosure rules, originally adopted in March 2024 (...
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No Liability for Climate Change under German Civil Law – Dismissal of Claims against Car Manufacturers
In March 2026, the Federal Court of Justice dismissed two claims, underscoring that responsibility for climate protection lies solely with the legislature. This sets a precedent for future climate litigation.
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Belgian court takes interim decision in climate case against TotalEnergies
On 18 March 2026, a Belgian court (the Hainaut Enterprise Court) delivered a significant decision in the so-called "Farmer’s Case", a climate liability action brought by Belgian farmer Mr. Hugues Falys, together with three NGOs (Ligue des droits humains, Greenpeace Belgium and Fian-Belgium), against TotalEnergies (“TE”).
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Beyond the mine: infrastructure, value chains and alternative capital
Clifford Chance's 2026 Asia Pacific Energy and Infrastructure conference looked at how developers, investors and financiers are navigating an era of dislocatio...
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UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – a primer
The UK government is in the process of launching its UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (UK CBAM), a new tax on imports of specified carbon-intensive goods ...
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What's next: The UK’s Competitively Appointed Transmission Owner (CATO) regime
Ofgem’s draft CATO licence, published on 19 August 2026, brings the UK’s new onshore transmission asset class closer to market. We examine the pathway to a pro...
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EU ETS Phase V: The Commission's blueprint for carbon pricing beyond 2030
The European Commission has published a proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for the period 2031–2040 (Phase V), launching what is likel...
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Energy Transition: What to watch under the new UK Prime Minister
Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026. With a change of Prime Minister, market participants across the energy, infrastructure and industrial secto...
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Critical minerals in Latin America: a strategic outlook for investors
Latin America presents a strong opportunity for investors in critical minerals. It combines mature mining jurisdictions with opportunities in frontier markets,...
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Energy storage: Navigating the UK LDES regime after Window 1
The long duration energy storage (LDES) cap and floor regime is a significant development in the UK's energy storage strategy. It is modelled on the successful...
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Commodities Innovation Forum Mining + Metals 2026: key insights
Clifford Chance hosted the 2026 New York Commodities Innovation Forum: Mining + Metals on June 17, 2026. The global critical minerals sector is entering a new ...
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Mitigating risk in the energy transition
The global shift towards clean energy continues and investment is growing, although momentum varies across regions. In the US, policy uncertainty and market pr...
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How governments are backing critical minerals investment
Demand for critical minerals – essential for high tech, energy and defence applications – is high, yet production is concentrated in a limited number of countries, leaving supply chains vulnerable to disruption and price volatility. Recent geopolitical developments, including the Iran conflict and Chinese export restrictions, have underscored these risks and the strategic importance of diversifying supply. In response, governments are stepping up policy and financial support for critical minerals investment, recognising that market economics often render these capital-intensive projects unviable without public intervention. In this briefing, we explore the different government policies and initiatives for financing critical minerals projects in key jurisdictions.
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The EU Clean Energy Investment Strategy
In March 2026, the European Commission unveiled its long-awaited Clean Energy Investment Strategy, setting out its approach to mobilising private capital at th...
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Energy & resources insights 2026
Where are the opportunities for investment and growth in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape? Energy security and affordability are a top priority for governments around the world, and the demand for clean energy remains strong, with renewables accounting for an increasing share of electricity generation. In this article we explore where we see the opportunities for investment, from grid expansion and new nuclear build to liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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The race to mine the seabed: Opportunities and risks
It is now almost trite to highlight the importance of critical minerals to the energy transition. The world's demand for critical minerals, including copper, c...
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Where does Asia Pacific stand in the Energy Transition?
In this briefing we look at the state of play of the energy transition in Asia Pacific, including mainstream renewables, offshore wind, battery energy storage ...
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Texas poised for carbon sequestration expansion as EPA Grants Class VI Primacy
Texas can expect an increase in the development of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects following the approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection ...
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Energy Infrastructure: EU Projects of Common/ Mutual Interest
The European Union (EU) is committed to building a robust, integrated and sustainable energy infrastructure that supports its climate goals, energy security an...
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Sustainable infrastructure for a connected Africa: key takeaways
Clifford Chance co-hosted a conference on sustainable infrastructure for a connected Africa in collaboration with the African Corporate & Government Counse...
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Infrastructure Outlook 2026: Key takeaways from Paris Infraweek
The Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) held a member reception as part of Paris Infraweek: 'Infrastructure Outlook 2026’. The event was hosted b...
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Notable terminations of tax credits for solar, wind, hydrogen and clean vehicles
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) represents a sharp statutory reversal of previous federal climate and energy policies. Title VII of the OBBBA repeals or...
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Energy Transition Perspectives: Batteries, Trade and Critical Minerals
Critical minerals are integral to energy transition technologies, from wind turbines and solar PV plants to battery storage and electric vehicles. This publication explores the full value chain from mine to battery plant, looking at the issues for investors in and financiers of critical mineral projects, including trade and regulatory issues impacting the sector.government support and funding models, lifetime extensions, SMR development and critical issues for investors in key markets around the globe.
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Reforms to EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Passed
A Regulation stripping back elements of the EU CBAM Regulation has been adopted as part of the European Commission's Omnibus 1 package of sustainability legisl...
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Energy Transition Perspectives – Nuclear Power
Interest in nuclear power is at its highest level for decades, and the sector has a significant role to play in the energy transition. However, growth is not without challenges, including regulatory hurdles, long construction lead times and technical complexity. In this extract from a recent webinar, we look at government support and funding models, lifetime extensions, SMR development and critical issues for investors in key markets around the globe.
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Enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture: Section 45Q in the age of Trump
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("OBBBA"), signed by President Trump into law on July 4, 2025, has enacted sweeping changes to the tax credit regime f...
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Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Brazil: Market opportunities for investors, sponsors and offtakers
Brazil is leading the way in the shift to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). It has introduced legislation requiring it to be used in the Brazilian aviatio...
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Section 45Z clean fuel production credit extended and modified
The Section 45Z clean fuel production credit (the "Section 45Z credit") is among the few clean energy incentives introduced by the Inflation Reductio...
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Energy Transition in Southeast Asia: Solving the storage problem
The Southeast Asia region, with its rapidly growing economies, increasing energy demands and grid constraints, is facing unique challenges in the energy t...
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Singapore Carbon Initiatives: The future of Singapore's voluntary carbon market
Singapore is positioning itself as a regional carbon trading hub for Asia-Pacific. The country is building up its carbon markets and developing mechanisms that...
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Singapore Carbon Initiatives: Implementation Agreements and the First Nature-Based Carbon Credit Tender
Singapore's carbon markets are evolving and will be a key tool in achieving Net Zero. An exciting step in that journey is Singapore hosting its first-ever natu...
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Impacts on tax credits available for nuclear energy under Sections 45U and 45Y
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed by President Trump into law on July 4, 2025, includes sweeping changes for many of the existing energy tax ...
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Updates to Section 45Q Tax Credits for CCS and Publicly Traded Partnerships for clean energy
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14, better known as the One Big Beau...
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act - The impact on the clean energy production tax credit and investment tax credit
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the OBBBA), which significantly curtails and, in some cases, terminates, clean...
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Scaling the Global Carbon Markets
In collaboration with the UK Carbon Markets Forum and the City of London Corporation, we have launched a new report “Scaling the global carbon markets: a way f...
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Energy Transition Perspectives - Equity Investments
Equity investment structures are evolving to adapt to market dynamics, political and regulatory uncertainty and investor preferences. Against a shifting global...
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Energy Transition Perspectives – SAF and Green Fuels
With many countries around the world introducing new requirements to encourage the use of e-fuels and biofuels, demand is growing. In this extract from a rece...
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Reforming, Reinvigorating, Deploying: Nuclear Energy in the US
Through a series of four Executive Orders signed on May 23, 2025 (the Executive Orders), the Trump Administration has announced a new set of efforts to re...
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CCS in APAC and the Middle East
Investors are focusing on opportunities in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) sector as the market develops. The desire to enhance the value of existing faci...
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Sustainable Aviation Fuel: UK SAF Mandate and Revenue Certainty Mechanism
The UK's new SAF Mandate came into effect on 1 January 2025, following an extensive consultation process and much anticipation. The SAF Mandate is expecte...
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Focus on hydrogen: Mauritania as a clean hydrogen hub - a regulatory overview
Mauritania aims to become a pioneer in renewable "Power-to-X" projects, particularly in clean hydrogen. It has vast renewable energy potential and, a...
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Energy Transition: Meeting the demands of EV globalisation – What role can geothermal lithium from brine extraction play?
The challenges of securing lithium, extracting it and converting it to battery grade products for the EV battery industry remain at the forefront of the auto i...
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Energy Transition Perspectives: Carbon Capture and Storage in the US
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have an important role to play in achieving net zero emissions. In the US, Section 45Q tax credits continue to be...
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Focus on hydrogen: State of the market 2025
Much has been said about clean hydrogen and its derivatives over the past 12 months. Often it concerns whether excessive hype of the recent past has been repla...
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The EU Omnibus Package – Streamlining the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
A proposal for reform of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has been included as part of the European Commission’s Omnibus 1 package of sustain...
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Energy Transition Perspectives: Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK and EU
With growing recognition of the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in meeting climate targets across Europe and the UK, projects are advancing, funding i...
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Trump's first day: Presidential Statement and Executive Orders impacting the energy and environmental sectors
On January 20, 2025, the first day of his second term, President Trump issued a Presidential Statement highlighting his administration's key priorities and sig...
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US Environment, Health and Safety Regulation – What to look out for in 2026
The US environmental regulatory landscape has undergone significant change over the last year, with executive orders and presidential statements from the Trump...
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Sustainability in practice: key priorities for boards
Clifford Chance recently hosted a discussion organised by NEDs in FS, a forum for non-executive directors in the financial services sector, on the topic of cor...
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Australian court dismisses Santos greenwashing case: key takeaways
In a judgment published on 23 February 2026, the Federal Court of Australia has found that oil and gas giant Santos' climate-related claims about decarbonisation and net zero targets were not misleading in a 'greenwashing' lawsuit brought by a shareholder.
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Omnibus I - the European Union concludes CSDDD and CSRD reforms
On 24 February 2026, the Council of the European Union ("Council") adopted the final text of the Omnibus I Directive, a keystone Directive in the EU's "simplification" agenda, amending the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ("CSRD") and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CSDDD").
