1. Global Climate & Biodiversity

• Tipping Points and Climate Warnings: New research continues to highlight the immediate threat of climate tipping points, such as the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs, which is being described as the beginning of irreversible planetary shifts.
• Preparations for COP30: International efforts are ramping up ahead of the next major UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), focusing on the need for countries to step up their climate action and finance commitments. The UN Climate Chief has been vocal about the necessity of increased ambition.
• Climate Litigation: A growing trend of climate litigation cases (over 3,000 globally) is actively reshaping and influencing national and international climate policy.
• UNEP Focus Areas: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is emphasizing the need for responsible financing and investment in energy transition minerals and noting the financial benefits of safeguarding nature to reduce disaster risk.

2. European Union (EU) – The European Green Deal

The EU is aggressively implementing its plan to be the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with a target of reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (the “Fit for 55” package).

• Carbon Pricing & Industry: The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is moving toward full operation by 2026. This policy encourages industries outside the EU to adopt greener production methods by imposing a carbon levy on certain imports.
• Green Industrial Strategy: The Net-Zero Industry Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act are being implemented to boost local manufacturing and secure the supply chain for essential clean technologies (like batteries and hydrogen).
• Circular Economy & Products: New regulations are focusing on waste reduction, including a revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and a new Sustainable Products Initiative aimed at improving durability, reparability, and recyclability.
• Agriculture & Food: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) entered into force in 2023, promoting sustainable and competitive agriculture. There’s also a focus on stricter rules around food labeling and tackling “greenwashing” with a Directive on Green Claims (adopted in March 2024).

3. United States Policy

Policy in the U.S. remains centered on key legislative frameworks and regulatory actions:

Regulatory Focus: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to focus on established laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, with new and stricter regulations on greenhouse gas emissions for large vehicles and industrial sectors expected.

Major Investment Acts: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) continue to channel hundreds of billions of dollars toward clean energy, climate action, and conservation (e.g., funding for solar, heat pumps, forest management, and wetland restoration).

Corporate Climate Disclosure: Federal and state regulations are demanding greater transparency from businesses:

The SEC’s new rules on climate-related disclosures (phased implementation starting with large companies’ 2024 filings) require public companies to report on their climate risks and, eventually, their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

California’s SB253 (Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and SB261 (Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Act) also mandate public and private companies to report their GHG emissions and climate-related financial risks.