Law firms and their client companies have been adjusting their long-term growth strategies to more fully address environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues, particularly to help organizations improve their own sustainability and communicate their societal impact. Learn how to incorporate these values and systems into your work.
This article provides an overview of the Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Development Fund, which was launched on 1 March 2021 in order to support the growth of carbon capture, use, and storage opportunities in Australia.
This article has an update for the Shareholder Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Resolutions in Australia following their previous update in September 2020. Describing some of the recent changes and developments, their conclusion was that the increasing number of ESG resolutions demonstrates that activities are making full use of their ability to requisition shareholder resolutions.
This piece highlights the increasing pressure within Australia on companies to address the issue of climate change. In particular, it highlighted the amount of landmark climate change cases that have been issued in recent months to compel the government or specific directors and officers to compel action on climate change. Indeed, Australia is the second most active jurisdiction for climate change litigation, with the United States being first.
New Zealand – in a world first – introduced a bill requiring companies in the financial sector to disclose the impact of climate change on their businesses and how they plan to manage climate-related risks and opportunities. This resource takes a look at how the climate impact disclosure bill could impact businesses based in Australia.
This resource by the World Environment Center and Institute for Sustinability analyzes international frameworks and guidelines and identifies the most relevant elements for modern sustainability management.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has posted the following information sheet on their website https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/fact-sheets/rights-and-obligations/employment-conditions-during-natural-disasters-and-emergencies but it is important for especially larger employers to understand that these are the minimum requirements and there are opportunities to provide other sorts of assistance as well.
Explore the leading role of the General Counsel in driving corporate sustainability.
Depending on the industry, your board members could be in breach of their duties if they don’t consider the company’s impact on climate change. The climate is changing - more precipitously and with more severe consequences than many anticipated and it will impact companies and board members in a number of different ways. This ACC Docket article outlines actions that board members can take in order to clearly communicate with their shareholders, provide support for their customers and invest in their employees in order to control the environmental impact of climate change on their company.
With growing environmental concerns affecting global companies, Chief Legal Officers (CLOs) are optimally placed to deal with these issues and direct that company to a more sustainable future. In this Quick Overview, CLOs and senior in-house counsel can learn tips and takeaways on how to prepare a more robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program for their company.