The UK government is considering removing explicit strategic-report requirements covering environmental impacts, workforce matters, diversity, human rights, community engagement and anti-bribery measures. Companies would continue to disclose ESG matters where they are financially material, while existing climate-related disclosure requirements remain outside the current consultation. A… Read More »UK Proposes Easing Mandatory ESG Disclosure Requirements

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has released a draft “Phase 2A” update to the Hong Kong Taxonomy, proposing to broaden its sustainable finance and investment classification framework. The update introduces new categories for climate change mitigation and adaptation, along with additional transition activities aimed… Read More »Hong Kong Expands Sustainable Finance Taxonomy to Cover Climate Mitigation, Adaptation and Transition 

The European Commission has adopted a simplified version of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), significantly reducing reporting requirements for companies. According to the Commission, the revised standards cut mandatory disclosure requirements by 60% and reduce the overall number of data points by more than… Read More »EU Commission Introduces Updated Sustainability Reporting Standards 

In August 2026, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published the “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines 2026 for Plastic Waste Management” in the Official Gazette under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995. The Guidelines came into effect on the same day.  The new framework establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime covering… Read More »Bangladesh Enforces New EPR Guidelines for Plastic Waste Management

The European Union accounts for around 40% of global coffee imports, while companies supplying the EU collectively handle nearly 80% of worldwide coffee shipments, according to new research by non-profit Trase.  The findings suggest that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) could influence a much larger share of the global coffee trade than… Read More »EU Deforestation Law Set to Reshape Global Coffee Trade

A new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that limiting long-term global warming to 1.5°C is no longer achievable without temporarily exceeding the target, with even the most optimistic scenario projecting warming to peak at around 1.8°C.  Despite progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement, current climate policies and… Read More »UN Raises Alarm Over the World’s Failing 1.5°C Climate Goal 

Vietnam has approved a bilateral framework allowing eligible carbon credits to be transferred to Singapore under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.   Vietnamese businesses and project developers may develop eligible emissions-reduction projects for international crediting, subject to forthcoming approval rules and methodologies.   The agreement creates a legal pathway for… Read More »Vietnam Approves Bilateral Carbon Credit Framework with Singapore

The U.S. Government has urged the European Union to further address concerns over the impact of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) on U.S. businesses.  In a comment letter, the U.S. Mission to the EU said the EU’s Omnibus simplification package did not fully… Read More »U.S. Threatens Action Against EU Sustainability Reporting Rules, Calling Them “Unreasonable” 

Australia’s Treasury has launched a consultation on proposed measures to make the country’s sustainability reporting framework more efficient, reduce compliance costs for companies, and ease the burden of climate-related information requests, particularly for SMEs within corporate value chains.  The proposed reforms include reconsidering the planned… Read More »Australia Proposes Steps to Ease Climate Reporting Requirements for Companies 

The IFRS Foundation has approved new five-year operating and financing plans for the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), outlining the strategic priorities and funding arrangements for both boards through 2031.  For the ISSB, the plan focuses on transitioning from… Read More »IFRS Foundation Approves Five-Year Strategic and Funding Plan for ISSB