Global Climate Legislation Roundup - September 1-10
Australia mandates corporate climate disclosures; California EPR for paint, textiles, carpets; Italy considering nuclear power; Germany supports Geothermal heating; Guatemala keen on water law;
Australia passes Bill mandating corporate climate disclosure
Australia’s Senate and House of Representatives have both passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other
Measures) Bill 2024 that will require corporations of a minimum size (or those subject to emissions reporting requirements) to make mandatory climate disclosures as per sustainability standards set by the Australia Accounting Standards Board.
Entities will be required to use “both a higher and a lower global average temperature increase scenario, where the sustainability standards require the disclosure of a scenario analysis or information derived from or about a scenario analysis.”
The Bill will be enacted on receiving Royal Assent.
Both houses have also passed the Net Zero Economic Authority Bill 2024, that establishes a Net Zero Economic Authority in the country.
The House of Representatives has also passed the Future Made in Australia Bill that aims to boost private sector investment in the clean energy and clean tech supply chains, create green jobs, and identify priority sectors for government investment where Australia can be competitive and use renewable energy for economic growth. The Bill establishes a National Interest Framework consisting 2 streams:
The net zero transformation stream, which relates to where:
a sector could have a sustained comparative advantage in a net zero global economy; and
public investment is likely to be needed for the sector to make a significant contribution to emissions reduction at an efficient cost.
The economic resilience and security stream, which relates to where:
some level of domestic capability in the sector is a necessary or an efficient way to deliver economic resilience and security; and
the private sector will not deliver the necessary investment in the sector in the absence of government support.
In this newsletter
Sustainability
Energy
Synthetic Fuels and Hydrogen
Decarbonization, Carbon Markets
Infrastructure and Real Estate
Technology and AI
Sustainability
California (USA) has passed several bills relating to the use of plastics in packaging and introduced Extended Producer Responsibility for apparel and textile articles, carpets, marine flares, and paint products. A previous ban on single-use plastic bags for groceries led to stores distributing thicker, reusable bags that actually increased plastic use. The new amendments aim to stop this by preventing use of carryout plastic bags from January 1 2026, and replacing them with reusable paper bags having at least 40% recycled content. Waste Dive
Australia has launched a consultation on policy ideas for its Nature Repair Market Legislation. The discussion paper contains proposed rules for registration of biodiversity projects, biodiversity credits, and assurance, compliance and audits of these projects. Nature Repair Market Legislation
The UK has introduced a Water (Special Measures) Bill in the parliament that will further empower water industry regulators and control water pollution. The bill will allow
blocking bonuses for executives who pollute our waterways
bringing criminal charges against persistent law breakers
enabling automatic and severe fines for wrongdoing
and ensuring monitoring of every sewage outlet
GOV.UK Policy Statement | Water (Special Measures) Bill, September 5 2024
Guatemala will establish a Water Cabinet to create and implement a National Water Policy for access to water and protection of rivers and lakes. bnamericas | Press Release (in Spanish)
India has allocated performance-based grants to 131 cities for reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution by 40%. ET Energy | Press Release
Portugal’s Environment Minister has urged the European Commission to make water resilience a priority in the next EU budget, and secure assistance from the European Investment Bank for this. Euronews
Energy
Sweden’s Minister of Climate and Environment has announced incentives for municipalities to approve onshore wind power projects. An amount equivalent to the revenue from property tax will be given as incentive, with a planned outlay of 340 million kronor for 2025 and total 1.1 billion kronor until 2027. Sweden Herald
Italy is considering reversing its ban on nuclear power, and introducing draft legislation for small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors by early 2025. Reuters | EnergyWatch
The EU has adopted new guidance for adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive in 3 key areas - heating and cooling, energy system integration, and renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Press Release
Poland has set a target of 56% electricity from renewables by 2030, in its draft National Energy and Climate Plan, submitted to the European Commission. Reuters
Germany has amended applicable laws to expedite approval for Geothermal plants, heat pumps and heat storage.
Second, this article law, which is specifically intended for this purpose, speeds up, simplifies and digitizes the approval procedures for geothermal energy, certain heat pumps and heat storage. Changes in mining and water law are planned for this. This applies, for example, to the introduction of maximum deadlines for approval procedures in mining law. The authorities must now decide on the approval within one year. The mining authorities also have the option of not having to operate under certain conditions, even for larger heat generation projects. The law provides for relief in particular for heat pumps that require water and mining permits. This means for all water heat pumps and air heat pumps that require water law permits.In the case of small groundwater heat pumps and geothermal collectors for private households, water law approval is completely dispensed with. It remains with a mere notification to the authority.
(Translated from Press Release, September 4 2024 (German))
A Federal funding program for efficient heating was announced in December 2023, providing grants of upto 70% for replacing fossil-fuel based building heating systems. Clean Energy Wire
Australia has opened consultation on its Battery Breakthrough Initiative that aims to support battery manufacturing and supply chain projects. Press Release | Battery Breakthrough Initiative
The state of Delaware (USA) has enacted the Energy Solutions Act 2024, that aims to help procure 800-1200MW of offshore wind capacity, having a term of atleast 20 years, and at a first-year per MWh price not exceeding 110% of the Delaware Benchmark Price. Recharge News | Energy Solutions Act 2024
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is working on finalising the second Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). From April 1 2026, new solar projects will be required to procure modules and cells from manufacturers listed in the 1st and 2nd ALMM. Mercom India
The state of Tamil Nadu (India) has issued a Pumped Storage Policy for setting up pumped hydro storage projects in the state. Under the policy, projects must be completed and commissioned within 7 years and will receive a number of benefits such as exemption from electricity taxes for 10 years. Mercom India
Synthetic Fuels and Hydrogen
India may extend its ban on sugar exports, to cope with lower sugarcane yields and increased demand for producing ethanol for blending with petroleum, under the 20% blending target effective from 2025-26. It has also allowed the use of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup for production of ethanol. Reuters | ET Energy
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has published a draft Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme for the measurement, monitoring, reporting, onsite verification, and certification of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. Energetica India | Draft Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India, September 4 2024 (PDF)
Decarbonization, Carbon Markets
Taiwan has announced 3 carbon tax related regulations. Effective from Jan 1 2025, entities in the power, gas supply and manufacturing industries which emit more than 25000 tonnes of CO₂ annually must pay a carbon tax per tonne of CO₂ emitted in 2024. The carbon tax rate will be announced later this year. Carbon credits will be permitted, with restrictions.
To encourage carbon fee payers to drive reductions among non-payers, the MOENV has set a ratio of 1.2 for the use of emission reduction credits from voluntary reduction projects and offset projects towards deductions from chargeable emissions, with a cap of 10% of the feepayer's total chargeable emissions.
Portugal has updated its Carbon tax price to €74.429 per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2), effective from September 9. LUSA | Gazette Notification, September 8 2024 (in Portuguese)
Eygpt’s Financial Regulatory Authority has launched the country’s first regulated carbon market. Twelve projects have been approved for trading carbon credits on the Egyptian Exchange. Daily News Egypt
The state of California (USA) has passed a bill that will allow gas utilities to setup decarbonization pilots in their service areas to help entire neighbourhoods switch from gas-based heating and appliances. Facilities Dive
India may convert a third of its heavy-duty trucks to using Liquefied Natural Gas, in place of diesel, to reduce emissions, as per a draft scheme from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. ET Energy | Draft Scheme for Promotion of LNG Based Mobility, September 2 2024 (PDF)
Infrastructure and Real Estate
New Zealand has introduced the Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill to make imports of buildings products easier and bring down construction costs.
The changes target each level of the building product system and will:
Enable recognition of overseas standards and standards certification schemes, therefore removing the need for designers, builders or Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) to verify standards.
Streamline the citing of international standards with the new Building Product Specification, which can be used with Building Code documents to show compliance with the Building Code.
Require BCAs to accept building products certified overseas and recognised by the regulator, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
The US Department of Transportation has released a National Development Plan for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Technologies to improve road safety.
V2X provides connectivity through both direct and network communication. Under direct V2X, vehicles exchange frequent, structured messages through in-vehicle or aftermarket devices that continuously exchange relative speed, position, and other relevant data. This form of communications ensures 360-degree awareness, even in situations with poor or obstructed visibility, such as around corners or in dense fog.
AutomotiveDive | Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment, August 2024 (PDF)
California (USA) has signed into law a bill that will streamline the process for approval of Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
The city of Portland (Oregon, USA) has adopted a Housing Production Strategy for increasing its affordable housing capacity.
Smart Cities Dive | Press Release | Portland 2024 Housing Production Strategy
The UK has introduced new legislation that will empower local authorities to control bus services.
The Buses Bill will also reverse the ban on setting up new publicly owned bus companies, provide greater flexibility over bus funding and will take steps to improve bus services for communities who choose not to pursue public control. GOV.UK
While the UK parliament is considering a bill to bring legal ownership of passenger rail operations back to the public, the Transport Secretary has established a new legislative body, Shadow Great British Railways, for oversight of passenger and freight operations. This is in anticipation of a legislation to setup Great British Railways.
GBR will put passengers back at the heart of the railways and introduce new measures to protect their interests. This will include paving the way for a powerful new passenger watchdog, the Passenger Standards Authority, to independently monitor standards and champion improvement in service performance against a range of measures. Great British Railways will reform the ticketing system, to make it simpler for passengers, drive innovation across the network, replace the current myriad of ticket types and maximise passenger growth. Transport Secretary Speech on September 3
Technology and AI
California’s (USA) Department of Motor Vehicles has proposed regulations for self-driving (autonomous) heavy-duty trucks. Meanwhile, the California Senate has approved a bill that will prohibit the testing or operation of heavy-duty vehicles without a human safety operator.
The bill would prohibit the operation of an autonomous vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more on public roads for testing purposes, transporting goods, or transporting passengers without a human safety operator physically present in the autonomous vehicle at the time of operation. AB-2286 Vehicles: autonomous vehicles
Further reading
China plans to lift restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, effective from November 1. Press Release
European agri-food stakeholders urge climate action to avoid collapse, per report to von der Leyen. POLITICO | Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, September 2024 (PDF)
The UK is setting up a Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure to provide early warnings for extreme weather events.
Researchers will use the latest technologies including sensors and real time computer monitoring, plus a huge bank of data including river profiles and near real-time monitoring of information including on atmospherics, ground saturation, water movement, abstraction and storage
The UK will support development of green hydrogen projects in Chile. GOV.UK
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