Yesterday, The European Commission adopted a detailed set of reporting regulations for the transitional phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Set to begin on October 1, 2023 and extend through the year 2025, this transitional phase aims to lay the groundwork for the CBAM's full implementation.

This week, the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), which includes the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), have proposed amendments to extend and simplify sustainability disclosures for financial market participants under the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). These proposed amendments come from the ESA requesting a review of the SFDR's indicators for principal adverse impact (PAI) and financial product disclosures.

Today, the European Union countries gave their final approval to adopt a new regulation that will require a 100% reduction in emission from new cars and vans. The EU policy will require all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035 and 55% lower CO2 emissions from 2030, versus 2021 levels. This is in line with the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” roadmap to cut GHG emissions. However, Germany won an exemption for cars running on e-fuels, leading to concerns that traditional combustion engine cars could still be sold beyond 2035.

On Tuesday this week, the European Parliament formally approved a new law that will effectively ban the sale of new combustion engine cars in the European Unition as of 2035. This new law has been approved in hopes to combat climate change and accelerate the shift from petrol and diesel cars to electric.

Recently, the European Union added shipping to its carbon market. What this means, is now shipping vessels will be required to pay for their emissions, putting a financial incentive on being more environmentally conscious and forcing the entire sector to begin reducing emissions.

This deal which was agreed to by lawmakers and negotiators from the 27-country block would all to the carbon market all carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen emissions from maritime voyages within the EU.

The week, CDP and the IFRS Foundation announced that CDP will incorporate the International Sustainability Standard Board’s (ISSB) climate-related disclosure standard into its environmental disclosure program. With 18,700 companies, worth half of global market capitalization, disclosing environmental information through CDP in 2022, this integration means there will be a rapid acceleration of early adoption of ISSB climate data disclosure across the global economy.

The week, The European Council agreed on a proposal that revised the Energy Performance of Building Directives. These revisions will ultimately make it so that all new buildings should be zero-emissions buildings by 2030, and all existing buildings will be transformed into zero emissions buildings by 2050.

The week, the European Union passed a ruling that is requiring all phones and small devices such as cameras and tablets, to have a USB-C charging cable. This law has been in the works for about 10 years, starting initially Brussels after consumers complained about having to switch between chargers and the cost affiliated with having a different type of charger for each device. This law was passed in hopes to not only make life easier and most cost effective for consumers, but also to be more sustainable at the end of the day.