West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s Post

Please join us along with Holland & Knight LLP's West Coast Land Use and Environment Group for an informative webinar series discussing the recent California climate disclosure laws, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) recently finalized climate disclosure rule and methods to collect the necessary emissions information. Date: Tuesday, April 9th Time: 11am EST Holland & Knight attorneys will provide an overview of the recently approved SEC final rule on climate disclosures. They will be joined by Matthew Zirkelbach, co-founder of SustainaBase, a company focused on gathering the data needed to report on Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Topics include: • The scope and requirements of the SEC final rule • Methods for gathering data about Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions • A Q&A session We hope you can join us for this highly informative presentation. RSVP: Please register online by April 8. Webinar access information will be provided in your confirmation email. https://lnkd.in/eMiKb2qc #SustainaBase #HollandKnight #ClimateDisclosure #SECRule #EnvironmentalRegulation #LegalInsights #EnvironmentalLaw #CarbonAccounting

Game-Changing Legislation: Vermont Leads the Way in Climate Accountability On May 31, 2024, Vermont made history by becoming the first state to hold oil companies financially responsible for climate damages with the passage of the Climate Superfund Act. This groundbreaking law compels major fossil fuel companies to pay potentially billions of dollars for the impacts of their emissions. Key Highlights: - Climate Superfund Act: Modeled after the EPA’s Superfund program, this legislation charges oil firms for climate-related damages, including impacts on public health, biodiversity, and economic development. - Assessment Timeline: Vermont officials will assess total costs from greenhouse gas emissions between 1995 and 2024 by January 2026, using federal data to determine charges for individual polluters. - Broad Support: The law received supermajority backing from both Democrats and some Republicans in the state legislature. Impact and Future Prospects: Governor Phil Scott allowed the bill to pass, marking a significant step forward in addressing the climate crisis. Climate advocates celebrated this historic move, seeing it as a potential model for other states like Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. “This legislation is a tremendous step towards holding big oil accountable and protecting our state,” said Ben Edgerly Walsh of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Despite expected legal challenges from the oil industry, supporters are prepared to defend the law vigorously. Martin LaLonde, chair of the state’s house judiciary committee, expressed confidence in the solid legal foundation of the bill. Stay informed with the latest updates on regulatory changes with Global Regulatory Insights! #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalLaw #Vermont #Sustainability #ClimateSuperfundAct #GRI

Montana Judge’s Verdict Sets Precedent for Climate Lawsuits: In a groundbreaking decision, Montana District Judge Kathy Seeley, who presided over the United States’ inaugural constitutional climate trial earlier this year, has ruled in favor of a group of young plaintiffs. These plaintiffs had accused Montana state officials of violating their fundamental right to a healthy environment by imposing restrictions on the consideration of climate impacts during the approval process for energy projects. The plaintiffs drew strength from a provision in Montana’s constitution that enshrines the right to "a clean and healthful environment." The focal point of their concerns was a clause within the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), which had hitherto prevented the state from factoring in the repercussions of its energy economy on climate change. Earlier this year, state legislators amended this clause to explicitly bar the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in environmental assessments for new energy initiatives. Judge Seeley deemed this particular provision unconstitutional in her decisive ruling on Monday. Additionally, she issued an injunction against another 2023 state policy, which had imposed more stringent restrictions on groups’ ability to legally challenge government agencies over permitting decisions under the Montana Environmental Policy Act. This judgment is anticipated to have ripple effects, potentially inspiring similar legal actions globally. Julia Olson, chief legal counsel of Our Children’s Trust, the organization representing the plaintiffs, conveyed her belief that this case could serve as a pivotal "turning point." While comparable cases have been initiated by young environmentalists at both state and federal levels, none went to trial. Climate activists are optimistic that this landmark ruling will invigorate similar lawsuits aimed at addressing the urgent climate crisis. #Litigation #Claims #Insurance

New Report: Most local governments surveyed in California want to advance climate change, but many need more capacity, flexible funding and technical assistance to compete for federal & state climate funds. Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley Law and Next 10 #localgov #sustainability #climategoals

Curious how the California Climate Accountability Package might impact your business? Read part two of our blog series on climate-related disclosures, where Karl Lany, Principal and District Manager of Environmental Permitting and Compliance Services, breaks down the two new legislative bills, SB 253 and SB 261, their implications, and the next steps you should take to ensure compliance. https://hubs.ly/Q02sdqGg0

California published first of its kind climate-related disclosure rules earlier this year. Are you curious what they mean for your business? If you do business in California, the rules will require review and disclosure of your GHG emissions beginning as early as 2026. Read more below! https://hubs.ly/Q02sdqGg0

I'm excited to share Part 2 in our blog series on climate-related disclosures. So much is happening in this space, and we're here to help! Reach out if you'd like to set up a quick initial call to figure out where to start. (Spoiler alert...IFRS S2 is up next!)

I feel anxious about SCOTUS' latest ruling on the #ChevronDoctrine and its potential impact on climate regulations. Limiting the involvement of federal agencies with expertise, like the EPA, in important climate-related matters feels like a step backward in our fight against climate change, especially amidst an already complex regulatory landscape. Curious to see how this evolves and its implications for the future of climate action. #Sustainability #ClimateAction https://lnkd.in/gzxJE-gc

The Rule of Law DOES matter. The Montana Judge’s decision in the Nation’s first climate action trial may seem ground-breaking, but it simply supports an existing law. Any public or private entity who has established environmental impact as a decision-making factor cannot ignore those rules for convenience. If you need help in ensuring compliance and consistency with your business operations, turn to us at StoneTurn. #sustainabilityplan #climateaction #netzerogoals #energy https://lnkd.in/eY4HVm9N

🌍 Inspired by a recent email from the NYU School of Law Institute for Policy Integrity, I'm thrilled to share my latest insights on the crucial role of public comment in shaping public policy. This piece underscores how we, as citizens, can reshape environmental regulations by participating in the public policy comment process. We're zeroing in on the current opportunity to influence the EPA's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions regulation, which significantly impacts gas power plants. 🏭 While this is the third time, we've addressed the importance of public comment (recall our discussions on Sage Grouse conservation 🦉 and Non-Compete Agreements 📜), this time, we're viewing it from a practical standpoint—how to get involved in the process. So, if you're eager to experience participatory governance and exercise your democracy-in-action muscle 💪, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eDaXG4iS and discover how simple it is to be part of the democratic process. 😊 #PublicPolicy 📚 #EnvironmentalRegulations 🌳 #PublicComment 📣 #GHGEmissions 🏭 #EPA 🏛️ #ClimateAction 🌍 #ParticipatoryGovernance 🤝 #DemocraticProcess 🗳️ #ExpertEngagement 👥 #PolicyMaking 📝 #Sustainability ♻️ #CarbonCapture 🌬️ #CleanEnergy ☀️ #RegulatoryAffairs 📑 #EnvironmentalJustice ⚖️ #CitizenEngagement 👫