eFuels represent a global solution to environmental challenges, as they make it possible to use climate-neutral vehicles and equipment anywhere in the world, today and in the future. (more…)

Our planet is warming at an alarming rate. Climate change is one of the most serious global problems today. Its consequences affect every single person on Earth. So it seems perfectly logical that scientific publications on global warming are written in a global language: English.

And yet it is precisely because it is written in English that climate science is largely inaccessible to most people around the world.

To explain this apparent contradiction, we need to look at some numbers. Almost 90 % scientific publications worldwide are in English. This is the staggering dominance of just one language. But English, often called the global language, is spoken by only a minority of the world's population. ( Mario Saraceni, University of Portsmouth, more at theconversation.com)

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) on taxonomy 2020/852 of 18 June 2020 on the creation of a framework to facilitate sustainable investments and on the amendment of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (Text with EEA relevance).

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 and Article 8 para. 1, 2, and 3 shall apply: a) from January 1, 2022, as regards the environmental objectives referred to in Article 9 letter a) and b); and b) from January 1, 2023, with regard to the environmental objectives referred to in Article 9 letter c) to f). Article 4 shall not apply to incentive schemes based on certificates that already exist before the entry into force of this Regulation and which set requirements for financial products that aim to finance sustainable projects.

If you're not a tree hugger now, you might want to be one soon. A recent report revealed that more than one in three tree species are at risk of extinction. The global assessment of trees is part of the update of the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The report was released to coincide with the UN COP16 Biodiversity Summit.

The numbers paint an alarming picture. Of the estimated 58,000 species believed to exist worldwide, more than 16,000 tree species are threatened with extinction. In other words, more than a third of all tree species are threatened. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2016/97 (IDD) Insurance Distribution Directive of 20 January 2016 on insurance distribution (revised text) Text with EEA relevance.

IDD is minimum harmonization directive and its provisions are specified in two delegated regulations: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2358 on product oversight requirements and product management and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2359 on information requirements and business conduct rules.

In August 2021, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1257 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2358 and (EU) 2017/2359, incorporated sustainability factors, risks and preferences to product oversight and management requirements for insurance companies and insurance companies. distributors, as well as to business rules and investment advice for insurance-based investment products.

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2024/1619 (CRD) Capital Requirements Directive of 31 May 2024 amending Directive 2013/36/EU as regards supervisory powers, sanctions, third country branches and environmental, social and governance risks. In the consolidated version of the CRD Directive, ESG factors are addressed, for example, in Article 3, paragraph 1, point 68 and point 69; Article 73; Article 74; Article 76; Article 87a; Article 91; Article 98; Article 100; Article 104 (the list does not represent an exhaustive calculation).

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Article 1 point 44 letter c) and Article 1 point 45 letter c) are applied from July 29, 2024.

EP and Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1623 (CRR ) Capital Requirements Regulation of May 31, 2024, amending Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 regarding the requirements for credit risk, credit risk adjustment risk, operational risk, market risk and the lower limit for output values. In the consolidated wording of the CRR regulation, ESG factors are addressed, for example, in article 4, paragraph 1, point 52d), 52e), 52f), 52g), 52h), 52i), 154; Article 177; Article 207; Article 208; Article 210; Article 430; Article 433b; Article 449a; Article 501c (the list does not represent an exhaustive calculation).

This Regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from January 1, 2025. However, these points of Article 1 of this regulation apply from July 9, 2024: point 1 letter a) point iv); point 1 letter b); points 2, 3 and 4; point 6 letter f); point 8 letter c); point 11 regarding article 34 par. 4 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 30 letter d); point 34 regarding article 104 par. 9 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 35 letter a); point 37 regarding article 104c par. 4 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 42 regarding article 111 par. 8 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 52 relating to article 122a par. 4 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 53 relating to article 123 par. 1 of the third subparagraph of Regulation (EU) no. 575/2013; point 55 regarding article 124 par. 11, 12 and 14 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 56 regarding article 126a par. 3 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; points 57 and 65; point 70 letter c) regarding Article 143 par. 5 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 71 letter b); point 72 letter i); point 75 letter d); point 78 letter e); point 81; point 98 letters b); point 102 letter d); point 104 letter c); point 105 letter c); point 106 letter e); point 135 letter c); point 152 letter b) point ii); point 155 regarding article 314 par. 9 and 10, Article 315 par. 3, Article 316 paragraph 3, Article 317 paragraph 9 and 10, Article 320 par. 3, Article 321 paragraph 2 and Article 323 par. 2 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 156 letter b); point 159 letter c) relating to Article 325c para. 8 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 160 letters c) relating to Article 325j par. 7 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 164 letter b); point 178 letters e); point 180; point 182 letters d); point 183 letters c); point 184 letter b) point iii); point 198 letters c); item 201 relating to Article 383a par. 4 and 5 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; point 204; point 205 letter b) point i); point 214 letter a) and c); points 222 and 223; point 229 relating to article 449a par. 3 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; points 232, 235, 236 and 238; point 239 letter a); point 242 relating to article 495b par. 2 and 4 and Article 495c par. 2 of Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013; points 243, 244, 248 and 249; point 250 relating to Article 506 of Regulation (EU) no. 575/2013; point 251 regarding Articles 506e and 506f of Regulation (EU) no. 575/2013; points 252, 253 and 254.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1257 (IBIPS) Insurance-Based Investment Products of 21 April 2021 amending Delegated Regulations (EU) 2017/2358 and (EU) 2017/2359 as regards the inclusion of sustainability factors, sustainability risks and sustainability preferences in the requirements to insurance companies and insurance distributors regarding the supervision of products and their management and to the rules for the performance of activities and investment advice in the field of investment products based on insurance (Text with EEA relevance)

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 2 August 2022.

Photosynthesis forms the basis of life on Earth, but climate change is increasingly threatening this essential process. With advanced tools, scientists can now study how changes in temperature, humidity and light affect photosynthesis and thus the future of ecosystems. (Andrei Ionescu, more at earth.com)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1256 of 21 April 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/35 as regards the inclusion of sustainability risks in the governance of insurance and reinsurance undertakings (Text with EEA relevance).

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 2 August 2022.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1254 (MIFID II) Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II of 21 April 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/565 supplementing Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards organizational requirements and performance conditions activities of investment companies, as well as defined terms for the purposes of the aforementioned directive (Text with meaning for the EEA).

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1253 (MIFID II) Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II of 21 April 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/565 as regards the inclusion of sustainability factors, sustainability risks and sustainability preferences in certain organizational requirements and performance conditions activities of investment companies (Text with relevance for the EEA).

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 2 August 2022.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1255 (AIFMD) Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive of April 21, 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 231/2013 regarding sustainability risks and sustainability factors to be taken into account by managers of alternative investment funds (Text with EEA relevance).

This Regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 1 August 2022.

Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1270 (UCITS) Undertakings for collective investments in transferable securities of 21 April 2021 amending Directive 2010/43/EU as regards sustainability risks and sustainability factors to be taken into account in relation to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) (Text with EEA relevance).

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies according to Article 2(1) from 1 August 2022.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1816 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the explanation in the benchmark statement regarding how environmental, social and governance factors are reflected in the individual benchmarks provided and published (Text with EEA relevance).

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1817 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the minimum content of the explanation of how environmental, social and governance factors are reflected in the benchmark methodology (Text with EEA relevance )

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 of 17 July 2020, covered by Council Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, concerning minimum standards for EU benchmarks for investments in the transformation of the economy in the context of climate change and EU benchmarks for investments in line with the Paris Agreement by agreement.

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2019/2089 EU Paris-aligned Benchmark (EU PAB); EU Climate Change Transition Benchmark (EU CTB) of 27 November 2019 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 as regards EU benchmarks for investment in climate change economic transformation, EU benchmarks for investment in line with the Paris Agreement and benchmarks for information disclosure on sustainability (Text with EEA relevance)

This Regulation enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2024/825 (GCD) Green Claims Directive of 28 February 2024 amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards the empowerment of consumers in the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and through better information (Text with EEA relevance)

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2023/2631 (EuGB) European Green Bonds of 22 November 2023 on European green bonds and the optional disclosure of information for bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and bonds linked to sustainability (Text with EEA relevance).

1. This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. 2. This regulation applies from December 21, 2024. 3. Deviating from paragraph 2 of this article, article 20, article 21 paragraph 4, Article 23 par. 6 and 7, Article 24 par. 2, Article 26 par. 3, Article 27 par. 2, Article 28 par. 3, Article 29 par. 4, Article 30 par. 3, Article 31 par. 4, Article 33 par. 7, Article 42 par. 9, Article 46 par. 6 and 7, Article 49 par. 1, 2 and 3, Article 63 par. 10, Article 66 par. 3 and Articles 68, 69 and 70 apply from December 20, 2023. 4. By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this article, Article 40, Article 42 paragraph 1 to 8 and Article 43 shall apply from 21 June 2026. 5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to comply with Articles 45 and 49 by 21 December 2024.