Over the past decade, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have gained significant global attention among policymakers, business leaders and the public. There is a growing consensus that ESG is (more…)

Why is it important to report emissions: Measuring and reporting emissions helps companies identify the main sources of emissions (energy, fuel, material consumption or travel) and look for savings. According to PwC, tracking the carbon footprint brings a competitive advantage, fulfilling (more…)

The European Commission is currently considering significant reforms to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) following criticism of its design and the identification of (more…)

Global climate change has triggered significant regulatory changes, with 2025 being the focus European Green Deal a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). (more…)

In today's business environment, greenwashing - unsubstantiated environmental claims - represents serious reputational risk, but above all (more…)

The European Commission published the Omnibus Simplification Package on 26 February 2025. The aim of this package of proposals is to streamline key EU regulations in the area of sustainability, eliminate (more…)

These answers are intended to be helpful, but are not the final decision on how to interpret the GHG Protocol standards. The authoritative source is the relevant GHG Protocol standards. Neither WBCSD, nor WRI, nor any other person who contributed to this answer assumes any liability for any consequences or damages arising directly or indirectly from its application in a particular use case.

1. How are scope 3 emissions organized?
2. Is there guidance on performing and interpreting the Range 3 screening test?
3. How do the GHG Protocol standards prevent double counting of emissions within a company's GHG inventory?
4. How should companies address double counting of Scope 3 emissions within a company's greenhouse gas inventory?
5. What are the minimum and optional limits of each range 3 category?
6. What are the minimum limits for category 15 (Investments)?

More on ghgprotocol.org

European Commission 16 April 2025 adopted the "Working Plan for Ecodesign and Energy Labelling for Sustainable Products 2025-2030"This plan is a key document that specifies the products to be covered. (more…)

There has long been a debate about whether democracies have a better environmental record than authoritarian states on average, but the question remains unresolved. (more…)

Document is a global survey of ESG regulations for asset managers. Asset managers operating in multiple countries are accustomed to adapting to different regulatory requirements. (more…)

In 2025, the energy sector faces increasing pressure for transparency and accountability around environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. With the growing risk of greenwashing – the practice of companies presenting their activities as greener than they actually are – ESG compliance is becoming a key tool to ensure credibility and regulatory compliance.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has come into force in the European Union, requiring companies to disclose in detail their sustainability practices. In addition, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), effective from July 2024, requires companies to identify and address environmental and human rights risks throughout their supply chain. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to fines of up to 5% of a company’s global turnover.

Energy companies, given their significant environmental footprint, are under scrutiny from regulators. Legal departments play a key role in ensuring compliance with ESG standards by implementing thorough due diligence processes, reviewing supplier contracts, and ensuring transparent and verifiable disclosures.

In addition, new initiatives such as the Carbon Data Open Protocol (CDOP) and the updated Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) standards contribute to the standardization and harmonization of carbon emissions data, thereby increasing credibility and legal accountability in the carbon credit market.

Ultimately, rigorous legal compliance with ESG standards is not only about minimizing the risk of greenwashing, but also about strengthening the trust of investors, customers and regulators. For the energy sector, this means not only meeting regulatory requirements, but also a strategic advantage in an increasingly sustainability-oriented market. Spring

⏰ The European Union legislative package, known as "Omnibus Package", proposes key amendments to existing regulations, including changes to the CSDDD and CSRD Directives, as well as amendments to the Regulations (more…)

🏦  EBA publishes draft technical package for reporting framework 4.1
On 27 March 2025, the EBA presented a draft package for version 4.1, which includes validation rules, DPM and XBRL taxonomy. It supports several areas, including Pillar 3 templates, supervisory reporting, the inclusion of instant payments in DPM and ESG data. The final version is expected in May 2025, following stakeholder consultations.

EBA consumer trends: fraud, indebtedness, risk reduction
In a report of 26 March 2025, the EBA identified three main challenges for consumers in the EU:

• Payment fraud – the most serious problem, including new forms like social engineering.
• Indebtedness – increase in “buy now, pay later” loans.
• Risk reduction – growing problems with access to payment accounts.
  The EBA plans measures in 2025/26 to strengthen consumer protection.

ECB Annual Supervisory Report 2024
On March 25, 2025, the ECB announced that banks are capital-strong and liquid, but must be vigilant in the face of new challenges. The supervisory priorities until 2026 are:

• shock resistance,
• climate risk management,
• supporting digital transformation.

EBA updates third country assessment methodology
An updated methodology for regulatory and supervisory equivalence outside the EU was published on 24 March 2025. It includes a two-step questionnaire and reflects the changes in the CRR and CRD. The second questionnaire has been simplified for better usability.

EC opens consultation on market risk
The EC launched a consultation on the prudential framework for market risk on 24 March 2025. The application of the new requirements has been postponed by one year. It responds to uncertainty regarding the implementation of the Basel standards in the US and the UK. Comments are invited until 22 April 2025.

Digital Euro as a Defense of Monetary Autonomy
Philip Lane (ECB) explained on March 20, 2025 that a digital euro is necessary to maintain autonomy from foreign payment systems (e.g. Apple Pay, PayPal). The digital euro is intended to be a secure, European-managed alternative.

EBA proposes new framework for approval of internal models
On 17 March 2025, the EBA published a final report with draft amendments to the ITS regarding joint decision-making for the approval of internal models under the CRR. The amendments are intended to simplify the process between supervisors and reflect adjustments to the scope of application of models.

ESMA responds to the TARGET incident
On 14 March 2025, ESMA issued guidance on settlement fails in the TARGET system. Following the technical outage, CSDs will not be penalised for the settlement fails of 27-28 February, as this was an external cause.

Eurosystem to introduce Payee Verification (VoP) service
On 10 March 2025, the ECB announced the introduction of a VoP service for SEPA payments by October 2025. The aim is to reduce the risk of fraud by verifying the recipient's account before sending the payment. The solutions will be provided by central banks within the Eurosystem.

EBA consults on new AML/CFT rules
On 6 March 2025, the EBA launched a consultation on four draft regulatory technical standards in the field of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. These relate to:

• selection of entities under direct supervision of AMLA,
• risk assessments,
• "Know Your Customer" data requirements,
• methodologies for determining sanctions.

The European Council today formally adopted the ‘stop-the-clock’ directive. This decision follows the approval of the proposal by the European Parliament on 3 April 2025, with a majority of votes in favour. (more…)

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are key indicators for analyzing how sustainable development is integrated into organizations' strategies.

In the economic and financial sectors, where ESG criteria have become particularly popular recently, they are often used as non-financial analytical tools to evaluate economic actors beyond the scope of conventional criteria. By incorporating these criteria, organizations can differentiate themselves and demonstrate their responsible commitment, thereby supporting the sustainability of their corporate governance.

Where does the concept of ESG come from?

The acronym ESG comes from the concept of the “Triple Bottom Line” or “Triple P” (People, Planet, Profit), which was introduced in the 1990s. This was intended to show that companies were interested in focusing on criteria other than net profit. The concept has evolved over the years and now leads to ESG criteria, the pillars of socially responsible investing (SRI). (DiliTrust, more at lexology.com)

In March 2025, the main trends in ESG regulation in Central and Eastern Europe were regulatory uncertainty in connection with the expected Omnibus I package, the implementation of the European Union directives CSRD and CSDDD, (more…)

The recent Competitiveness Compass sets out a vision for strengthening the EU's competitiveness and increasing the prosperity of the EU economy, building on the recommendations of the Draghi report. To boost our competitiveness and unleash growth, the EU must promote a favourable business environment and ensure that companies are not stifled by excessive regulatory burdens. This in turn will allow our businesses to grow and create quality jobs, attract investment and raise the necessary finance for their transition to a more sustainable economy, and help the EU meet the ambitious goals of the Green Deal. We need to find the right balance. The Commission is also adopting today a Clean Industry Agreement that brings together climate and competitiveness under an overarching growth strategy. ( More on ec.europa.eu)

On 26 February 2025, the EU Commission presented the first comprehensive reform package aimed at simplifying and increasing the competitiveness of European industry. (more…)

On 26 February 2025, the European Commission presented the first part of the so-called "omnibus" package of amendments, which was announced in January. This is a legislative initiative aimed at simplifying and making the (more…)

In response to the European Commission's mandate, the Platform for Sustainable Finance, an advisory body to the Commission, has published a report presenting a set of evidence-based recommendations to simplify taxonomy reporting and increase its effectiveness.

Following a comprehensive review of market practices, pilot projects and stakeholder feedback from investors, banks, insurers, corporates, SMEs, auditors and consultants, the report identifies key areas for improvement, including simplification, access to data and regulatory coherence. Building on previous work, including the recommendations on data and usability (2022) and the market practice review (2024), the report provides targeted recommendations from the European Commission. (More at finance.ec.europa.eu)