Uranium, the energy transition & the nuclear fuel global supply chain
In 2023, the Sapporo 5 (a strategic partnership between the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom) agreed to collaborate to develop a secure and resilient global nuclear supply chain.
16 September 2024
Consumer Energy Resources: AI and automation
Consumer energy resources (CERs) are consumer-owned devices that generate, store, or manage electricity.
05 September 2024
Leading the Charge: EV Battery Supply Chains
The strong global push to electrify the world’s vehicle population has in turn created exponential demand for the various components comprising an EV, with the most important being its energy source – the battery. The EV battery (and its supply chain) serves as the single most valuable part of an EV, typically accounting for 30% to 40% of the value of the vehicle[1]. This high cost is mainly attributed to the battery’s composition of several critical raw minerals, including lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel and graphite[2]. As we share below, these minerals are hard to come by and supply is concentrated in the hands of a few countries.
24 July 2024
The Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive: what to expect (and why more detail is needed)
The Federal Government's commitment to fostering a Future Made in Australia is set to introduce significant incentives for businesses engaged in the critical minerals sector.
22 July 2024
Critical Minerals - the central role of copper to AI and net zero
Artificial intelligence, in particular generative AI, is rapidly reshaping our global critical minerals landscape.
16 July 2024
Consumer Energy Resources: data and privacy
Welcome back to our 5-part series exploring the emerging opportunities and challenges associated with the uptake of CER in Australia from a tech law perspective, with a focus on privacy and data, AI and automation, cyber security and contracting to enable the transition to CER.
20 June 2024
Future Gas Strategy – Transitioning towards net zero
On 9 May 2024, the Federal Government released the Future Gas Strategy, which will guide the Australian Government’s policymaking to support Australia’s economic transition to net zero.
14 May 2024
Carbon Markets Regulatory Tracker
As Australia transitions to a low-carbon economy, we see carbon markets play an increasing role to help achieve net zero ambitions. Staying on top of deadlines and developments is essential.
26 March 2024
Climate litigation review 2023: disputes heat up (no cool change ahead)
The global trend of increased climate litigation showed no signs of abating in 2023. Several new proceedings were instituted in Australia, including by regulators as they take an increasingly active approach particularly in relation to ‘greenwashing’.
21 February 2024
Sleeping Carbon Giant Awakes: China’s Renewed Voluntary Carbon Market is Here – What You Need to Know
The long-awaited renewal of the China Certified Emission Reductions (CCER) market is expected to drive trading activity, develop the market and spur innovation. This is a critical step towards China reaching its ‘30.60’ decarbonisation target: peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.
26 January 2024
Navigating The Net Zero Transition - Regional Snapshot
In our country chapters, we look at initiatives to encourage the transition to a net zero economy – across emissions reduction targets, carbon markets, financing, transport, housing and buildings, and agriculture. Here is a brief snapshot. More detail and examples are in the country chapters.
24 November 2023
Navigating The Net Zero Transition: Spotlight on Southeast Asia, Japan and the Republic of Korea
The reality of the ground we need to cover to reach global decarbonisation targets is driving policies, investment and innovation. To do this effectively and within desired timeframes it’s critical that we embrace collaboration by working together, sharing knowledge and simply connecting people.
24 November 2023
Climate Active Reforms: dumping “carbon neutral” and getting real with direct emissions reductions
On Friday 20 October, the Commonwealth Government announced its proposed updates to the Australian Government’s Climate Active certification program.
02 November 2023
The security services of spinning machines: a primer on essential system services
The National Electricity Market (NEM) is transitioning from a dependency coal to a system which will run at times entirely on renewable energy.
25 October 2023
Indonesia’s Nickel Rush – Riding the Waves of the EV Battery Revolution
Nickel is set to become one of the most important critical minerals in the net zero transition, reaching a predicted global market of almost US$60bn within 5 years. Future industry growth will be driven by the dramatic increase in demand for lithium-ion EV batteries – of which nickel is a key component. Given the exponential growth in demand, there is still a high risk that supply will fall short in the coming decade.
12 October 2023
The Safeguard Mechanism is now law – here’s your to-do list for Australia’s new carbon rules
The Federal Government has reformed the Safeguard Mechanism to put Australia’s largest industrial emitters on a pathway to net zero by 2050.
08 August 2023
Is Your Global Value Chain Sustainable? Europe’s Rules Herald New Era of Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD)
New rules in the EU that will force large companies to check their value chain for any negative human rights and environmental impacts have inched closer.
31 July 2023
Equitable fuel of the future? Developing the hope of hydrogen
The global appetite for cost-competitive green hydrogen has seen the US, the EU, Australia and others introduce incentives to lure investment and encourage development.
17 July 2023
Finalised gas market code comes into effect
The Competition and Consumer (Gas Market Code) Regulations was passed on 6 July 2023 (the Code).
12 July 2023
Hydrogen Headstart program: Who will the Australian Government pick as the front runner?
ARENA and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water have published a consultation paper outlining indicative specifications for the program. The consultation paper covers proposed objectives, eligibility criteria and detail regarding the proposed funding mechanism, as well as other features of the program.
07 July 2023
Considering Sustainability-linked Derivatives? What You Need to Know
The sustainable finance market is evolving at an accelerating pace. One recent trend garnering growing interest from market participants is the development of “sustainability-linked derivatives” (SLDs).
The first SLD was issued in August 2019. In under four years, based on a market survey conducted by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), the number of banks, companies, consultants and other market participants worldwide that have engaged in SLD transactions has grown considerably.
This insight explores the key features of SLDs, and outlines some of the documentation and potential regulatory issues for market participants that are considering engaging in SLD transactions. We also set out our key tips for navigating these issues.
21 June 2023
Exposure draft of gas market code of conduct released + price cap extended to 2025
The Federal Government has released its proposed Mandatory Code of Conduct for the East Coast Gas Market (Draft Code).
27 April 2023
Victorian Government releases second of three planned Offshore Wind Implementation Statements
In March 2023 the Victorian Government released its second Offshore Wind Implementation Statement. This announcement keeps momentum for the developing Victorian industry at a time when proponents are preparing feasibility licence applications in the Gippsland Declared Area, which are due by 27 April 2023.
27 March 2023
China's carbon markets set to expand in the Year of the Rabbit
When China’s national carbon market launched in 2021, it promised to act as a powerful tool in combatting climate change.
27 March 2023
Gas market reforms – a step too far? Australian Government proposes further reforms in its “need for intervention” in the Australian gas market
On 9 February, the Australian Government announced proposed changes to the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) and requested feedback from relevant stakeholders.
08 March 2023
Hydrogen takes centre stage in Singapore’s net zero transition
The Singapore government plans to put low-carbon hydrogen at the heart of plans to accelerate its transition to a net zero economy, releasing a National Hydrogen Strategy to build capability in the space.
01 November 2022
Green is the new black! Australia and Singapore trailblaze with ‘first-of-its-kind’ Green Economy Agreement
On 18 October 2022 trade ministers in Australia and Singapore signed the Green Economy Agreement (GEA).
20 October 2022
Safeguard mechanism reforms – consultation opens on draft legislation
On 10 October 2022, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) opened submissions on exposure draft legislation to reform the Safeguard Mechanism under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (Cth) (NGER Act).
12 October 2022
Chapter 2: Powering a net zero world
In 2020, 85% of China’s primary energy needs were met with fossil fuels and 72% in Australia. This is the base from which China and Australia must transform their energy generation and use.
14 September 2022
Chapter 3: Mining and future-facing industries
Surging demand for exports of iron ore, coal and minerals over the last three decades, much due to China’s growth, has brought significant wealth to Australia.
14 September 2022
Chapter 4: Transport and mobility
Transport is among the most emissions-heavy sectors. In 2019 the sector represented 23% of global energy-related emissions according to the 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Mitigation Report.
14 September 2022
Australian Federal Government releases consultation paper on reforms of the safeguard mechanism
The Australian Federal Government’s Climate Change Bill, which incorporates Australia’s new emissions reduction targets of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, is well on the way to becoming law.
29 August 2022
China’s Carbon Markets – A Key Tool for Achieving Net Zero
The ability to monetise carbon and trade carbon credits through carbon markets is a core component of the global transition to net zero, without which global efforts to meet critical carbon reduction targets will be severely impacted.
China’s national emissions trading scheme (the National ETS) is set to become the world’s largest carbon market by both trading volume and value, and will play an important part in the global net zero transition. The National ETS began trading in July 2021 and currently operates in parallel with nine pilot schemes (each a Pilot Scheme).
China’s ability to peak emissions by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2060 (the 30/60 strategy) relies in part on its ability to demonstrate to the world that it has the necessary infrastructure in place to maintain the integrity of the system that it has created to realise its 30/60 strategy.
03 August 2022
CCS in Australia - a legal guide
Australia’s potential for developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects has been touted for some time — legislation for CCS projects has been in place in Victoria and Queensland for over a decade.
30 March 2022
Trading carbon in China: a game changer
It is the island home of some of the world’s longest-living people and Wenchang chicken, a dish popular in mainland China and across south-east Asia.
17 December 2021
