North America: Environment

Two states have adopted their own low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) programs, signaling continued expansion of the regulatory landscape for transportation fuel providers.

Satellite, drone, and other remote-sensing technologies are making methane emissions at landfills increasingly visible to regulators and the public. States like California, Colorado, and Oregon are incorporating these monitoring technologies into their regulatory frameworks, creating new compliance obligations and risk-management considerations. This shift may affect landfill operators through increased regulatory scrutiny, public emissions reporting, and potential legal exposure.

Developments in mining-related investment arbitration in 2025 reflected the ongoing evolution in environmental, social, and governance considerations affecting sovereign risk, project viability, and dispute outcomes. Issues of social licence to operate and host State regulatory responses to environmental and social concerns continued to feature prominently.