Mintz is one of two US law firms invited by Oxford University to serve as an expert pro bono contributor to itsClimate Policy Monitor, an annual report on global climate regulations which launched today.Including a granular survey of 30 major countries' net zero implementation (G20+), the research gives the most detailed view yet of how economic rules align—or not—to climate goals.
The study comes at a critical moment as the world confronts a persistent "implementation gap" between climate targets and results. While countries, companies, and other actors continue to set net zero targets—including a 23 percent rise in company net zero targets over the last year—global emissions also continue to rise. As countries look to submit new pledges under the Paris Agreement next year, it is vital they underpin top-level targets with concrete regulations and policies to ensure implementation.
At the same time, a second Trump Administration has promised to roll back climate policies in the US, meaning companies may face a fragmented regulatory landscape, and that policies and regulations introduced at the state level and by the rest of the world are even more vital for achieving net zero globally.
Mintz's ESG Co-chairJacob Hupart, along with attorneysEllen ShapiroandWill McKitterick, collaborated on Mintz's submission, focusing on three key areas of US federal government regulation: climate-related disclosure, transition planning, and public procurement. Their analysis will inform the United Nations Secretary General's Taskforce on Net Zero Policy and is being featured at the November 2024 UN Climate Conference.
The Monitor's rich data, open-access atclimatepolicymonitor.ox.ac.uk, show specific areas where regulators can strengthen and align economic rules to create a level playing field and enable an environment to achieve net zero. The Monitor will be expanded to further domains and jurisdictions next year.
The Net Zero Regulation and Policy Hubis a research initiative based at the University of Oxford that aims to build the evidence base and the capacity to advance net zero regulation and policy that is effective, rigorous, and equitable. It is a collaboration between Oxford'sBlavatnik School of Governmentand theOxford Sustainable Law Programme(the latter is a joint initiative of theOxford Smith Schoolof Enterprise and the Environment and Oxford'sLaw Faculty). It is part of theOxford Net Zerostrategic cluster. It was launched in October 2023 as a direct output of the Oxford Martin Programme on Net Zero Regulation and Policy with a £1m strategic funding grant from theOxford Martin School. It is also supported by the EU Horizon ACHIEVE Project.