Climate Change Series: The 2022 Roadmap
Gain all the updates, strategies & skills you need to navigate the evolving legal & commercial risks related to climate change in 2022 with a series of the most important topics presented by the leaders in the field. Register for the series and save or just the sessions that interest you. Watch live online or view on-demand recordings. In-depth sessions explore governance, disclosures, reporting, net zero, emissions, greenwashing, construction, contracts, finance, M&As, consumer law & more. WEB225N24
Description
Attend the full series and earn 13 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Session 1
Thursday, 26 May 2022
Gain a thorough understanding of the strategies you need to implement to deal with critical new developments in climate related governance and directors’ duties. Minimise risk by ensuring you’re on top of the rising standard of care for and increasingly heightened disclosure obligations. From due diligence to reporting to greenwashing risks and target setting, you’ll leave prepared to navigate whatever governance issues arise in this rapidly changing area. WEB225N24A
1.00pm to 2.00pm Climate-Related Governance & Directors’ Duties: An Elevated Standard of Care and Heightened Disclosure Obligations
The standard of care to which directors are held on governance of climate-related issues continues to rise. At the same time, companies, their boards and audit committees are facing elevated expectations on the integration and disclosure of climate-related assumptions in financial statement accounting estimates - far beyond the narrative disclosures made under the Recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
This session will provide you with an overview of these dynamic expectations while providing practical insights to assist lawyers & in-house counsel advising on compliance.
- Due care and diligence on climate in practice
- Elevated reporting obligations: accounting standards, investor expectations and the new ISSB
- Navigating the risk of 'greenwash' in net zero and interim target setting
Presented by Sarah Barker, Partner & Head of Climate Risk Governance, MinterEllison
Register to Session 1 only
Session 2
Sustainability Reporting: Risks & Strategies in the Journey to Net Zero
Over two in-depth lunchtime sessions, a carefully curated panel of the leading experts in sustainability reporting will walk you through what you need to know to navigate the emerging risks. Analyse the new ISSB, new legislation and standards, the latest complexities in emissions exposures & other evolving reporting frameworks. Develop effective, cutting-edge strategies and processes for your sustainability reporting obligations in 2022. WEB226N24B
Part 1
Thursday, 2 June 2022
12.30pm to 2.00pm How to Navigate the New Global Standard for Sustainability Reporting
- Overview of the IFRS Foundation announcement at COP26 of the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)
- What’s in the prototypes for Climate-related Disclosures Requirements and General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related financial information, or what’s in the Exposure Draft (if released for comment before June)
- What does the consolidation of the Value Reporting Foundation (VRF) and the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) into the IFRS Foundation (June 2022) mean for Integrated Reporting and SASB Standards?
- Understanding the quasi-mandatory nature of the standards, given ASX Corporate Governance Principles 4.3 and 7.4 ASIC and APRA focus
- Understanding the change of lens from a reporting perspective: moving from a focus on past financial (and voluntary sustainability) performance through a prescriptive framework towards a focus on past performance and future prospects to deliver enterprise value over the longer term using a principles-based framework
- What is forward-orientated information and what evidence will be required to support forward-orientated disclosures?
- What is going to inform materiality in disclosures?
- How do sustainability standards for financial measurement and reporting align with the financial reporting framework?
Presented by Nick Ridehalgh, Director, National Lead, Better Business Reporting, CFO Advisory, KPMG
Panel discussion:
Alison Ewings, Head of Engagement, Regnan
Michael Bowan, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Essential Energy
Facilitated by Cristina Talacko, President, Coalition for Conservation
Part 2
Thursday, 9 June 2022
12.30pm to 2.00pm Emissions Exposure Complexities in Sustainability Reporting: Understanding & Navigating Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions
- What is meant by scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and the differences between them
- Why all scopes need to be considered to identify potential areas of material risk (or opportunity) within your value chain
- Challenges and limitations of collecting and assuring scope 3 emissions data
- Impact measurement including avoided emissions
- Why emissions intensity alone is not always a good indicator of risk
- What should lawyers be looking for in procurement/supply contracts?
- Features of investor useful disclosure
- Greenwashing alert
- Case study: a corporation implementing a new sustainability strategy – managing new regulations and community and stakeholder expectations
Panel discussion:
Nick Ridehalgh, Director, National Lead, Better Business Reporting, CFO Advisory, KPMG
Alison Ewings, Head of Engagement, Regnan
Michael Bowan, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Essential Energy
Facilitated by Anna Gudkov, Senior Solicitor, Corporate and Commercial EDO
Register to Session 2 only
Session 3
Tuesday, 14 June 2022
This masterclass brings together a distinguished panel of experts to inform you on all the latest issues surrounding clean energy and the renewable energy sector in Australia. Take a guided tour through the recent developments impacting the sector. Gain essential insights on emerging technologies such as green hydrogen and offshore wind. Be aware of implementation of strategies that will affect climate change and delve into financing of renewable and clean energy projects. WEB226N24C
Chair: Kirsty Ruddock, Managing Lawyer, Safe Climate (Corporate and Commercial), EDO
10.00am to 1.15pm Renewable Energy and Resources Masterclass
Gain strategies to identify the development of emerging technologies
Work through financing of renewable and clean energy projects
Elevate your skills navigating the implementation of strategies
This session will involve a broad discussion on the clean energy and renewable energy sector in Australia, including the latest developments in this space and tips for in-house counsel and lawyers working in the area. It will explore a range of topics including:
- The growth of the renewable energy sector in Australia including the latest developments in emerging technologies such as green hydrogen and offshore wind
- The opportunities and barriers for the development of new green industries such as green steel and green concrete
- The implementation of climate change and decarbonization strategies which may include clean energy projects
- Emissions reduction project development or investment
- Carbon capture and storage/sequestration project development or investment
- Procurement of renewable energy through corporate PPAs
- Review of supply chains and contracts
- Financing of renewable and clean energy projects
Presented by Ilona Miller, Partner, Lloyd Chater, Special Counsel, Adela Smith, Partner, Ben Fuller, Partner and Jeremy Jose, Gilbert & Tobin
Register to Session 3 only
Session 4
Thursday, 23 June 2022
Make sure you’re on top of the latest developments in climate change litigation that will have a significant impact this year & moving forward. Identify the latest trends and their key drivers. Examine the rise in regulatory actions and the related risks and implications. Explore emerging private action trends including torts and shareholder activism. Look ahead to coming risks that you need to prepare for now and the steps you should be taking immediately to minimise future litigation risk. WEB226N24D
1.00pm to 2.00pm Climate Change Disputes & Litigation: 'Green Lawfare'
- Current state of play of climate litigation: a snapshot of the current climate litigation trends in Australia, and globally, and key drivers behind these trends
- Overview of litigation trends and recent developments in:
- Regulatory litigation trends: covering the rise in regulatory actions to tackle climate change, increased challenges to project approvals, and the potential risk of EPA action
- Private action trends: including shareholder activism, tort claims, and domestic human rights claims (including non-judicial dispute resolution).
- Examine the continued scrutiny on climate change at AGMs, the emergence of 'say on climate', and some recent examples of shareholder activism
- Future outlook:
- Forward-looking overview on the key risks that corporations need to be mindful of with respect to climate change litigation
- Outlining some practical steps organisations can take to mitigate litigation risk
Presented by Jillian Button, Partner and Head of Climate Change and Emily Turnbull, Managing Associate, Allens
Register to Session 4 only
Session 5
Thursday, 21 July 2022
Master how to understand and deal with the increasingly significant impact of climate change on building, construction and infrastructure projects. Gain practical strategies to recognise and deal with new risk allocation considerations arising from climate change issues. Explore how to assure climate positive outcomes in projects. Pick up tips for navigating fitness for purpose in a chaotic environment. Consider when and how to enforce climate promises. WEB227N24E
1.00pm to 2.00pm Building, Construction & Infrastructure: Adapting to the Impact of Climate Change
- Navigating new & emerging risk allocation considerations in the face of climate change
- Assuring climate positive outcomes
- Fitness for purpose in an unpredictable world
- Enforcing climate promises
Presented by David Warren, Consultant, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Register to Session 5 only
Session 6
Thursday, 28 July 2022
Gain the strategies you need to identify climate change risks in contracting. Master how to minimise those risks while maximising value. Learn how to build a forward-looking approach to your contracting that incorporates modern, cutting-edge climate drafting strategies. Consider how to leverage contracts to provide opportunities to capture and maximise value in an organisation through sustainability optionality. WEB227N24F
1.00pm to 2.00pm Contract Negotiation & Drafting: Risk Allocation & Value Capture in the Net Zero Transition
Climate change is significantly altering traditional risk allocation practices. It is no longer prudent to assume that precedent approaches to contracting can sufficiently protect an organisation from the unprecedented risks posed by climate change. In this session we will examine:
- Why climate change requires us to take a forward-looking approach to contracting – and how you can start to implement climate drafting today
- How contracts can provide opportunities to capture value and embed sustainability optionality for an organisation
Presented by Sarah Barker, Partner & Head of Climate Risk Governance, MinterEllison and Phoebe Roberts, Senior Associate, MinterEllison; Global Director – Implementation, The Chancery Lane Project
Register to Session 6 only
Session 7
Thursday, 4 August 2022
Position yourself at the forefront of climate finance and capital raising with a timely examination into the latest developments shaping the area right now. Analyse the breadth and scope of climate finance in the current environment and how it’s being utilised. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of using different instruments and structures to deliver climate positive outcomes. Explore climate investment funds, new asset classes and how they fit into modern finance & capital raising. WEB228N24G
1.00pm to 2.00pm Climate Finance & Capital Raising
- What counts as climate finance?
- How is climate finance being mobilised?
- Instruments and Structures delivering climate positive outcomes
- Green bonds, sustainability linked loans, derivatives and structured environmental products and risk mitigation instruments
- Climate investment funds: exploring new asset classes
Presented by Ilona Millar, Partner and Louise McCoach, Special Counsel, Gilbert + Tobin
Register to Session 7 only
Session 8
Thursday, 11 August 2022
Don’t let your M&A strategies fall behind the times, exposing you to unnecessary risk. Gain the unique yet complementary perspectives of two experts in the field who will break down how you should update and adapt your M&A strategies to protect against climate change and ESG risks. Catch up on the latest legal and commercial developments and you should respond to the latest trends when trying to initiate, complete and maximise a transaction. WEB228N24H
1.00pm to 2.00pm M&A Strategies, ESG & Due Diligence: Navigating Transactions in the Face of Climate Change
- How to inform & adapt M&A strategies with an understanding of climate change and ESG trends
- Update on legal provisions gaining increased prevalence & significance in M&A transactions and how to handle them
- ESG due diligence: understanding the impact of ESG performance on potential financial and reputational issues & the implications for investors
- Capitalising on ESG opportunities post-transaction
- Evolving corporate strategy to be resilient to rapidly changing environmental and stakeholder expectations
Presented by Rochel Hoffman, Director, M&A, Deloitte and Nicole Pedler, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
Register to Session 8 only
Session 9
Thursday, 18 August 2022
Stay ahead of the curve on the latest developments in competition and consumer law issues tied to climate change. Examine the latest in green claims and green washing. Catch up on exactly who and what the ACCC and other Regulators are targeting in the climate change space. With in-depth analysis, examples and updates, you’ll build your knowledge and develop strategies to deal with the latest climate change and competition & consumer law issues. WEB228N24I
1.00pm to 2.00pm Green Claims and Greenwashing: Competition & Consumer Law Issues
- Competition law considerations in the transition to a green economy
- Consumer law risks associated with green claims
- Latest ACCC developments in the area
- The evolving international landscape to competition and consumer protection enforcement in the sector
Presented by Robert Walker, Partner, Allens