All News

After two intense weeks of negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, COP29 concluded with a mix of notable advancements and lingering frustrations. While the summit offered a glimpse of global cooperation on climate change, particularly in terms of climate finance and emissions reduction, key issues remained unresolved, especially for developing nations bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

In a significant move to elevate corporate transparency on sustainability issues, Belgium has officially implemented the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), further solidifying its commitment to climate action and responsible business practices. The CSRD introduces a new set of rigorous requirements that will reshape the way companies across Europe disclose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information. For Belgium, this marks a decisive step toward aligning with EU-wide sustainability mandates and raising the bar for corporate accountability in a rapidly changing world.

A proposed delay to the European Union's landmark deforestation regulation has stirred up significant uncertainty across global commodities markets. The law, designed to tackle deforestation linked to the importation of key agricultural products such as cattle, coffee, cocoa, and soy, would require companies to trace and map their supply chains to ensure they do not contribute to forest destruction. Originally set to come into effect on December 30, 2024, the delay proposal is seen as an attempt to offer producers, particularly in developing countries, more time to adjust to the stringent new requirements. Yet, for many, this postponement might only delay the inevitable, leaving both small farmers and larger corporations grappling with the regulatory and logistical challenges ahead.