Regulatory
Environmental law and policy are increasingly shaped by international laws and supranational regulatory frameworks. Atlas provides comprehensive, up-to-date, and hands-on advice to both governments and the private sector on climate, energy, and environmental legal matters, helping clients to link internal domestic systems with external European Union and international regulations.
» Multilateral Environmental Agreements
As they have grown in popularity, Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) have grown more complex as well, with far-reaching and concrete implications for domestic legal systems - from governments and corporate firms to private businesses and individual citizens.
At Atlas, we help clients streamline these international regulations into current legal regimes, using our extensive negotiation experience to assist these governments, interest groups / agencies, and businesses at international conferences, where many MEAs are initially shaped, and in interpreting and following international legal guidelines from such bodies as:- The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board.
» Kyoto Protocol and Flexible Mechanisms
We advise on all regulatory questions under the Kyoto Protocol, its reporting framework, its compliance regime, and its flexible mechanisms - the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and International Emissions Trading (IET).
Commitment to the Kyoto Protocol is an elaborate process and we provide assistance in navigating and adopting rules and codes, offering guidance to:- National regulators.
- Designated National Authorities (DNAs).
- Designated Focal Points (DFPs).
As well as to:
- Project owners.
- Project developers.
- Project validators.
By clarifying internal and external procedures and interpreting unique governance structures, we safeguard the legal rights and interests of our clients and ensure that they are heard and respected at the international table.
» Voluntary Standards and Markets, Forests, and Land-Use
Beyond state-regulated frameworks, voluntary systems to promote environmental engagement by developing ecosystem commodities are becoming increasingly viable.
Platforms such as the Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) have emerged as important regulatory frameworks with rule-making powers, overseeing the standardization of a range of economic sectors including, in the case of the VCS, land-use related activities - especially with regards to forestry and peatlands.
As regulatory advisors, we are at the forefront of these globally significant economic developments, working closely with our clients to take advantage of new commercial opportunities by identifying current risks and challenges and building truly workable and sustainable market-based solutions.» EU Climate and Energy Law and Emissions Trading
The European Union Directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (EU ETS Directive) remains the cornerstone of the EU's legal activities on climate and energy policy.
Regulatory implementation of the third trading phase from 2013 through 2020 is going at full speed and now aviation has been included in the scope of work. Rules on benchmarking, auctioning, and financial regulations are being forged, allowing the scheme's influence on international emissions trading to make a progressively larger impact.
We support our clients in understanding how the Directive and its wide range of associated acts function - from big picture regulations on monitoring, common registry rules, and the Effort Sharing Decision to more micro-targeted restrictions on the use of international carbon credits and bilateral agreements with third states. At the same time, we offer advice on other elements of the Union's climate and energy policy frameworks including for buildings, transport, water, and nature protection.» Technical Assistance Programs
Cooperation and technical assistance among countries are key features of the international approach to preserving the environment and mitigating climate change.
Official cooperation and assistance programs are designed to mainstream these international rules into domestic policy systems, implementing them within regulatory and institutional screenings and strengthening the development of in-country capacity in order to heighten the overall impact of any intervention schemes.
At Atlas, we are experienced strategic and on-the-ground advisors in technical assistance programs. Our work covers international climate and environmental protection regulation, working with public institutions and the private sector, and helping to harmonize domestic rules and practices — especially towards compliance with the European Union’s regulatory and policy program (acquis communautaire).