Climate Change

Vermont Senate Moves H.740 Greenhouse Gas Inventory And Registry Bill To Third Reading

On 19 May 2026, the Vermont Senate moved climate bill H.740 on greenhouse gas inventory and registry to third reading following favourable committee reports and a 17–12 vote to order third reading. If enacted, the bill would empower the Agency of Natural Resources to impose comprehensive greenhouse-gas data reporting rules, particularly on fuel suppliers, and to build a statewide emissions database, signalling future compliance obligations for Vermont energy and emissions‑intensive businesses.

19 May 2026, 21:03legislature.vermont.govUnited States

Vermont Senate Orders Third Reading of H.740 on Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Registry

In May 2026, the Vermont Senate advanced House Bill H.740, a measure that would expand the State’s greenhouse gas inventory and registry and require a comprehensive emissions reporting programme if enacted. If adopted, it would empower the Agency of Natural Resources to mandate detailed fuel-supplier reporting, build new emissions data infrastructure, and create state-level climate reporting obligations ahead of a July 2027 rulemaking deadline.

19 May 2026, 20:54legislature.vermont.govUnited States

South Korea MCEE Re-Announces Tenders for Carbon-Neutral Industry Legal Study and Industrial Green Chemistry Transition Project

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has re-announced two tenders to commission a carbon-neutral industry legal framework study and an industrial green chemistry transition support project, with bids due in late May 2026. These procurements signal stepped-up investment in decarbonisation and green chemistry policy design, foreshadowing potential future tightening or expansion of industrial and chemicals regulation once the commissioned work concludes.

19 May 2026, 15:28mcee.go.krSouth Korea

China: Ningxia IMT Department Launches 2026 Industrial Energy‑Saving and Carbon‑Reduction Diagnostic Services

In May 2026, Ningxia’s Industry and Information Technology Department launched a 2026 programme to provide free industrial energy‑saving and carbon‑reduction diagnostic services for key energy‑intensive enterprises under a national MIIT initiative. Manufacturers in sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals and glass should engage with local industry bureaus to secure inclusion in the diagnostic plans, prepare data for on‑site audits and carbon accounting, and use the resulting recommendations to prioritise retrofit investments and future decarbonisation projects.

18 May 2026, 17:47tanjiaoyi.comChina

Canada and Alberta Finalise Implementation Agreement on Carbon Markets, Electricity and Pipeline

Canada and Alberta have signed an Implementation Agreement that locks in a long-term carbon pricing path for Alberta’s industrial emitters, aligns provincial and federal electricity and methane rules, and links a major oilsands CCUS project to a new west coast oil pipeline. This deal gives investors clearer price and regulatory signals but also hardwires pipeline expansion and production growth into Canada’s net-zero strategy, raising strategic questions on transition risk, permitting capacity, and future federal flexibility.

18 May 2026, 17:40open.alberta.caCanada

California CARB May 2026 Hearing on Amendments to GHG Reporting and Cap-and-Invest Regulations

California Air Resources Board has published the agenda for its 28–29 May 2026 board meeting, where it will consider SIP revisions for extreme ozone nonattainment areas and hold hearings on proposed amendments to the state’s greenhouse gas reporting and cap-and-invest regulations. These hearings move California’s carbon market and reporting framework into the decision phase, signalling tighter allowance budgets, broader reporting coverage and evolving allocation rules that covered emitters should factor into mid-term climate compliance and investment planning.

18 May 2026, 17:40ww2.arb.ca.govUnited States

Illinois SB3944 Would Exempt Solar Energy System Equipment From Sales and Use Taxes

Illinois Senate Bill 3944 would create coordinated sales and use tax exemptions for equipment used to install qualifying behind-the-meter solar energy systems on residential and commercial properties from 1 January 2027. If enacted, this would reduce upfront costs for Illinois solar projects and should be factored into tax, investment, and project planning decisions for developers, installers, and large energy users.

18 May 2026, 17:35ilga.govUnited States

Illinois Senate Extends Deadline For Hyperscale Data Centers Bill SB4016

Illinois’s hyperscale data centre bill SB4016 remains active, with the Senate extending its committee and third‑reading deadline to 22 May 2026 while wide‑ranging water, energy and permitting rules for large data centres and a 1 July 2027 solar‑permitting deadline for local governments stay on the table. Operators planning hyperscale data centres in Illinois, utilities and affected municipalities should treat this as a live measure and begin assessing potential capital, water‑supply and reporting impacts if the bill advances.

18 May 2026, 17:34ilga.govUnited States

California ARB Hearing on Proposed FY 2025–27 AQIP Funding Plan

California’s Air Resources Board will hold a June 2026 hearing to approve a proposed FY 2025-26 and 2026-27 funding plan that allocates around $70 million under the Air Quality Improvement Program for zero- and low-emission incentive projects. This signals continued multi-year state support for clean transportation and air quality investments, so fleets, manufacturers, and project developers with California exposure should track the final plan and align funding applications and product strategies accordingly.

18 May 2026, 17:33ww2.arb.ca.govUnited States

US Senate Bill S.4536 Proposes Expanding Safe Drinking Water Act Resilience Grants To Extreme Temperatures

In May 2026, US Senate bill S.4536 was introduced to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act so that existing resilience grants for midsize and large drinking water systems can also fund projects addressing extreme temperature risks. If enacted, this would broaden climate adaptation funding opportunities for drinking water utilities by expanding eligible uses of SDWA resilience grants, signalling new financing routes for system hardening rather than immediate changes to underlying water quality rules.

18 May 2026, 17:20congress.govUnited States

IMO MEPC 84 Adopts North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area and Advances Net-Zero Shipping Framework

At its April–May 2026 meeting, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee adopted a new North‑East Atlantic Emission Control Area under MARPOL, set 2027–2028 compliance dates, and mapped out a dense 2026 work programme on the Net‑Zero shipping framework and related pollution controls. These decisions will tighten future air and plastic pollution limits for global shipping, require significant fuel, technology and compliance upgrades on North Atlantic routes, and foreshadow further obligations on ballast water, underwater noise and biofouling that operators should integrate into medium‑term fleet planning.

18 May 2026, 16:13imo.orgGlobal

New York Senate Bill S10381 Proposes Zero-Emission Requirements for Publicly Funded Ferries

New York Senate Bill S10381, introduced in May 2026, would phase in zero-emission requirements for publicly funded ferries from fiscal year 2028 and mandate NYSERDA to plan charging infrastructure for zero-emission tugboats and workboats. If enacted, it would accelerate electrification of state-supported marine transport, driving new vessel procurement choices and early planning for port-side charging along New York's waterways.

18 May 2026, 16:05nysenate.govUnited States

Trilateral Chemical Region 3C‑VaCS Study Assesses Future Chemical Value Chains And Infrastructure

A new DECHEMA-led 3C-VaCS study sets out how the Netherlands–Flanders–North Rhine-Westphalia chemical cluster can remain globally competitive while decarbonising its steam cracker and polymer value chains and infrastructure through to mid-century. It signals that policy design, carbon pricing, CO2 and hydrogen infrastructure choices, and access to circular and bio-based feedstocks will determine which production stays in Europe, so chemical companies should stress-test investment, location, and sourcing strategies against evolving EU climate and trade frameworks.

18 May 2026, 16:02dechema.deBelgiumNetherlandsGermany

Great Britain: Defra Confirms No 2026 Legislation To Change 2027 HFC Phasedown Step

Defra has issued a May 2026 public statement confirming that it will not bring forward legislation in 2026 to change the hydrofluorocarbon phasedown steps applying from 1 January 2027 in Great Britain. This gives HFC producers and users short-term certainty on 2027 quotas while signalling that more ambitious phasedown reforms and a government response report will follow later in 2026.

18 May 2026, 15:12gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Brazil Launches National Bioeconomy Development Plan (PNDBio)

Brazil has launched the 2026–2035 National Bioeconomy Development Plan (PNDBio) under the National Bioeconomy Strategy created by Decree No. 12,044/2024, with 8 missions, 21 targets and 185 actions across sociobioeconomy, bioindustrialisation and sustainable biomass. While not yet creating direct legal obligations, PNDBio is a 10‑year federal roadmap that will steer future regulation, incentives, finance and market expectations for bio-based, chemical, agricultural, forestry and life-science value chains in Brazil.

18 May 2026, 15:10gov.brBrazil

Germany: Cabinet Approves Power Supply Security and Capacity Bill With 11 GW Tender

Germany’s federal cabinet has approved a draft Electricity Supply Security and Capacity Act introducing a capacity market and committing to tender 11 GW of flexible power capacity within the next year. This will shape long-term power prices and grid reliability for energy-intensive industries, accelerating the coal phase-out and driving investment in hydrogen-ready plants, batteries and other flexibility assets.

18 May 2026, 13:30bundesregierung.deGermany

Ukraine Ministry of Economy Publishes Draft Law on National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System

Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy has released a draft law to establish a national greenhouse gas emissions trading system, setting out principles for how emission quotas will be allocated and traded. If adopted, this framework would introduce carbon pricing obligations for major emitters in Ukraine and influence investment, decarbonisation, and compliance planning over the coming years.

18 May 2026, 13:30me.gov.uaUkraine

Ukraine Ministry Of Economy Publishes Draft National Emissions Trading System Law For Public Consultation

Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy has published a draft law to establish a national greenhouse gas emissions trading system and opened a one‑month public consultation starting 15 May 2026. This signals a major step toward an EU‑aligned carbon market in Ukraine, with future compliance obligations likely for large emitters once the framework is finalised.

18 May 2026, 13:30me.gov.uaUkraine

Netherlands Omgevingsdienst NL Publishes Multi-Year Plan For Energy Savings Enforcement

Omgevingsdienst NL has set out a multi-year implementation plan to standardise and strengthen how Dutch environmental services enforce existing energy-saving obligations for companies and institutions. This signals more coordinated, data-driven and nationally consistent inspections rather than new rules, so organisations with Dutch sites should expect tighter oversight of their energy performance and be ready to demonstrate compliance.

18 May 2026, 13:27zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Germany: Bundesrat Seeks Stronger Protections in Gas and Hydrogen Network Law

In May 2026, Germany’s Bundesrat adopted a 32-point opinion on draft amendments to the Energy Industry Act implementing the EU gas and hydrogen market package, while the Federal Government rejected most of the proposed changes. The debate signals that rules on gas network decommissioning, hydrogen infrastructure planning and financing, and protections for industrial and household customers are still in flux, with significant implications for long-term energy, investment and transition planning.

18 May 2026, 13:26dserver.bundestag.deGermany