Net Zero

UK CMA SAU Publishes Final Report On DESNZ Subsidy To ITM Power UK Ltd

On 20 May 2026 the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s Subsidy Advice Unit published its final report reviewing the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s proposed £46.5 million subsidy to ITM Power UK Ltd for a new 1GW electrolyser manufacturing facility in Sheffield. The completed assessment under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 clears a key regulatory hurdle for this hydrogen manufacturing project, signalling continued UK support for low-carbon industrial investment and potential shifts in competitiveness across electrolyser supply chains.

22 May 2026, 18:49gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UN General Assembly: States Propose Amendment Detailing Climate Mitigation Efforts in ICJ Advisory Opinion Resolution

In May 2026 a group of UN Member States tabled an amendment to a General Assembly draft resolution on the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, calling on Parties to align climate action with 1.5°C pathways through specific global efforts such as tripling renewables, doubling energy-efficiency gains, phasing down unabated coal and transitioning away from fossil fuels. Although non-binding, this language reinforces international expectations on net-zero timelines, fossil fuel subsidy reform and rapid decarbonisation, signalling continued pressure on governments and corporates to plan for more ambitious climate mitigation trajectories.

21 May 2026, 08:53docs.un.orgGlobal

PBL Publishes New Global CMIP7 Climate Scenarios With Revised Highest-Emissions Pathway

A new CMIP7 scenario set published in April 2026 revises the highest-emissions pathway downward while confirming that even the most ambitious global trajectories will temporarily overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. This update shifts the scientific baseline for future IPCC assessments and climate-policy modelling, reinforcing expectations of severe physical climate risks and sustained pressure for rapid decarbonisation, adaptation, and CO2 removal.

20 May 2026, 17:57pbl.nlGlobalEuropean UnionNetherlands

German Expert Council Warns 2030 Climate Budget At Risk In 2025 Emissions Audit

Germany’s independent Expert Council for Climate Issues has audited 2025 emissions and 2026 projections and now finds that current government assumptions no longer credibly ensure compliance with the 2030 climate budget and related statutory targets. This raises pressure on Berlin to strengthen implementation of the Klimaschutzgesetz and revise the Klimaschutzprogramm 2026, as continued gaps could trigger mandatory corrective measures and heighten legal and transition risk for emissions‑intensive sectors.

20 May 2026, 08:29expertenrat-klima.deGermany

Germany Bundestag Environment Committee To Vote On Years Emissions Total Amounts Regulation 2031–2040 (JEGMV 2031–2040)

Germany’s federal government has proposed the Years Emissions Total Amounts Regulation (JEGMV 2031–2040) and moved it into Bundestag committee stage to fix declining national greenhouse-gas emission caps for 2031–2040. These legally anchored annual budgets will shape Germany’s pathway to climate neutrality, influencing future sectoral policies, investment decisions, and compliance planning across all major emitting sectors.

20 May 2026, 07:11dserver.bundestag.deGermany

Hubei Ecology And Environment Department Invites Applications For Provincial Carbon Puhui Support Institutions

In May 2026, the Hubei Department of Ecology and Environment opened a short application window to appoint technical and operational support institutions for its provincial carbon puhui system under new trial management measures. Successful Hubei-based organisations will help shape methodologies, data and platform operations for citizen-level carbon incentives, positioning themselves as key service providers in the province’s emerging carbon market and net-zero strategy.

16 May 2026, 08:55tanjiaoyi.comChina

Maine DEP Proposes Amendments to Chapter 167 on Tracking Gross and Net Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In January 2026, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection proposed amendments to Chapter 167 to update how the state calculates and reports gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions against its statutory reduction targets and 2045 carbon-neutrality goal. These revised methods will shape future climate planning, inventory transparency, and sector-level accountability in Maine, so affected stakeholders should review the methodological changes and consider providing input before the comment deadline.

15 May 2026, 14:45maine.govUnited States

Denmark: "Klimastatus og Fremskrivning 2026" Open for Public Consultation Until 12 June 2026

Denmark has opened a public consultation on its 2026 Climate Status and Outlook report, which assesses greenhouse gas trajectories against national Climate Act targets and EU commitments, running from 12 May to 12 June 2026. Companies with Danish operations should use this window to scrutinise assumptions and sector pathways that will shape future climate policy, as the final report due in September 2026 is likely to inform medium‑term targets, expectations and potential regulatory tightening.

15 May 2026, 13:39kefm.dkDenmark

EU Council Presidency Updates Industrial Accelerator Act Policy Debate Note on European Preference and Low-Carbon Criteria

EU ministers will hold a policy debate on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act at the 28 May 2026 Competitiveness Council, guided by a revised Presidency note emphasising targeted European preference and low-carbon criteria in public spending. The discussion will shape how the Single Market and public procurement are used to drive industrial decarbonisation and investment conditions across strategic sectors such as steel, cement, aluminium, vehicles and key net-zero technologies.

15 May 2026, 13:09data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

UK Explanatory Memorandum on EU Industrial Accelerator Act Proposal (COM(2026)100)

The UK Government has issued an Explanatory Memorandum on the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, clarifying how new origin, procurement, investment and future construction-product sustainability labelling rules could affect UK supply chains and apply in Northern Ireland via the Windsor Framework. While the Act remains at proposal stage, companies should treat it as an early signal that EU industrial decarbonisation policy may recalibrate market access and investment conditions for UK manufacturing, particularly in construction materials, automotive, net-zero technologies and sustainable chemicals.

13 May 2026, 18:46assets.publishing.service.gov.ukEuropean UnionUnited Kingdom

EU Commission Presents Procurement Implications of Industrial Accelerator Act Proposal

In March 2026 the European Commission briefed Member States on how its proposed Industrial Accelerator Act would hardwire Made in EU origin and low-carbon content thresholds into EU public procurement and support schemes for EVs, net-zero technologies and key industrial materials. If adopted, these phased requirements from 2029 onward would significantly reshape tender strategies, localisation decisions and supply-chain design for automotive, construction and clean-tech suppliers seeking access to EU-funded projects and public contracts.

11 May 2026, 12:04data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Working Document Summarises Member State Questions on Industrial Accelerator Act Proposal

EU Member States have raised extensive questions and concerns about the Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, focusing on permitting reforms, Made in EU content and low-carbon requirements, and stringent foreign investment conditions in early Council discussions. Their scrutiny signals that key elements of the proposal—especially WTO compatibility, administrative burden, and impacts on energy-intensive industries and electric-vehicle value chains—are likely to be adjusted, which companies should track for future investment, sourcing and compliance decisions.

11 May 2026, 12:04eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Prepares Policy Debate on Industrial Accelerator Act European Preference and Low-Carbon Requirements

In May 2026 the Council Presidency issued a background note for a 28 May Competitiveness Council policy debate on the Commission’s Industrial Accelerator Act proposal, focusing on targeted European preference and low-carbon criteria in public spending for key industrial sectors. If implemented as proposed, these measures would reorient EU procurement, auctions and support schemes towards low-carbon, EU and partner-produced steel, cement, vehicles and net-zero technologies, creating strong demand signals but also new sourcing and compliance constraints for manufacturers and major public buyers.

11 May 2026, 11:17data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Prepares Policy Debate on Industrial Accelerator Act and Low-Carbon Single Market Access

EU ministers will hold a policy debate on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act at the 28 May 2026 Competitiveness Council, guided by a presidency note that frames how European preference and low-carbon criteria in public spending and market access could support strategic industrial sectors. This signals a potential shift toward linking Single Market access, public procurement and large foreign investments to low-carbon performance and EU value-chain integration, but concrete obligations and timelines will only be fixed later in the legislative negotiations.

10 May 2026, 19:16eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

UK RPC Gives Green Opinion on Impact Assessment for Socially Rented Homes Energy Efficiency Standard in England

The UK Regulatory Policy Committee has issued a green-rated opinion on the impact assessment for a new minimum energy efficiency standard for socially rented homes in England, following the government’s consultation response in May 2026. This signals that detailed MEES regulations and implementation timelines are likely to advance, so social landlords and retrofit supply chains should prepare for stronger housing energy-efficiency requirements.

9 May 2026, 19:14gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Slovenia Launches Public Consultation to Prepare New NEPN 2030–2040

Slovenia has launched public consultation on long-term scenarios for its new 2030–2040 National Energy and Climate Plan, a central strategy for meeting EU 2040 emission-reduction goals and national climate-neutrality targets. While it creates no immediate obligations, this process will shape future policy and investment signals for decarbonising energy, buildings, industry and transport in Slovenia over the next decade.

9 May 2026, 14:23gov.siSlovenia

Taiwan and Paraguay Explore Article 6 Cooperation for Carbon Fee Offsets

Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment is developing a bilateral Article 6 cooperation framework with Paraguay that would allow high‑integrity international carbon credits from joint projects to offset up to 5% of emissions subject to Taiwan’s domestic carbon fee, following a 2025 memorandum of understanding and a high‑level seminar held in May 2026. For companies facing the carbon fee, this signals an emerging pathway to use cross‑border forestry, renewable energy and green transport projects in Paraguay to manage compliance costs and demonstrate climate leadership, although the Implementation Agreement and detailed eligibility rules are still being designed.

9 May 2026, 13:19enews.moenv.gov.twTaiwanParaguay

California CARB To Host May–July 2026 Drive Forward Community Listening Sessions On Future Clean Vehicle Regulations

In May and July 2026, the California Air Resources Board is holding community listening sessions under its Drive Forward initiative to gather input on future clean-vehicle regulations and incentive programmes for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. These meetings signal an early pre-proposal phase to shape California’s next generation of zero-emission and low-emission vehicle standards, so automotive and fleet operators should track outcomes and prepare for potential adjustments to compliance strategy, investment and procurement.

8 May 2026, 18:51content.govdelivery.comUnited States

Germany’s Umweltbundesamt Publishes 2026 Guide on Climate Management in Companies

Germany’s Environment Agency has issued a May 2026 practice guide setting out a nine-step approach for companies to build credible, transparent climate management systems aligned with EU and German expectations. This non-binding guidance will influence how boards and sustainability teams design climate strategies, governance, data and reporting, especially for SMEs seeking to operationalise emerging ESG and net-zero commitments.

8 May 2026, 18:04umweltbundesamt.deGermanyEuropean Union

France Publishes National Roadmap to Phase Out Fossil Fuels

France has set out a national roadmap in April–May 2026 to progressively phase out coal by 2030, oil by 2045, and fossil gas by 2050 as part of its long-term climate and energy strategy. While not directly binding, this plan signals a decisive policy direction likely to shape future regulation, investment and transition plans for fossil-fuel power, fuels and energy-using equipment over the coming decades.

8 May 2026, 17:51ecologie.gouv.frFrance