Net Zero

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

Sweden and Switzerland Sign Pilot Cooperation on Trading Negative Emissions Under the Paris Agreement

In May 2026 Sweden and Switzerland signed a pilot cooperation agreement to trade a small volume of negative CO₂ emissions under the Paris Agreement’s emissions trading framework. The initiative does not yet impose broad compliance obligations but signals how future cross-border carbon-removal markets and Article 6 trading arrangements could be structured, especially for private-sector participation and net-zero strategies.

8 May 2026, 11:00energimyndigheten.seSwedenSwitzerland

EU Corrigendum Clarifies Annual Reporting Under Net-Zero Industry Act

The Council Legal Service has issued a draft corrigendum to the EU Net-Zero Industry Act confirming that entities covered by Article 23 must submit progress reports annually, with the first due by 30 June 2026, correcting language that previously referred to a two-year cycle. This effectively locks in an annual reporting cadence within the framework for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem, so affected operators should plan resources, data collection, and governance around yearly disclosures under the Act.

8 May 2026, 07:27data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Outlines ETS Review and Climate Resilience Agenda to ENVI Committee

In a 4 May 2026 ENVI Committee speech, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra outlined forthcoming revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System, new decarbonisation funding tools, and a planned EU Climate Resilience Framework. These signals clarify the direction of the EU’s 2040 climate architecture, suggesting tighter long‑term ETS caps, more support for hard‑to‑abate sectors and resilience investments, and intensifying pressure on fossil‑fuel‑reliant business models.

7 May 2026, 19:18ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Rhode Island House Considers Insurance Market Protection Act (H8219)

Rhode Island bill H8219, the Insurance Market Protection Act, has been introduced and considered in committee in early 2026 as a proposal to restrict property insurers’ fossil fuel exposure and mandate climate risk and emissions disclosures. If enacted, it would force insurers to realign underwriting, investment and reporting strategies with science-based climate targets, signalling a more assertive state-level push to integrate climate risk into insurance markets.

6 May 2026, 19:55legiscan.comUnited States

Germany UBA Publishes Study on Transport Climate Targets and EU–National Policy Roadmap

Germany’s Environment Agency has released a major April 2026 study analysing whether existing EU and national climate policies can decarbonise the transport sector and outlining a roadmap towards greenhouse-gas neutrality with a focus on rail and public transport. The report does not create new obligations but highlights significant mitigation gaps and potential policy levers, signalling where future EU and German climate regulation on transport infrastructure and services may tighten and should be factored into long-term strategy.

6 May 2026, 19:23umweltbundesamt.deGermanyEuropean Union

European Parliament Refers Industrial Accelerator Act Proposal (COM(2026)0100) to Committees

In April 2026 the European Parliament opened its scrutiny of the Commission’s Industrial Accelerator Act proposal, formally referring it to key committees and consulting the European Economic and Social Committee. If adopted, this cross-cutting framework could tighten Made in EU and low-carbon criteria in procurement and subsidies, accelerate permitting for industrial decarbonisation projects, and change conditions for large non-EU investments in strategic sectors.

5 May 2026, 13:39europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

China – Jilin Province Adopts Plan to Build Carbon-Inclusive System and “Carbon Hui Jilin” Platform

In April 2026 Jilin Province adopted a cross-department Carbon-Inclusive System Work Plan to build the "Carbon Hui Jilin" digital platform, rewarding verified low-carbon behaviours by citizens and organisations and setting phased development targets through 2030. This signals an accelerating regional push to monetise carbon-saving activities and embed them into industrial, transport and tourism policies, so companies operating in Jilin should monitor emerging incentives, participation mechanisms and links to wider carbon-market and ESG expectations.

5 May 2026, 13:38sthjt.jl.gov.cnChina

Brazilian Mines and Energy Committee Approves 'Passaporte Verde' Incentive Programme for Hard-To-Decarbonise Industries

Brazil’s Mines and Energy Committee has approved a substitute to Bill PL 1338/2025 creating the “Passaporte Verde” programme, which offers time‑limited tax breaks and procurement preferences to hard‑to‑decarbonise industrial sectors that replace fossil fuels with renewable or low‑carbon energy. If enacted, this would give Brazilian cement, steel, fertiliser, chemical and petrochemical producers a powerful but temporary fiscal incentive to accelerate deep decarbonisation investments and align with emerging global low‑carbon competitiveness standards.

4 May 2026, 18:22camara.leg.brBrazil

European Commission Approves Amendment to German State Aid for Salzgitter SALCOS Hydrogen-Based Steel Decarbonisation Project

In February 2026 the European Commission approved an amendment increasing German direct state aid to over EUR 1.3 billion for Salzgitter’s SALCOS Stage I hydrogen-based steel decarbonisation project. The decision reinforces EU backing for green steel and large-scale renewable hydrogen demand in Germany, signalling continued public support for capital-intensive industrial decarbonisation investments.

3 May 2026, 14:30ec.europa.euGermanyEuropean Union

Finland Chemical Industry Federation Sets Out Position on EU Hydrogen and Gas Package and RFNBO Rules

In December 2025 Finland’s Chemical Industry Federation published a position paper urging flexible EU rules for hydrogen and gas markets, RFNBO criteria and energy taxation to keep low-carbon hydrogen investments viable ahead of an expected update of the Renewable Energy Directive in late 2026. The paper signals strong industry pressure in Finland and the wider EU to maintain investment-friendly, technology-neutral conditions for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen across RED, ReFuelEU, FuelEU Maritime, the gas and hydrogen markets package and energy tax reform, shaping how industrial decarbonisation and hydrogen valleys will develop over the next decade.

3 May 2026, 09:09kemianteollisuus.fiEuropean UnionFinland