Client alert: Canada: Federal Government shortlists eight types of projects for the development of carbon offset protocols — ATTORNEY ADVERTISING Client alert 14 August 2020 Canada: Federal Government shortlists eight types of projects for the development of carbon offset protocols In Brief On July 2, 2020, the Government of Canada released a much-anticipated discussion paper on the proposed Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System. The paper clarifies how protocols for carbon offset credits will be developed…
Plastic pollution, including through single-use plastics (SUPs), continues to plague natural environments around the world, including in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The region produces around 28 million tons of plastic waste every year (12% of total municipal waste), of which around 36% is SUP. It is estimated that about 4 million tons of plastic waste could enter the ocean in 2020 due to inadequate solid waste management in coastal cities, where a significant…
Jonathan Cocker will be giving a guest lecture on Alternative Energy in a course taught by Professor Rudiger Tscherning at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020. His lecture will focus on the topics of Energy from Waste and waste generation issues from alternative energy sources.
The aviation industry has been hard-hit by the recent pandemic. In many, though not all countries, environmental performance conditions have been placed upon bailouts of various aviation stakeholders. For instance, in Canada, airlines and others receiving federal relief funds must both report and plan on climate change and related sustainability performance and initiatives. With aviation’s recovery in the spotlight, the industry needs to show progress on some environmental metrics, including waste, which will invariably lead…
Governments across the globe are grappling with the growing problem of plastic pollution, which threatens wildlife, marine ecosystems and may negatively impact human health. To deal with this threat, the Government of Canada is demonstrating leadership by pledging to increase plastic waste diversion, reduce single-use plastic in its operations, meetings and events, and procure sustainable plastic products. In September 2019, the federal government put out a Request for Information (RFI) on upcoming requirements on packaging…
Jonathan Cocker will moderate a webinar hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank on Plastics Regulation & the Circular Economy in the Pacific Alliance COVID-19 times and beyond. Panelists include Denisa Mertiri, Green Earth Strategy (Canada); Mariana Herrero S, Galicia (Mexico); Guillermo Tejeiro Gutiérrez, Brigard Urrutia (Colombia); Francisco Tong, Rodrigo Elias & Medrano (Peru); Julio Recordon, Carey (Chile). Save the date: July 22, 2020 from 11:00 to 12:30 EST Stay tuned. Details on registration to follow.
Jonathan Cocker will be moderating a panel on International Developments in Single-Use Plastics Bans hosted by be Waste Wise on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 from 10:00 AM EST. Register Now
While all States and Territories across Australia except for New South Wales have now banned single-use lightweight plastic bags, moves towards the phase out of other single-use plastics are still at the public consultation stages. The Queensland Government is the latest to seek public submissions on a proposed ban on the supply of plastic straws, stirrers, plates, cutlery, coffee and other cups, and heavyweight plastic bags. It joins the South Australian, Western Australian and the…
Jonathan Cocker’s Canadian chapter of 4th edition of The Environment and Climate Change Law Review is now available.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the world economy, including throughout Africa. Among the global reflections in its aftermath, whether related to the current virus or otherwise, are the need for rigorous sanitation practices and the shared vulnerabilities we all have to unhealthy (and environmentally harmful) practices anywhere. Thoughts will soon turn from the medical crisis to the economic crisis, where a need to kickstart new revenue-generating activities will arise. And this is where consideration would…