United States: Climate Change

This comprehensive alert examines the most significant environmental policy developments across Latin America from April to June 2026, covering major legislative reforms, conservation initiatives, and international cooperation efforts. From Chile's expansion of marine reserves to Mexico's proposed overhaul of environmental law, and Colombia's pioneering conference on fossil fuel elimination, the report analyzes how governments are reshaping environmental governance. The alert provides critical insights into

California's climate disclosure regime is undergoing rapid transformation through regulatory developments, implementation guidance, and litigation. This legal update examines the latest developments affecting SB 253 and SB 261, including the California Air Resources Board's revised rulemaking and extended compliance timelines that will impact companies doing business in California.

Wildfire is no longer a remote, seasonal risk. The State of Wildfires 2024–2025 report discusses how changes in climate are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires globally, while the 2024–2025 season brought severe events from South America and Canada to Southern California.

The Sustainable PFAS Action Network has launched a new Refrigerant Working Group to navigate the complex intersection of PFAS policy and climate commitments. As state and federal regulators grapple with broad PFAS classifications, this initiative aims to establish science-based approaches that recognize refrigerants as essential for meeting global climate goals while addressing environmental concerns.

A circuit split has emerged over whether federal law preempts state and local natural gas bans, with the Second Circuit breaking from Ninth Circuit precedent to uphold New York's fossil-fuel appliance restrictions while the Ninth Circuit simultaneously narrowed its own approach. The conflicting interpretations of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act's scope create a fractured regulatory landscape that varies by jurisdiction and rule design. This divergence among federal appellate courts sets the stage for

California's new statewide VMT mitigation program offers lead agencies an alternative approach to addressing significant transportation impacts under CEQA through monetary contributions supporting affordable housing development. The final guidance establishes a contribution-based framework while initially limiting program access to publicly funded projects, leaving private developers to monitor early implementation and continue evaluating traditional mitigation strategies.

Virginia has officially rejoined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state cap-and-trade program targeting carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants.

Global food and agriculture companies are facing an escalating wave of climate-related litigation that extends beyond traditional greenwashing claims to encompass broader liability for their contributions to climate change itself. Recent legal actions against major producers signal a shift toward more aggressive tort-based theories that could expose companies to expansive damages for environmental harms and government adaptation costs. As plaintiffs pursue novel duty-of-care frameworks grounded in internati

Environmental groups push for statewide regulation of polluted stormwater runoff from commercial properties, while President Trump announces funding for a controversial coal-export terminal and the EPA launches an initiative to accelerate superfund site cleanups. California's Air Resources Board approves major changes to its cap-and-invest program, creating a $4 billion decarbonization fund amid concerns from climate advocates.