Key topics - Osborne Clarke

COP

COP – the annual climate conference for all signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – is a significant international event on the climate change agenda. COP brings governments together to accelerate global efforts to confront the climate crisis and assess the results of previous conferences.

Covering crucial topics such as climate finance, adaptation, energy, and natural capital and carbon markets – every year the conference has wide ranging implications for businesses, as we all endeavour to limit the average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

Below you can view recent insights and webinar recordings relating to the upcoming and previous COPs.

Article list

COP

COP30 signals to global business that the move from climate ambition to action has begun

Agreements include measures on adaptation finance and voluntary 'roadmaps' for fossil-fuel phase out and deforestation

New -

01/12/2025

Read time 3m

ESG – Environmental, social and governance

ESG Knowledge Update | November 2025

Welcome to our Osborne Clarke ESG Knowledge Update, which offers a round-up of legal, regulatory and market news

24/11/2025

Read time 7m

COP

What international business can expect from COP30 on carbon markets

Discussions around climate financing are deeply connected to the progress of the article 6 agreement on carbon trading

06/11/2025

Read time 2m

Decarbonisation

International Court of Justice issues landmark opinion on state obligations in respect of climate change

Failure to take action on climate change risks legal accountability

21/08/2025

Read time 10m

Decarbonisation

UK government reveals principles designed to 'offset' doubts in the voluntary carbon markets

High-integrity voluntary carbon markets can unlock institutional investment and scale carbon reduction projects

09/12/2024

Read time 2m

COP

COP16 summit delivers international call to action for biodiversity

Global businesses and leaders should back large-scale financial and practical solutions to tackle ecological degradation

29/11/2024

Read time 4m

Decarbonisation

COP29 delivers breakthrough article 6 deal for international carbon markets

Clear standards and guidelines for global trading paves the way for collaboration and investment in emissions reduction

28/11/2024

Read time 6m

ESG – Environmental, social and governance

ESG Knowledge Update | November 2024

Welcome to our Osborne Clarke ESG Knowledge Update, which offers a round-up of legal, regulatory and market news

19/11/2024

Read time 7m

Decarbonisation

New climate finance – a steep climb up the COP29 hill?

Discussions continue on the next stage of climate financing, to replace previous annual goals set for contributing countries

18/11/2024

Read time 3m

Decarbonisation

COP15 | Why biodiversity is vital for businesses worldwide

A global agreement on stemming the collapse of ecosystems and reducing levels of biodiversity loss is the priority

07/12/2022

Read time 4m

COP

COP27 | Negotiations culminate with a historic agreement on loss and damage

What are the main points of the final agreement and the highlights of the last week of the UN climate...

22/11/2022

Read time 3m

Artificial intelligence

How the interface between AI and net zero is shaping up in the UK and beyond

Can artificial intelligence transform energy efficiency and help businesses achieve their net-zero objectives?

22/11/2022

Read time 5m

Decarbonisation

What role can public and private finance play in decarbonising the global economy?

How the transition to net zero is funded will be critical to the success of climate change policy implementation

16/11/2022

Read time 8m

COP

COP27 | Sharm-el-Sheikh climate pledges pave way for final week of global talks

What happened in the first week of the UN climate change summit and what is on the agenda ahead?

14/11/2022

Read time 4m

Decarbonisation

Looking back on COP26 and ahead towards COP27: what to expect

With COP27 taking place one year after the previous climate conference, our panel of experts discussed the background and predictions...

07/11/2022

Read time 5m

Banking and finance

Availability of working capital remains a priority for SMEs in 2022

Asset-based lending and working-capital products are crucial as businesses recover from the pandemic and implement sustainability plans

13/01/2022

Read time 2m

Intellectual property

Global patent disputes shadow the rise of solar energy

Technological advances are transforming solar into an increasingly viable renewable option, but the progress has come with a growth of...

14/12/2021

Read time 4m

COP

COP26 | What did it mean for net zero standards and carbon offsetting?

As increasing numbers of companies and states publish net zero targets and use carbon offsetting, there is a growing demand...

03/12/2021

Read time 4m

Financial Services

Finance goes green: UK plans roadmap to sustainable investing

The government has issued a further call to action to the financial sector, aiming to put climate and environmental considerations...

01/12/2021

Read time 5m

COP

COP26 | How innovation will decarbonise and transform cities and the built environment

The Glasgow summit showed that there is global ambition to accelerate innovation in cities and industry and the next step...

26/11/2021

Read time 7m

COP

COP26 | What opportunities emerged for private finance at the Glasgow summit?

The private sector has more clarity on the actions and amounts needed to achieve net zero but now awaits details...

24/11/2021

Read time 4m

COP

COP26: Final day focuses on negotiating climate agreement

Welcome to the tenth (and final) instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda...

12/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day

Welcome to the ninth instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

11/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: Transport Day

Welcome to the eighth instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

10/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: Gender, and Science and Innovation Day

Welcome to the seventh instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

09/11/2021

Read time 2m

COP

COP26: the start of week two and a focus on nature and land use

Welcome to the second week of daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day, and...

08/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: First week ends with focus on youth and public empowerment

Welcome to the final instalment of our first week of daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the...

05/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26 | Energy Day

Welcome to the fourth instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

04/11/2021

Read time 2m

COP

COP26: Finance Day

Welcome to the third instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

03/11/2021

Read time 2m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Can sustainable disruption and technology deliver decarbonised cities?

Against the backdrop of COP26, the reduction of carbon emissions in cities and identifying methodology, technology and investment to achieve...

02/11/2021

Read time 8m

COP

COP26 | World Leaders' Summit continues with high level climate ambitions set out

Welcome to the second instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

02/11/2021

Read time 2m

COP

COP26 | World Leaders' Summit begins

Welcome to the first instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

01/11/2021

Read time 1m

Energy and Energy Transition

The Energy Transition | Net Zero Strategy and Heat and Buildings Strategy

This week, we look at the government's Net Zero Strategy and Heat and Buildings Strategy, the entry of Octopus' Powerloop...

22/10/2021

Read time 8m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

New research by Economist Impact, supported by Osborne Clarke, has identified 12 technologies that can help cities achieve their carbon-emission...

20/10/2021

Read time 1m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities | Scorecard

The scorecard: examining each technology's impact, scalability and city level investment

20/10/2021

Read time 1m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities | Infographic

A new research programme by Economist Impact, supported by Osborne Clarke, identifies technologies that can help cities achieve their carbon-emission...

20/10/2021

Read time 10m

Decarbonisation

New Research by Economist Impact

We have commissioned Economist Impact (part of The Economist Group) to produce an international thought leadership research programme that explores...

01/10/2021

Read time 1m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26 | Decarbonising transport in the UK

Decarbonising the transport sector is crucial to achieving net zero and air quality ambitions

27/09/2021

Read time 5m

Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation business self-assessment

24/06/2021

Read time 1m

Decarbonisation

UK tech sector looks beyond compliance as it tackles decarbonisation

Robust legal and regulatory frameworks together with a shift in corporate culture and the delivery of green tech innovation will...

20/05/2021

Read time 6m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26 | Financing the transition to net zero

With only six months to go until COP26 in Glasgow, we are already seeing changes in both public and private...

17/05/2021

Read time 5m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26 | Nature-based solutions and land use

Interest in nature-based solutions has been hotting up since the UK identified it as a campaign issue in the run...

05/02/2021

Read time 3m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26: why does it matter?

19/11/2020

Read time 4m

Decarbonisation

OC.TV Webinars | Decarbonisation: Countdown to COP26 webinar series

13/11/2020

Read time 1m

View all insights

COP

COP30 signals to global business that the move from climate ambition to action has begun

Agreements include measures on adaptation finance and voluntary 'roadmaps' for fossil-fuel phase out and deforestation

New -

01/12/2025

Read time 3m

ESG – Environmental, social and governance

ESG Knowledge Update | November 2025

Welcome to our Osborne Clarke ESG Knowledge Update, which offers a round-up of legal, regulatory and market news

24/11/2025

Read time 7m

COP

What international business can expect from COP30 on carbon markets

Discussions around climate financing are deeply connected to the progress of the article 6 agreement on carbon trading

06/11/2025

Read time 2m

Decarbonisation

International Court of Justice issues landmark opinion on state obligations in respect of climate change

Failure to take action on climate change risks legal accountability

21/08/2025

Read time 10m

Decarbonisation

UK government reveals principles designed to 'offset' doubts in the voluntary carbon markets

High-integrity voluntary carbon markets can unlock institutional investment and scale carbon reduction projects

09/12/2024

Read time 2m

COP

COP16 summit delivers international call to action for biodiversity

Global businesses and leaders should back large-scale financial and practical solutions to tackle ecological degradation

29/11/2024

Read time 4m

Decarbonisation

COP29 delivers breakthrough article 6 deal for international carbon markets

Clear standards and guidelines for global trading paves the way for collaboration and investment in emissions reduction

28/11/2024

Read time 6m

ESG – Environmental, social and governance

ESG Knowledge Update | November 2024

Welcome to our Osborne Clarke ESG Knowledge Update, which offers a round-up of legal, regulatory and market news

19/11/2024

Read time 7m

Decarbonisation

New climate finance – a steep climb up the COP29 hill?

Discussions continue on the next stage of climate financing, to replace previous annual goals set for contributing countries

18/11/2024

Read time 3m

Decarbonisation

COP15 | Why biodiversity is vital for businesses worldwide

A global agreement on stemming the collapse of ecosystems and reducing levels of biodiversity loss is the priority

07/12/2022

Read time 4m

COP

COP27 | Negotiations culminate with a historic agreement on loss and damage

What are the main points of the final agreement and the highlights of the last week of the UN climate...

22/11/2022

Read time 3m

Artificial intelligence

How the interface between AI and net zero is shaping up in the UK and beyond

Can artificial intelligence transform energy efficiency and help businesses achieve their net-zero objectives?

22/11/2022

Read time 5m

Decarbonisation

What role can public and private finance play in decarbonising the global economy?

How the transition to net zero is funded will be critical to the success of climate change policy implementation

16/11/2022

Read time 8m

COP

COP27 | Sharm-el-Sheikh climate pledges pave way for final week of global talks

What happened in the first week of the UN climate change summit and what is on the agenda ahead?

14/11/2022

Read time 4m

Decarbonisation

Looking back on COP26 and ahead towards COP27: what to expect

With COP27 taking place one year after the previous climate conference, our panel of experts discussed the background and predictions...

07/11/2022

Read time 5m

Banking and finance

Availability of working capital remains a priority for SMEs in 2022

Asset-based lending and working-capital products are crucial as businesses recover from the pandemic and implement sustainability plans

13/01/2022

Read time 2m

Intellectual property

Global patent disputes shadow the rise of solar energy

Technological advances are transforming solar into an increasingly viable renewable option, but the progress has come with a growth of...

14/12/2021

Read time 4m

COP

COP26 | What did it mean for net zero standards and carbon offsetting?

As increasing numbers of companies and states publish net zero targets and use carbon offsetting, there is a growing demand...

03/12/2021

Read time 4m

Financial Services

Finance goes green: UK plans roadmap to sustainable investing

The government has issued a further call to action to the financial sector, aiming to put climate and environmental considerations...

01/12/2021

Read time 5m

COP

COP26 | How innovation will decarbonise and transform cities and the built environment

The Glasgow summit showed that there is global ambition to accelerate innovation in cities and industry and the next step...

26/11/2021

Read time 7m

COP

COP26 | What opportunities emerged for private finance at the Glasgow summit?

The private sector has more clarity on the actions and amounts needed to achieve net zero but now awaits details...

24/11/2021

Read time 4m

COP

COP26: Final day focuses on negotiating climate agreement

Welcome to the tenth (and final) instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda...

12/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day

Welcome to the ninth instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

11/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: Transport Day

Welcome to the eighth instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

10/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: Gender, and Science and Innovation Day

Welcome to the seventh instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

09/11/2021

Read time 2m

COP

COP26: the start of week two and a focus on nature and land use

Welcome to the second week of daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day, and...

08/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26: First week ends with focus on youth and public empowerment

Welcome to the final instalment of our first week of daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the...

05/11/2021

Read time 3m

COP

COP26 | Energy Day

Welcome to the fourth instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

04/11/2021

Read time 2m

COP

COP26: Finance Day

Welcome to the third instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

03/11/2021

Read time 2m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Can sustainable disruption and technology deliver decarbonised cities?

Against the backdrop of COP26, the reduction of carbon emissions in cities and identifying methodology, technology and investment to achieve...

02/11/2021

Read time 8m

COP

COP26 | World Leaders' Summit continues with high level climate ambitions set out

Welcome to the second instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

02/11/2021

Read time 2m

COP

COP26 | World Leaders' Summit begins

Welcome to the first instalment of our daily COP26 updates: a digest of what is on the agenda each day...

01/11/2021

Read time 1m

Energy and Energy Transition

The Energy Transition | Net Zero Strategy and Heat and Buildings Strategy

This week, we look at the government's Net Zero Strategy and Heat and Buildings Strategy, the entry of Octopus' Powerloop...

22/10/2021

Read time 8m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

New research by Economist Impact, supported by Osborne Clarke, has identified 12 technologies that can help cities achieve their carbon-emission...

20/10/2021

Read time 1m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities | Scorecard

The scorecard: examining each technology's impact, scalability and city level investment

20/10/2021

Read time 1m

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Sustainable disruption: 12 decarbonising technologies for cities | Infographic

A new research programme by Economist Impact, supported by Osborne Clarke, identifies technologies that can help cities achieve their carbon-emission...

20/10/2021

Read time 10m

Decarbonisation

New Research by Economist Impact

We have commissioned Economist Impact (part of The Economist Group) to produce an international thought leadership research programme that explores...

01/10/2021

Read time 1m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26 | Decarbonising transport in the UK

Decarbonising the transport sector is crucial to achieving net zero and air quality ambitions

27/09/2021

Read time 5m

Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation business self-assessment

24/06/2021

Read time 1m

Decarbonisation

UK tech sector looks beyond compliance as it tackles decarbonisation

Robust legal and regulatory frameworks together with a shift in corporate culture and the delivery of green tech innovation will...

20/05/2021

Read time 6m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26 | Financing the transition to net zero

With only six months to go until COP26 in Glasgow, we are already seeing changes in both public and private...

17/05/2021

Read time 5m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26 | Nature-based solutions and land use

Interest in nature-based solutions has been hotting up since the UK identified it as a campaign issue in the run...

05/02/2021

Read time 3m

Decarbonisation

Countdown to COP26: why does it matter?

19/11/2020

Read time 4m

Decarbonisation

OC.TV Webinars | Decarbonisation: Countdown to COP26 webinar series

13/11/2020

Read time 1m

View all insights

James Watson

Partner, Head of Decarbonisation

+44 20 7105 7254 Email James Full bio

Dipika Keen

Head of Business Transactions Knowledge, Knowledge Lead of Net Zero Policy and Regulation

+44 117 917 4304 Email Dipika Full bio

Matthew Germain

Partner, Head of Environment, Co-Lead of Net Zero Policy and Regulation

+44 117 917 3662 Email Matthew Full bio

Caroline Bush

Associate Director

+44 117 917 4412 Email Caroline Full bio

Edward Barratt

Partner, Head of Mobility

+44 117 917 4264 Email Edward Full bio

Conrad Davies

Managing Partner

+44 117 917 3216 Email Conrad Full bio

Nick Johnson

Partner, International Head of Tech, Media & Comms

+44 20 7105 7080 Email Nick Full bio

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