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Sustainability
Global | Publication | October 2020
The rise in prominence of environmental, social and governance (ESG), or sustainability issues, is increasingly significant for businesses globally. The escalation of sustainability issues into a core business concern has been a steady and continuous progression over the past several years as the legal and regulatory landscape changes and expectations of investors, employees, consumers, regulators and other stakeholders grow.
Now more than ever, investors are prioritizing ESG risks and opportunities and incorporating sustainability criteria into their investment and valuation decisions. ESG issues such as climate change, labour standards, human rights, modern slavery and corporate governance are assessed to determine the long-term impact these issues may have on future corporate growth. Investors perceive companies with strong sustainability programs as one of the key indicators of sound and reliable performance going forward.
In this section, we explore the rapidly changing legal and regulatory landscape, including standards and initiatives as they relate to ESG, as well as how sustainability issues, policies and markets are affecting food companies and agribusinesses.
Thought leadership
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Publication
Alberta launches agribusiness challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Food producers, processors and agribusinesses are facing increasing pressure to expand the production of locally-grown food, while curbing emissions and operating in a more sustainable manner.
![top view of shoreline](https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/-/media/images/nrf/nrfweb/knowledge/publications/cannabis-shoreline-1080-1920.jpg?h=180&iar=0&w=320&revision=b081f46b-bf3e-4fd1-82fd-4147076ae6c9,5250068427237387904&hash=6439A6BF044529A610B17BD2BF82F730)
Publication
Environmental, social and governance performance and cannabis
The link between positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and economic growth is not new.
Publication
Innovation in sustainable agricultural practices
Climate change is a critical and emotionally-charged issue.
![cabbage plants](https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/-/media/images/nrf/thought-leadership/canada/food-and-agribusiness-1080-1920.jpg?h=180&iar=0&w=320&revision=86b6fcf4-441d-4787-9cc0-4f80ce0e6a2c,5249188071657387904&hash=D3C5360EFF2EF37B629A8F0DA204233C)
Publication
Climate change and the food and agribusiness sectors: adaptation, mitigation and innovation
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report on the Impacts of Global Warming warned that the world is already seeing the consequences of global warming of 1°C, with more frequent and extreme weather, rising sea levels, diminishing Arctic sea ice, ocean acidification, land degradation and desertification, among other changes.
![harvesting a green field](https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/-/media/images/nrf/nrfweb/knowledge/resources-and-tools/climate-change-agriculture-1920x1080.jpg?h=180&iar=0&w=320&revision=69a025f5-84da-4f0b-b028-36f226397f8b,5248789408157387904&hash=B4014E2104A3C46172A6BA0311FEB93F)
Publication
Agricultural infrastructure for resilience against climate change
Climate change is a significant challenge for agriculture.
![Image of leafy greens and green vegetables](https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/-/media/images/nrf/nrfweb/generics/about/food-challenge_shutterstock_507537709_16by9.jpg?h=180&iar=0&w=320&revision=676f3947-023f-4bce-ac7c-3da888f60551,5248413985897387904&hash=8A87054AAE2902498C76FA69161BF354)
Publication
Transitioning from brown to green: the use of transition bonds and green bonds, and sustainability-linked financing in agribusiness
Two of the most pressing issues currently facing our planet are rising carbon emissions and increasing global food demand.
Recent publications
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Publication
Navigating the new landscape: Competition Act amendments on collaborations that prevent or lessen competition
Since 2022, the Government of Canada has introduced three waves of amendments to the Competition Act (Act), making substantive changes to Canada’s competition laws, with the most recent amendments receiving royal assent on June 20.
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Publication
EU Taxonomy for shipping: A transition to sustainability
On 21 November 2023 and following extensive consultation periods, the amendment to the Climate Delegated Act (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 of 4 June 2021) (the Climate Delegated Act) was formally adopted by the European Commission and published in the EU Official Journal (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485 of 27 June 2023) (the Climate Delegated Act Amendment).
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