Resilient LLP (formerly DeMarco Allan LLP)
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DT Vollmer

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UNEP Releases Report on Pathways for Limiting Global Temperature Overshoot

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) yesterday published a new report, Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return (the Report), examining the implications of exceeding the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature goal. The Report notes that global warming is now projected to reach at least 1.8°C and argues that climate policy must increasingly address not only whether 1.5°C is exceeded, but by how much and for how long. UNEP indicated that limiting the overshoot and peak, while pursuing pathways capable of bringing temperatures back down, will be critical to reducing climate risks and preserving future options for adaptation. This bulletin briefly summarizes the following key findings and pathways to respond to the global temperature overshoot set out in the Report: Overshoot is a pathway, not a moment. UNEP describes an “overshoot, peak and decline” pathway as the best remaining option to return global temperatures to or below 1.5°C by the end of the century. The pathway depends on minimizing peak warming through rapid and sustained greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, reaching net-zero, and ultimately achieving net-negative emissions. The Report notes that lower peak warming and a shorter period above 1.5°C would reduce climate risks and impacts and improve the prospects of bringing temperatures back down. Going above 1.5°C must not mean abandoning the goal. UNEP states that global temperature rise is likely to cross 1.5°C within the next few years and that there are “no good outcomes” from remaining above that level. Risks intensify with every fraction of a degree and include more severe extreme weather, damage to food and water systems, ecosystem loss, and the possibility of crossing difficult or irreversible tipping points. Adaptation and mitigation must happen hand-in-hand. The Report emphasizes that mitigation and adaptation are interconnected and must advance together. Weak mitigation will increase climate impacts and adaptation needs,…

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GHG Protocol and the International Organization for Standardization to Combine Corporate Carbon Accounting Standards

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The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) yesterday announced that they will combine their corporate carbon accounting standards into a single, harmonized global accounting standard. GHGP noted that the new standard will “help reduce duplication, improve consistency, simplify reporting and support more effective decision-making by companies, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders”. The announcement builds on the strategic partnership established between GHGP and ISO last year and the COP30 Presidency mandate in November 2025 that GHGP and ISO jointly lead the harmonization of global GHG accounting standards within the Action Agenda. The combined standard aims to create a common global language for emissions accounting, supporting governments, investors and regulators.   Overview. The combined standard will integrate and consolidate GHGP’s existing entity-level standards (Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, Scope 3 Standard) and outputs from the GHGP’s Actions and Market Instruments workstream with ISO’s 14064-1 standard (Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals) to produce a single standard with multiple parts: Part 1: General Requirements and Physical GHG Inventory Part 2: Actions and Market Instruments.  GHGP indicated that the combined standard will seek to “reduce fragmentation, increase interoperability, and provide organizations with a single trusted foundation for climate reporting and decision-making” with additional guidance documents provided to assist users with implementation.    Next steps. GHGP also published a new “Corporate Standard – Standard Development Plan” which provides key details, processes, and timelines for developing the consolidated corporate standard. GHGP noted that to achieve harmonization under its partnership with the ISO, each of their respective governance bodies approved a new timeline which includes a consolidated public consultation in Q2 2027 and publication of the consolidated joint corporate standard in Q4 2028.   For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com.

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Canada and Alberta Reach Agreement-in-Principle on Methane Equivalency

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The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta have announced an Agreement-in-Principle to lower methane emissions in the oil and gas sector by 75% below 2014 levels by 2035 in Alberta. The Agreement-in-Principle builds on the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding (see our earlier bulletin here) and follows the recently published draft Co-operation Agreement between Alberta and Canada on Environmental and Impact Assessment. Under the proposed framework, Alberta would implement a performance-based approach to reduce methane emissions that combines regulations, offset credits, and targeted investments. This bulletin briefly summarizes the key commitments set out in the Agreement-in-Principle. Commitments. Alberta and Canada commit to: develop an outcome-based equivalency agreement (the Agreement) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), whereby Canada’s Enhanced Methane Regulations would be stood down in Alberta, in recognition of final provincial regulations and a provincial approach that delivers, over the term of the Agreement, 75% methane emissions reductions by 2035; act reasonably in adjusting the Agreement, if required, in the face of a force majeure event; jointly select and rely on an independent third party, contracted on an equal cost-shared basis, to conduct methane modelling, analysis of emissions reductions, and to assess methane reduction results; and agree that Alberta will publish information explaining the covered sources of methane and the province’s approach to meet its emissions reduction targets. Next Steps. Once Alberta and Canada agree on the terms of the Agreement, it will undergo a 60-day consultation period, with the goal of finalizing it by the end of the year and implementing it no later than January 1, 2027, for a 10-year period, subject to the amendments to CEPA contained in the federal Budget 2025 Implementation Act. Alberta’s existing equivalency agreement will remain in place until the Agreement is finalized.   For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com.

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EPA to Rescind 2009 GHG Endangerment Finding

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday announced its intent to rescind the 2009 Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Finding for Greenhouse Gases (the Finding) later this week. The Finding, issued under the Clean Air Act (the Act) and preceded by confirmation of the EPA’s regulatory authority by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark 2007 decision, has served as the legal foundation for almost all climate regulations under the Act, including auto standards. Once rescinded, the EPA is expected to repeal all GHG emission standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines. The EPA previously indicated that engine and vehicle manufacturers would no longer have any future obligations for the measurement, control, and reporting of GHG emissions for any highway engine and vehicle. The EPA has stated, however, that it would maintain regulations necessary for criteria pollutant and air toxic measurement and standards, Corporate Average Fuel Economy testing, and associated fuel economy labeling requirements. Background. On December 7, 2009, the Obama Administration signed two distinct findings regarding GHGs under section 202(a) of the Act: Endangerment Finding. Current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) – in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. Cause or Contribute Finding. The combined emissions of the well-mixed GHGs from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines contribute to the GHG pollution that threatens public health and welfare. On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the EPA to submit recommendations regarding the legality and continuing applicability of the Finding. Following that directive, the EPA announced last summer that it was reconsidering the Finding, culminating in this week’s anticipated formal rescinding of the Finding.   For further information or to discuss the contents…

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President Trump Directs U.S. Withdrawal From 66 International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties

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Yesterday, President Trump issued a memorandum on “Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States” (the Memorandum). The Memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawal of the United States and cease participating in and funding of 35 non-United Nations (UN) organizations and 31 UN entities that “operate contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.” Most notably, the Memorandum directs the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a move with potentially far-reaching implications for global climate action, climate multilateralism, and international climate science coordination and reporting. This bulletin identifies the key climate, environment, and energy-related organizations listed in the Memorandum and provides an overview of the differing processes and implications of withdrawing the U.S. from the UNFCCC and the soon to be effected withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Non-UN Organizations. The U.S. will withdraw from the IPCC and, among others, the following climate, environment, and energy-related non-UN organizations: 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact; Commission for Environmental Cooperation; Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research; Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development; Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; International Energy Forum; International Renewable Energy Agency; International Solar Alliance; International Tropical Timber Organization; International Union for Conservation of Nature; Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century; and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme. UN Organizations. The U.S. will effectively withdraw from the UNFCCC and, among others, the following climate, environment, and energy-related UN organizations by “ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law”: Department of Economic and Social Affairs; International Law Commission; International Trade Centre;…

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