In the last decade the concept of sustainability has become increasingly important and has made its way to the core of both public and corporate politics and policies. The transition to a more sustainable society, with clean or carbon neutral energy, services and products is driven by new legislation. This affects many aspects of both business and everyday life and has catalysed significant regulatory and structural changes in many industries. This yields both challenges and new opportunities, for business and society as a whole.
Businesses and organisations are increasingly required to comply with legislative requirements for sustainability, and are expected to include voluntary frameworks for sustainability in their operations and policies. Customers will often require suppliers to comply with sustainability-related requirements, and to report on various sustainability parameters, both as part of their own compliance and to reflect their own values and policies in supply chain management. Investors will require that their investments have a sustainable profile, and that the investment qualifies under EU taxonomy criteria. Sustainability is a key competitive parameter that enterprises must increasingly both account and accept accountability for.
Sustainability law is an emerging field of law covering both public and private law aspects, and a broad scope of both international and national regulations. Regulatory efforts are largely driven by international treaties and cooperation, and Norway is party the majority of the global initiatives. Being an EEA member state, Norway follows the rules and policies of the EU relating to sustainability. However, Norway has sustainability laws and goals that are specific to Norway, and the implementation of international laws into national legislation may vary from that of other countries. Local regulations may also yield specific local requirements.
Sustainability is an important pillar of Hjort’s future. We support businesses as they seek to adapt and enable a more sustainable future. We provide assistance and advice in all matters related to sustainability. This includes mapping out regulatory requirements, liaising with authorities, drafting and implementing corporate governance frameworks, sustainability policies and supply chain requirements, performing due diligence reviews and similar audits, and other work associated with sustainability.
Sustainability efforts are often driven by a combination of legislation, technological developments, and commercial incentives. This requires a holistic approach to sustainability, and an ability to combine legislative requirements with technological solutions and new business models. We combine our resources to create the best legal team for each matter. We are eager to work with other professionals to create the best holistic solutions.
Sustainability is also essential to Hjort’s internal policies and operations. Learn more about our policies and operations here.
