Climate Change & Sustainability

Climate change has shifted from a debate about environmental impact to a major economic and regulatory challenge. Sustainability and mitigation now present both risks and opportunities, requiring informed, commercially focused legal solutions.

Our national Climate Change and Sustainability Group brings together specialists in energy, environment, finance, planning, infrastructure, property and resources. We advise government, regulators, and industry on responsive transitions, renewable energy projects, sustainable finance, emissions abatement, biodiversity conservation, reporting and regulatory compliance, and market-based and voluntary schemes.

We support clients with climate policy adaptation strategies, water reform, sustainable development projects, green leases, energy contracts, infrastructure planning, and delivery of renewable projects—navigating legal, regulatory and commercial issues across both regulated and voluntary markets.

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Climate Change & Sustainability

Our experience

  • ACT Government Advised on its 100% renewable energy program, including wind farms, solar farms and battery storage pilot scheme, and including issues concerning the overlap between the Territory schemes and the federal Renewable Energy Target.
  • AFMA Drafted the standard spot contract for trading in renewable energy certificates and other environmental trading products.
  • Clean Energy Regulator Advised on its standard auction contract for purchasing abatement from projects funded by the Emissions Reduction Fund; advised on its carbon credit auction program for the Direct Action Fund.
  • Commonwealth Department of Environment Advised on its forestry sequestration carbon credit program under the Clean Energy Act.
  • Various energy sector participants, including generators, gas producers and energy retailers Advised on the implementation and repeal of the Clean Energy Act 2011 (Cth) across mining, energy and water sectors, including carbon pass-through, CFI, Kyoto mechanisms, NGERS compliance, executive liability, disclosure and reporting obligations.
  • Wind Energy Projects Acted as lead advisor on EPC, O&M, and related contracts for wind energy projects at Taralga (NSW), Challicum Hills (Vic), Wattle Point, Starfish Hill, Lake Bonney II, Walkaway, Chepstowe, Tararua III, White Hills and Yanco Delta. Also led development and sale of Mt Gellibrand, Moorabool, Lal Lal, Dundonnell.
  • Institutional and Corporate Clients Advised on mapping climate action risks and ESG imperatives including risk mitigation and regulatory reporting requirements.
  • Government and Local Government Clients Developed climate change adaption strategies for floodplain management, coastal hazards and biodiversity conservation both in planning and environmental terms and from a potential liability perspective.