Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues are now or will become the top of agendas for governments and businesses. Clients are frequently asking us to help them horizon scan – to look ahead to identify risks and trends, as well as the opportunities created by the changes in ESG laws and practices. ESG issues cut across many sectors and frequently are cross-border in nature.

Benefit from our global presence to support your business’ needs

Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the general public are exerting pressure on companies to change the way they do business, requiring them to be mindful of their impact on the Earth’s limited resources and environment. While such pressures can complicate matters, it also provides an opportunity for businesses to engage these and other stakeholders.

At Dentons Rodyk, we will work together with you for various aspects of ESG-related considerations. These include formulating your ESG strategy, running a gap/risk analysis on your existing ESG set-up, ESG-related compliances, board responsibility, diversity and inclusion and supply-chain related services. Should the need arise, we are more than ready to address major events swiftly by conducting investigations and handling civil litigations.

As environmental and natural resources issues are regional and global in nature, you can rely on our global presence to support your business’ needs. When you work with us, you will be instantly connected to the Dentons environment - a global network of lawyers experienced in international and regional regulations.

ESG Services

Energy Transition, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

• Engie: Conducted legal diligence to scope out the I-REC regulatory environment in Singapore.
• Gram Oorja: Advising Gram Oorja, a solar projects implementation company as they raise US$2 million – 10 million through the Asian Development Bank’s PFAN system. Project is already in the pipeline and has been shortlisted to be presented to investors.
• Chew’s Agriculture Pte Ltd: Advising a renowned Singapore farm operator in relation to the build, own and operate (BOO) of a waste-to-energy facility by a service provider listed on SGX in the farm premises to convert organic chicken manure into energy.
• Nomadd Desert Solar Solutions: Acted for Nomadd, a spin-out company from KAUST in its Series A and Series B equity fundraising rounds involving investors DSM Venturing and specialist Saudi Arabian construction company CEPCO. Nomadd designs and supplies fully automated, waterless cleaning robots, corresponding software as well as after-sales services to photovoltaic (PV) developers and engineering procurement and construction (EPC) companies.

Environmental Law and Compliance

• Insights on New Resource Sustainability Act, 2019 (Singapore):
  Food Waste law under the new Resource Sustainability Act, 2019 (Singapore)
  Plastic Packaging law under the new Resource Sustainability Act, 2019 (Singapore)
  E-Waste law under the new Resource Sustainability Act, 2019 (Singapore)
• A Singapore Healthcare Group: Conducted a presentation on Singapore’s Resource Sustainability Act of 2019 to understand how it would impact the Group.
• Environment and human health related product advertising: Advised ACCO on Indian and Singapore law to check their product against allowable environmental claims and human health linkages.
• Logos Property: Advising with the drafting of risk management practices and guidelines in accordance with Singapore law including environmental and property related concerns. Also advised on several Singapore law issues in relation to the handling of complaints, investigations and legal actions resulting from workplace safety.

Biodiversity Law

• Various clients (Biodiversity Law/Access and Benefit-Sharing): End-to-end services for companies helping them comply with Indian Biological Diversity Laws. Includes advising them on analysing their internal supply chains to identify compliance points for access to genetic resources, negotiating with the government for payment of fees. Currently advising Proctor & Gamble as their legal counsel for all Indian Biodiversity Act related matters. Previously advised Lupin Pharma and Jubilant Life Sciences on biodiversity law compliance.
• The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (Switzerland): Assisted the organisation to navigate access and benefit sharing laws in Bangladesh to check their applicability on an influenza strain from Bangladesh (not COVID-19).

Public Policy and International Law

• Government of India: Built a curriculum for Indian government stakeholders to understand the new international ocean agreement and how it impacts the Indian Ocean Region, India’s shipping sector, fisheries and other revenues from marine resources. This project was funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (Germany).
• National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (India): Report on the legal regime and challenges implementing the Access and Benefit Sharing Law in India, including its sector-wise revenue potential.
• Sustainable India Finance Facility: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Sustainable India Finance Facility (fund created by UNEP, BNP Paribas and World Agroforestry Center) and law firm offering exclusive end-to-end services for public and private sector clients in the environment and energy space to collaborate on transformative opportunities for forests, biodiversity, energy access and social impact by bridging the gap between the government, private sector and communities.

ESG in Supply Chains

• Learn more about the top takeaways from our ESG Supply Chain Webinar here.
• Download a copy of our ESG Supply Chain Risk and Compliance flyer here.

Sustainable Finance and Investments

• Key takeaways from our webinars:
  • Translating EU laws for banks and funds investing in Asia
  • ESG in Banking Practice in Asia: De-risking lending and identifying opportunities in green finance
• Indian Green Bond Council: Drafted the background document (FAQs) to accompany SEBI’s Disclosure Requirements for Green Debt Securities.
• Syndicate of banks: Advising DBS and OCBC in their grant of approximately S$296.25 million green loan club financing to a special purpose joint venture company to finance the acquisition of Grade-A eco-friendly office towers at 7 and 9 Tampines Grande, Singapore.
• DBS Bank: Acting in its grant of a S$300 million multi-currency sustainability-linked loan to CapitaLand. The five-year term loan and revolving credit facility is the first and largest sustainability-linked loan in Asia’s real estate sector.
• The SPV of a Singapore listed company: Acted for the borrower in its club financing from a syndicate of banks of more than S$300 million for various purposes, including towards the development of an industrial property and working capital requirements of the group across the Asia Pacific region. Part of the facilities are able to be utilised as a green loan financing in line with the Green Loan Principles by the Loan Market Association and the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association and is the first green loan secured by the Singapore-based property developer.
• Sunpower Group Ltd: Advising the company, which is listed on the Singapore stock exchange, and which is in the business of designing and manufacturing energy saving and environmental protection products for customers in the petrochemical, steel and transportation industries, on a retainer basis, with respect to a variety of corporate matters, including, without limitation, advising on the recent transfer of convertible bonds issued by the company.

Insights

Dentons Rodyk Dialogue 2021

November 8, 2021

Singapore: The Dentons Rodyk Dialogue 2021 marked the fifth year of partnership between the firm and the Singapore Management University’s (“SMU”) Centre for Commercial Law in Asia (CCLA). This year, the Dialogue was conducted in a hybrid fashion, involving a small group of attendees at a physical venue as well as virtual attendees and speakers. The Dialogue focused on the topic of how sustainability and innovation could be a strategic response to crises, such as those posed by the current ongoing pandemic.

Competition Law’s Role in the Green Agenda

July 16, 2021

Singapore: Reducing the global carbon footprint is an insurmountable challenge that is most effective with collective effort. Without explicit or robust guidance from competition authorities in many jurisdictions as to competition law’s recognition, treatment and assessment of sustainability objectives, businesses continue to face competition law risks. To help businesses navigate such risks, this article will explore the potential treatment of sustainability initiatives under Singapore’s existing framework as well as the approach adopted overseas.

E-Waste law under the new Resource Sustainability Act, 2019 (Singapore)

May 20, 2021

Singapore: In order to reduce waste being sent to the Semakau landfill, Singapore introduced the Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019. The masterplan, along with the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA), 2019 provide the strategy and the legal framework to position Singapore as a sustainable, resource-efficient nation. These new developments apply to three waste-generating sectors – electrical and electronic waste, food waste and packaging waste. Part III of the RSA legislates on e-waste management in Singapore, which provides for an extended producer responsibility system.

View all insights for Environmental, Social and Governance in Singapore