ESG Regulations & Frameworks
A plain-language reference to the major ESG and sustainability regulations and reporting frameworks shaping how companies disclose, decarbonize, and manage impact. Each page summarizes who it applies to, key dates, and the official source.
Informational reference only, not legal advice. Each page links to the official source.
- AFIREuropean UnionIn forceAlternative Fuels Infrastructure RegulationBinding EU targets for public EV charging and hydrogen refuelling: fleet-based kW per vehicle, fast-charging pools every 60 km on core TEN-T roads, and card payment with per-kWh price transparency.
- CAFEUnited StatesIn forceNHTSA Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (MY2027-2031)NHTSA's June 2024 CAFE rule (89 FR 52540) remains on the books but is effectively unenforceable: H.R.1 set the civil penalty to $0.00 (July 2025) and NHTSA is rulemaking to replace it.
- China Dual-CreditChinaIn forceParallel Management Regulation for Corporate Average Fuel Consumption and New Energy Vehicle CreditsMIIT dual-credit scheme: passenger-car makers above 30,000 units/yr must hit a rising NEV credit ratio (28% 2024, 38% 2025, 48% 2026, 58% 2027) and a fuel-consumption target, offset via tradable credits.
- CRMAEuropean UnionIn forceCritical Raw Materials ActEU framework targeting 10% domestic extraction, 40% processing and 25% recycling of strategic raw materials by 2030, capped at 65% from any single country, with fast-tracked permitting for strategic projects.
- EU TaxonomyEuropean UnionIn forceEU Taxonomy RegulationAn EU classification system defining which economic activities count as environmentally sustainable, used as a reference across EU sustainable finance rules.
- NEVIUnited StatesIn forceNational Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula ProgramFHWA suspended NEVI plan approvals in February 2025, freezing the $5B charging program; states sued and a January 2026 ruling held the freeze unlawful, so funds are flowing again.
- NZIAEuropean UnionIn forceNet-Zero Industry ActEU framework targeting domestic manufacturing of at least 40% of annual deployment needs for strategic net-zero technologies, including batteries, by 2030, with fast-tracked permitting for gigafactories.
- UK SECRUnited KingdomIn forceUK Streamlined Energy and Carbon ReportingUK framework requiring qualifying companies to report energy use and carbon emissions in their annual reports.
- UK ZEV MandateUnited KingdomIn forceUK Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023)UK ZEV Mandate sets rising zero-emission sales shares (22% cars / 10% vans in 2024 to 80% cars / 70% vans by 2030, 100% by 2035), enforced by tradable credits and a 12,000 pound per-car shortfall payment.
- UN GTRs (WLTP)InternationalIn forceUNECE WP.29 Global Technical Regulations for Electric Vehicles (WLTP and Battery Durability)UNECE WP.29 GTRs harmonise EV testing worldwide: GTR No. 15 (WLTP, 2014) defines range and efficiency measurement and GTR No. 22 (2022) sets in-vehicle battery durability minima, both under the 1998 Agreement.