Worldwide

The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will expire in 2012. Governments around the world are gearing up to meet in Copenhagen this December and negotiate a political agreement about what to do after 2012.

Argentina

A new law has been enacted in the Province of Buenos Aires in connection with management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (hereinafter, "WEEE"). Law No. 14,321 was published in the Official Bulletin of the Province of Buenos Aires on December 15, 2011 (including certain notes established in the Enactment Decree No 2300/10) and became effective on December 23, 2011 (hereinafter, the "WEEE Law").

Law No. 14,343 was published on Monday January 23, 2012 in the Official Bulletin of the Province of Buenos Aires.

Brazil

The new Forestry Code (Federal Law No. 12.651/2012) significantly modifies the laws governing specially protected areas, such as "Permanent Preservation Areas" and "Legal Reserves".

Artigo discute as questões abordadas na conferência das Nações Unidas sobre mudanças climáticas.

Antes do início da conferência das Nações Unidas para mudanças climáticas, ocorrida em Doha, em dezembro de 2012, uma série de estudos realizados por organizações respeitáveis alertava que, mantido o atual grau de ambição no corte das emissões globais de carbono, o mundo estará quatro graus Celsius mais quente ao final do século, ou seja, o dobro do que os governos delinearam como objetivo nas conferências passadas.

Superior Court of Justice annuls environmental Conduct Adjustment Agreement (TAC).

The National Fund about Climate Change ("Climate Fund") was created by Law no. 12114, of December 9, 2009, and regulated by Decree no. 7343, of October 26, 2010, with the purpose of providing resources to support research and finance projects to mitigate climate change effects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The new Forest Code and the rules from the Ministry of the Environment may be considered an improvement to Brazil's environmental laws.

The publication of the National Solid Waste Policy – NSWP (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos), on the 2nd of August of 2010 (pursuant to Law 12.305/2010), sets out the Brazilian federal government’s intentions with regard to waste management.

The Regulation of the National Policy on Waste Management, established by Decree No. 7,404/10 (the Decree), was published on December 23, 2010.

On August 3, 2010, the Brazilian National Policy on Waste Management (PNRS) came into force. Established by Federal Law n. 12,305/2010, the PNRS provides for guidelines on joint and environmentally appropriate management of solid waste, and regulates issues such as joint management, proper allocation and disposal, and shared responsibilities.

The introduction of a federal cap-and-trade system in the US would bring significant changes to carbon markets globally. This will be possible if the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008, as proposed by a bill introduced in the US Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer on May 20,2008, is enacted.

The Brazilian Government launched its National Plan on Climate Change on December 1, 2008, during the 14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 14) in Poznan, Poland.

Honduras

Honduras Environment is regulated by the General Law of the Environment and its bylaws; the General Bylaws of Environmental Health; and by the National Environmental Impact Assessment System bylaws.

Mexico

For those of you following the public trust climate litigation in New Mexico, Judge Sarah Singleton has now issued a written decision denying the state’s motion to dismiss the case.

On June 6, 2012, the General Law of Climate Change (the "CCL") (Ley General de Cambio Climático) was published in Mexico's Official Gazette of the Federation.

On April 19, the Mexican Congress passed a climate change bill that sets greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the country.

On Thursday, April 19, 2012, Mexico's lower and upper houses passed a sweeping climate change bill clearing the way for President Felipe Calderon to sign it into law.

After five years of starting with the intention of modifying the Plant Varieties Federal Law (PVFL) and having in mind the harmonization of the Mexican legal framework with UPOV 1991 as a main purpose, finally, on October 12, 2011 the Agricultural and Livestock Commission of the Chamber of Senators approved a bill of the PVFL which includes the required harmonization with UPOV 1991 and the subject matter of two bills previously received by the Mexican Congress.