Europe’s Toughest ESG Rule Hits Wall of German Objections (1)

The European Union’s most stringent ESG rule to date may be scuppered due to eleventh-hour German opposition to the plan.

The EU was on track to move forward with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive after December, when lawmakers and representatives of member states ended months of negotiations with a provisional agreement. Under the directive, companies would face civil liability for failing to address environmental and human rights breaches in their value chains. It also mandates climate transition plans.

Germany has a similar national law and had been an important supporter of the EU legislation, designed in part ...