Sustainability, Competition Law and Greenwashing

Event Details

There is no doubt that sustainability is a high priority both nationally and internationally. In December 2019, the European Commission published 'The European Green Deal' and the United Nations' issued its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - a 'plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity'. In March this year, the UK's Competition Markets Authority published advice on how competition and consumer laws can help meet the UK's environmental goals and it plans to establish a Sustainability Taskforce. 

Sustainability is important across markets, but some firms and investors feel competition law is a roadblock for industries to move together collectively. There may be circumstances in which sustainability objectives cannot be achieved, or at least may only be achieved more slowly, if this is left purely to market forces and the process of competition. Sustainability objectives can often best be achieved through governmental action and undertakings acting in an identical manner pursuant to sustainability requirements imposed by law or regulation will not be infringing competition law. However, many desirable sustainable goals are not subject to legislative or regulatory rules, and it is therefore necessary to consider:
 (i) to what extent the market and competitive forces can contribute to sustainability goals; and
(ii) the extent to which competition law might act as an impediment to the achievement of those goals as claimed by several firms.

This event will be held under the Chatham House Rule

Chair

Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen, Senior Research Fellow in Competition Law and Director, Competition Law Forum

Discussant 
Jackie Holland, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb,

Speakers

• Sarah Cardell, Acting CEO, Competition Markets Authority (CMA) 
• Maurits Dolmans, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb 
• Sheldon Mills, Executive Director, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA),
• David Rouch, Partner, Freshfields
• Martin Snoep, Chairman, Authority for consumers and Markets (ACM),

Event convened by Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen, Senior Research Fellow in Competition Law and Director, Competition Law Forum

Read the News Release about this event 

Pricing and Registration

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