Issue 29: August 9, 2023

Litigation:

Family members of several individuals killed or injured by Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front have lodged a legal claim against cement maker Lafarge over bribe payments the French company made to those groups to continue operations at its cement plant in Syria. Lafarge was the first company to plead guilty in the US to aiding a terrorist organization in 2022 and agreed to pay a $777.8 million penalty. The current claim alleges that Lefarge's payments aided the terrorist attacks that targeted the plaintiffs.

Standards:

The European Commission has adopted the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for use by all companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). ESRS will apply from January 1, 2024 and to all undertakings under the scope of the CSRD. Sector-specific standards, proportionate standards for listed SMEs, and standards for non-EU companies will be adopted by June 30, 2024. The Commission has sought