Ceres adds NYC comptroller, former EPA administrator to board

Mark Levine and Gina McCarthy — who led the Biden administration’s climate policy office — were among five additions made to the sustainability nonprofit’s board of directors.

By Lamar Johnson • July 29, 2026

AI governance growing in importance for investors: Diligent Market Intelligence

“Governance around AI is probably going to be the most important thing in investor relations over the next two years,” Diligent’s editor-in-chief told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • July 28, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

The landscape for ESG continues to shift, as U.S. exits from major climate agreements and organizations are juxtaposed with states forging ahead with their own climate disclosure laws.

By ESG Dive staff

CSO numbers dip as regulatory, geopolitical volatility ramps up: report

The total number of chief sustainability officers at U.S. publicly traded companies declined by 10% in 2026, but new research from the Weinreb Group says the dip is “a single data point, not a trend.”

By Lauren Schenkman • July 28, 2026

Most corporate boards lack rules for AI use: Deloitte survey

AI "use for board-level purposes seems to be comparatively new, uneven and still maturing,” Deloitte said.

By Jim Tyson • July 28, 2026

Google, Ford, others launch skilled trades workforce initiative

The tech and auto companies joined BlackRock and workwear apparel brand Carhartt to form the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades.

By Lamar Johnson • July 27, 2026

Mondelēz shows uneven gains on 2025 sustainable sourcing goals

The Oreo and Ritz maker reported 100% certified sourcing for palm oil and cocoa.

By Antone Gonsalves • July 27, 2026

Black-owned banks Optus, Mechanics & Farmers to merge

The roughly $105 million deal, set to close in the fourth quarter, will create a $1.3 billion-asset entity, the largest Black-owned bank in the country, the institutions said Wednesday.

By Dan Ennis • July 24, 2026

Tracking New York’s climate ambition and corporate disclosure laws

The Empire State has had to dial back its climate ambition and revise targets in the wake of COVID-19, the Trump administration’s opposition to renewable energy and the ongoing affordability crisis.

By Zoya Mirza • July 23, 2026

Investor coalition urges SEC to ‘largely retain’ shareholder proposal rule

The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated plans to alter Rule 14a-8, which governs the shareholder proposal process, with Chair Paul Atkins hinting at wholesale changes.

By Lamar Johnson • July 23, 2026

92% of CFOs, top finance staff feel pressure to show ROI from AI: survey

Half of survey respondents said their AI agents have yielded only limited measurable ROI, according to Avalara.

By Jim Tyson • July 23, 2026

BlackRock’s GIP, Microsoft-backed AI group buy Aligned Data Centers for $40B

The deal represents the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership’s first investment, as it joins Global Infrastructure Partners and UAE tech investment firm MGX in acquiring the data center developer.

By Lamar Johnson • July 22, 2026

Delta, Shell expand SAF partnership with new five-year deal

The agreement will expand sustainable aviation fuel capacity and infrastructure at five international airport hubs. 

By Lamar Johnson • July 21, 2026

Citizens Bank to exit agreements with ICE contractors

Citizens called the end of its relationships with CoreCivic and GEO “a business decision” that “does not reflect any change in our view regarding these companies' business models or operations.”

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 21, 2026

Citi commits $25M to drive innovation in housing access, affordability

The funding will be provided through the Citi Impact Fund which backs startups that aim to advance social equity and assist economically vulnerable communities while generating financial returns.

By Zoya Mirza • July 20, 2026

Amazon’s 2025 emissions jump as AI brings ‘momentum and complexity’: report

The tech and e-commerce company’s absolute carbon emissions increased 16% in 2025 from the previous year, as it reported adding more data center capacity than any other company globally.

By Lamar Johnson • July 20, 2026

Meta’s AI-based layoffs allegedly targeted workers who had taken protected leave

The company used “a constellation of internal artificial-intelligence systems” to determine who would be included in its 10% reduction in force, per a lawsuit.

By Ginger Christ • July 20, 2026

Pennsylvania data centers face increased oversight under new law

Data centers will now have to provide annual energy usage reports to the state, and the PJM Interconnection will need to give state regulators additional insight into its demand forecasting.

By Diana DiGangi • July 17, 2026

Disclosing corporate sustainability progress in a divided regulatory landscape

As companies continue to grapple with what they are required to disclose, those who establish stakeholder-relevant reporting practices will be best prepared for what comes next, according to Smurfit Westrock’s sustainability head.

By Garrett Quinn • July 17, 2026

Gap taps Levi’s CSO to lead sustainability strategy

Jeffrey Hogue has stepped away from his role as Levi’s chief sustainability officer to steer Gap’s ESG strategy and initiatives, which includes a 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

By Zoya Mirza • July 16, 2026

Best Buy brings rooftop solar to retail

The new solar sites include the retailer’s first store with a rooftop “community solar garden” as it looks to a 2040 net-zero target.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated July 17, 2026

California blocked from enforcing upcoming law on recycling labels

Ahead of an October start date, a federal court has granted a preliminary injunction. The Flexible Packaging Association and American Forest & Paper Association reacted to the news.

By Maria Rachal • July 16, 2026

Exclusive: Corporate social responsibility teams facing increased pressure, burnout in 2026

Professionals in charge of executing companies' social strategy are increasingly being asked to make the business case for their work and measure impacts, according to a new survey from the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals.

By Lauren Schenkman • July 15, 2026

New York sues chemical titans over alleged PFAS exposure

The state accused 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva and Corteva subsidiary EIDP, of deliberately manufacturing, marketing and selling consumer products laced with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

By Sara Samora • July 15, 2026

Shell sells India-based renewables business for $1.8B

The energy giant will sell its stake in Sprng Energy to Aditya Birla Renewables, which counts the BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners as a minority owner.

By Lamar Johnson • July 14, 2026

PepsiCo improves sustainable sourcing, delays emissions reporting

The company reported a four percentage point increase in sustainably sourced ingredients in 2025 but will release Scope 3 emissions metrics later this summer.

By Phil Neuffer • Updated July 14, 2026