Google commits over $15B to AI infrastructure in Finland

The investments include long term deals to keep a Finnish nuclear power plant online along with other clean energy investments planned for 2027-28.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 9, 2026

Federal judge blocks New York’s $75B Climate Change Superfund Act

New York can no longer enforce a state law that requires fossil fuel companies to financially compensate it in billions of dollars for their role in generating greenhouse gas emissions.

By Zoya Mirza • Sept. 8, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

The ESG landscape in the U.S. continues to shift, as federal agencies' efforts to recalibrate their approach to sustainability are juxtaposed with states forging ahead with their own climate disclosure laws.

By ESG Dive staff

SEC prods ISS on client vote, recommendation disclosures

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s request “raises serious First Amendment concerns,” an Institutional Shareholder Services spokesperson told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 8, 2026

U.S. firms plan to increase employee base salary budgets by an average 3.3% in 2027

With respect to incentive payouts, more companies are expecting them to fall below target levels than above them.

By David McCann • Sept. 8, 2026

Google-Fervo geothermal deal underscores baseload power scarcity, analysts say

Key risks remain, however, including “first-of-a-kind execution,” interconnection bottlenecks, capital intensity and competing technology paths, according to a research note from financial services company William Blair.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 4, 2026

Fewer than 25% of enterprises have scaled AI successfully

Not knowing how to measure a project’s success or when to shut it down can keep companies from finding success, Gartner data found.

By Paige Gross • Sept. 4, 2026

Lowe’s, BofA, AT&T, Nvidia, more launch workforce training initiative

Nearly 80 companies, vendors, workforce organizations and educational institutions have joined the coalition, which aims to train 1 million people for skilled trade careers by 2035.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 3, 2026

Three legal challenges to building a global carbon market for companies

As the global carbon market enters a critical stage, companies should prepare for a changing environment, a Morgan Lewis partner says.

By Levi McAllister • Sept. 3, 2026

Microsoft noise lawsuit is latest in legal wave hitting data center operations

One of the tech giant's data centers emits a hard-to-measure, low-level hum that Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, residents allege is a nuisance that’s hurting property values.

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 2, 2026

California sues Trump administration over offshore wind ‘extortion racket’

The state alleges the Trump administration “abuses its authority” by diminishing the value of offshore wind energy leases before it makes an “unrefusable offer” to developers.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 2, 2026

SEC to propose recission of rule governing shareholder proposals: OMB

The Securities and Exchange Commission has submitted a proposal to rescind Rule 14a-8 to the White House Office of Management and Budget. The proposal is pending regulatory review.  

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 1, 2026

Starbucks faces another union boycott, activist investor pressure

Pro-labor investors want the chain to split its board chair and CEO roles as Starbucks Workers United asks consumers to join its contract fight.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 1, 2026

Black CFO representation falls 25% from 2021 peak as diversity levels off

The number of Black finance chiefs in Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies ticked down to 15 this year, according to the report from Crist Kolder Associates.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 31, 2026

Ben & Jerry’s adds three board members to boost social mission

The ice cream maker’s newly appointed independent directors bring decades of experience in environmental and social justice, civil rights, economic equity and free speech.

By Zoya Mirza • Updated Aug. 27, 2026

Companies that roll back DEI don’t perform better financially, study says

“Large corporations appear to have folded under pressure for no financial gain,” a public policy scholar wrote.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 25, 2026

Want a board seat? Xero’s CFO says being a good operator isn’t enough

Claire Bramley says CFOs chasing board seats need to show they can think like enterprise leaders, not just modern finance leaders.

By Adam Zaki • Aug. 24, 2026

Citi reports sustainable finance progress, sets new 2030 goals

The bank said it had committed $647.2 billion to sustainable financing since 2020, with CEO Jane Fraser noting its clients see resilience as a “competitive necessity.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 24, 2026

B&G Foods’ Green Giant sale runs into antitrust concerns in Canada

The sale of two vegetable brands to Nortera Foods could lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers, the country’s Competition Bureau claimed.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 21, 2026

Governance proposals rise as environmental and social filings plummet: report

Though governance proposals remain the most popular category among companies, support also fell for such proposals, The Conference Board found.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 20, 2026

Today’s water projects focus on ‘every last drop’: McCarthy water lead

As environmental concerns and surging tech builds draw more focus to water, new plants and infrastructure upgrades will continue to drive demand, said exec Jaren Murphy.

By Matthew Thibault • Aug. 20, 2026

Walmart flags fewer supplier standard violations

The retailer logged 754 cases in fiscal 2026, down 35% year over year, according to its latest ESG report.

By Kelly Stroh • Aug. 19, 2026

US calls for EU to ‘deliver’ on trade concessions on sustainability laws

The United States’ ambassador to the European Union said that the government will take “any actions necessary to address unreasonable burdens on U.S. commerce.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 18, 2026

Executives put the spotlight on AI’s reliability issue

Only 35% of leaders say AI consistently delivers business outcomes, earns regulator confidence and allows control, according to a report from HFS Research and TCS.

By Makenzie Holland • Aug. 18, 2026

SEC says it will stop responding to no-action requests ‘entirely’

After sitting out the bulk of the no-action process in the 2025-26 proxy season, the SEC is now considering broader changes to the rule governing shareholder proposals.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 17, 2026

Labor market exhibits ‘continued resilience,’ The Conference Board finds

Multiple factors have made an already complex job market even more volatile this year, per a report.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 17, 2026