SEC won’t weigh in on most no-action requests this proxy season, including ESG submissions

The change “has the potential to end shareholder proposals as we know them,” a former SEC corporation finance division director told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 17, 2025

Progress on corporate water sustainability ‘not happening quickly enough’: Ceres

While most companies have improved their water stewardship practices in some capacity since 2023, the sustainability nonprofit warns that change isn’t happening fast enough.

By Lauren Schenkman • Nov. 17, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, from the U.S. pulling out of major climate agreements to federal agencies recalibrating their approach to sustainability under the new administration.

By ESG Dive staff

Shell to sell ‘substantial portion’ of Volta EV business

The sale comes less than three years after the oil giant acquired Volta for $169 million to help scale its EV charging capabilities in the U.S.

By Brett Dworski • Nov. 17, 2025

EU Parliament votes to weaken corporate sustainability laws

Under the changes, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive would only apply to large and very large businesses, respectively.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 14, 2025

Starbucks Workers United launches 65-store strike

The union said its members are prepared for the longest and most serious strike in the brand’s history, aimed at pushing Starbucks to agree to more favorable contract terms.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 14, 2025

Enviri’s potential sale of Clean Earth moves forward

The environmental services company is seeing strong interest in its hazardous waste business as it looks to unlock value from the high-performing segment.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 13, 2025

Bipartisan bill would require employers to report AI-related layoffs

Over the past year, legislators of all political leanings have proposed ideas to mitigate the potential harms of AI to workers.

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 13, 2025

HSBC waters down interim targets in updated net-zero transition plan

The bank scaled back a range of goals it was pursuing for its sector-specific 2030 targets, citing a global transition that “has progressed at an inconsistent pace.”

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 12, 2025

Is the rise of female CFOs pausing — or stalling out?

Women accounted for 17.5% of CFOs at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies at the end of June, roughly flat YoY, according to Crist Kolder Associates.

By Colleen Lutolf • Nov. 12, 2025

SBTi’s latest draft standard proposes flexible, scope-specific target setting

The second draft of the updated standard introduces scope-specific emissions approaches, including three options for reducing scope 1 emissions.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 10, 2025

Brookfield sees opportunities for nuclear, hydropower

Strong corporate procurements and U.S. government interest support the company’s “clean firm” investments as renewables remain strong, executives said this week.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 10, 2025

Unilever CSO steps down amid company’s corporate restructuring

Rebecca Marmot is exiting her role as chief sustainability officer and leaving Unilever after serving at the company for nearly two decades.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 7, 2025

GM, Stellantis pivot from EVs to build more gas vehicles

As electric vehicle adoption slows in the U.S. and federal grants dry up, automakers and suppliers are shifting their focus.

By Larry Avila • Nov. 7, 2025

Shell, Mitsubishi invest $17M in hybrid direct air capture startup

DAC developer Avnos will use the funding to build its first commercial-scale facility for its technology that pulls CO2 and water from the atmosphere.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 6, 2025

Former Paramount exec alleges termination was related to DEI goals

The White, 58-year old exec alleged he was fired as part of a purported reduction in force, but replaced with a non-White, 25-year-old employee.

By Kate Tornone • Nov. 6, 2025

Heineken leans on renewable energy-powered heat batteries to decarbonize brewery

The beermaker is using a solar and thermal storage system to cut down emissions generated by its brewery and malting plant near Lisbon, Portugal.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 5, 2025

Trade, policy ‘headwinds’ push First Solar to boost US production

The Arizona-based solar module manufacturer commissioned its newest facility in August and plans to add 3.7 GW in annual finishing capacity by next December.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 5, 2025

Michigan bets on mass timber to build economy, cut carbon footprint

The state will offer money, guidance and technical assistance as demand increases for the alternative building material.

By Matthew Thibault • Nov. 5, 2025

JBS invests $1.1M to boost climate-smart agriculture, settle lawsuit with New York

The American subsidiary of the leading global beef and poultry producer will financially back sustainable agriculture programs for farmers in the state under the settlement.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 4, 2025

IBM fired Black executives to ‘appease’ Trump’s anti-DEI order, lawsuit claims

The company previously faced a series of lawsuits alleging that its DEI programs discriminated against White male employees.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 4, 2025

Science-based climate targets boost corporate reputation, decarbonization pace: report

“Companies now have a clear business case” for setting science-based climate targets, according to Science Based Targets initiative CEO David Kennedy.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated Nov. 10, 2025

ExxonMobil sues California over climate disclosure laws, alleging free speech violations

The oil major filed a lawsuit against the state last week, claiming its climate disclosure laws — Senate Bills 253 and 261 — were in violation of the First Amendment.

By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 31, 2025

Microsoft inks deal to remove atmospheric CO2 using mine waste

Canada-based carbon removal company Arca will remove 300,000 metric tons of CO2 for the tech company through a process called industrial mineralization.

By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 31, 2025

Why ESG matters for multifamily developers, investors

Investment companies are increasingly using environmental criteria in evaluating multifamily opportunities, two real estate pros write.

By Brad Siegal and Heather Wright • Oct. 31, 2025

NZAM drops 2050 goals for signatories, aims to relaunch next year

The United Nations-backed Net Zero Asset Managers group previously suspended operations after BlackRock’s exit in January.

By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 30, 2025