Vanguard’s antitrust coal settlement and what it signals for ESG litigation

The asset manager’s move to settle litigation with 11 Republican-led states represents “a significant development,” according to a Shinder Cantor Lerner attorney, but “is hard to interpret.”

By Lamar Johnson • March 6, 2026

How beverage company Waiākea is pioneering sustainable packaging in bottled water

The Hawaii-based brand said it is the first company in the world to print labels with algae-based inks, adding its climate values help it stand out.

By Laurel Deppen • March 6, 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

Washington, California and Québec collaborate on linking carbon markets

The three jurisdictions released a draft agreement this week that would add Washington to the largest carbon emissions trading market in North America.

By Zoya Mirza • March 5, 2026

Real estate firm hit with class-action lawsuit over climate risk in retirement plan

A former employee at Cushman & Wakefield alleged in her suit the firm failed to properly monitor and protect its employee 401(k) plan from “material climate-related financial risks.”

By Lamar Johnson • Updated March 5, 2026

Trump’s anti-DEI orders stand for now, but future challenges can’t be ruled out

The White House is emboldened to act “aggressively,” making it important for employers to audit their DEI programs, management-side attorneys say.

By Ryan Golden • March 5, 2026

How Mars, Meta, Patagonia and L’Oréal are tackling scope 3 emissions: GreenBiz26

As companies look to understand their supply chain emissions, a panel at last month’s annual sustainable business conference detailed differing approaches to decarbonizing value chains.

By Lamar Johnson • March 4, 2026

EPA delays greenhouse gas reporting as it moves to shut down program

Covered entities for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program will not be required to submit 2025 emissions data until October. By then, the agency may have already repealed the requirement.

By Jacob Wallace • March 4, 2026

Lego invests around $2.8M in new carbon removal projects

The Denmark-based toy manufacturer has partnered with Climate Impact Partners and ClimeFi to back four projects focused on nature and technology-based carbon removal solutions.

By Zoya Mirza • March 3, 2026

Solar and wind PPA prices up 9% in 2025, set to continue rising with energy demand

Meanwhile, energy storage agreements have emerged as a fast-growing new product category.

By Emma Penrod • March 3, 2026

Vanguard settles coal antitrust suit with Republican states for $29.5M

The settlement severs the asset manager from the litigation alleging it conspired with BlackRock and State Street to “artificially constrict the coal market.”

By Lamar Johnson • March 2, 2026

CEOs see AI as the biggest business risk, exceeding geopolitical turmoil

CEOs and CFOs, confronting the rapid spread of AI, face the risk of underperforming by investing either too little or too much in the far-reaching technology.

By Jim Tyson • March 2, 2026

CARB approves California’s climate disclosure regulations

The California Air Resources Board, tasked with enforcing the state’s climate disclosure laws, will require companies to report scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by August this year.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 27, 2026

EEOC warns Fortune 500 to ‘reject identity politics’ in anti-DEI push

A letter from EEOC underscores the Trump administration’s stance on “unlawful discrimination” related to diversity, equity and inclusion at work.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 27, 2026

Net-Zero Asset Managers relaunches with reduced US presence

The UN-backed climate alliance has more than 250 signatories in its new iteration, though changes to its commitment statement were not enough to bring large U.S. institutions back into the fold.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 26, 2026

Trump touts ‘we ended DEI’ in State of the Union

The president’s declaration follows a yearlong attack on DEI during which some employers rolled back their initiatives, while others stayed the course.

By Kate Tornone • Feb. 26, 2026

Nike signs agreement to power Japan operations with solar energy

The athletic footwear and apparel brand’s Japan subsidiary has signed a virtual power purchase agreement with Mitsui & Co., which will supply Nike with clean electricity for its operations.

By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 25, 2026

European Council adopts simplified sustainability reporting laws

The changes to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive now need to be integrated at the national level in the European Union.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 25, 2026

Get louder about sustainability progress, Crown leader says

Packaging sustainability efforts aren’t failing, but more can be done, said Crown’s VP of global sustainability. She described navigating the challenge of absolute targets and tailoring sustainability work to different geographies.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 25, 2026

Corporate clean energy buying fell globally in 2025, reversing trend: BNEF

“The U.S. is still the largest market, hosting a record 29.5 GW of deals, driven by Big Tech’s pivot to nuclear, hydro and geothermal,” BloombergNEF said.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 24, 2026

Despite role evolution, CSOs necessary to drive sustainability strategy: GreenBiz26

“The CSO serves as a compass and an accountability partner,” a senior executive from E.L.F Beauty told the audience at a mock debate hosted at the annual sustainable business conference.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 24, 2026

Food, beverage companies lagging on addressing forced labor risks: report

Despite widespread commitments to end forced labor across their supply chains, food and beverage companies rarely implement the transparency and labor practices that prevent it, a new report finds.

By Lauren Schenkman • Feb. 23, 2026

SEC further extends compliance period for Names Rule to 2027-28

The Securities and Exchange Commission delayed compliance for funds with over $10 billion in AUM until 2027 and for funds with less than $10 billion until 2028.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 20, 2026

US CEOs dialing back on sustainability in 2026: report

CEOs in the United States are twice as likely to de-prioritize sustainability compared to CEOs globally, according to a new survey by The Conference Board.

By Lauren Schenkman • Feb. 19, 2026

Amazon expands carbon credit offerings to help suppliers cut emissions

The e-commerce giant will now offer companies lower-carbon fuel inset credits and super pollutant refrigerant destruction credits through its Sustainable Exchange resource hub.

By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 18, 2026

Companies prioritizing scope 3 disclosures, despite regulatory uncertainty

The vast majority of sustainability leaders are accelerating their scope 3 reporting, according to a new survey from sustainability services company Sphera.

By Lauren Schenkman • Feb. 17, 2026