Texas attorney general probes ISS, Glass Lewis over ESG, DEI

Ken Paxton’s probe follows a recent injunction on a Texas anti-ESG law targeting proxy advisory firms, but Texas is not the only state looking at the two firms’ ESG and DEI policies.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 18, 2025

Wells Fargo execs settle suit over diverse hiring practices

The bank and shareholders expect to file a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement by Oct. 13, according to court documents.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 18, 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

McDonald’s launches $200M grassland conservation initiative

The sustainability project doubles as a long-term investment in U.S. beef supply chains, as tariffs on major beef producers loom.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 16, 2025

‘Green banks’ petition for rehearing in $14B EPA funding freeze case

A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to uphold the EPA’s freeze on Inflation Reduction Act grants, but the plaintiffs have asked for a rehearing from the entire appeals court.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 15, 2025

SEC chair targets IFRS priorities, shares concerns on ‘prescriptive’ EU sustainability laws

Paul Atkins said the International Sustainability Standards Board’s parent organization should refocus on its accounting board and the EU should drop double materiality requirements.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 12, 2025

BlackRock’s support for environmental, social proposals dips to less than 2% in 2025

After peaking in the 2021 proxy season, the world’s largest asset manager has reduced its support for environmental and social proposals each of the past four proxy seasons.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 11, 2025

This 4-GW renewables joint venture aims to outlast Trump administration

Two European renewable energy firms are teaming up to develop a significant portfolio of wind, solar and energy storage projects in the Western United States.

By Brian Martucci • Sept. 10, 2025

Deutsche Bank doubles down on net-zero commitment in updated transition plan

The German bank said it will uphold its climate targets as they are “part of a prudent risk management practice as well as a business opportunity.”

By Zoya Mirza • Sept. 5, 2025

Vanguard supports no environmental, social proposals for second straight year

The world’s second-largest asset manager also reported witnessing declines in environmental and social submissions, and shareholder proposals more broadly, while anti-ESG filings increased.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 4, 2025

With tax credits expiring, a home electrification nonprofit is racing against the clock

Rewiring America has launched a national campaign to help homeowners take advantage of clean energy and efficiency incentives that will expire soon.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 4, 2025

BlackRock calls out state officials for ‘politicization’ of public pensions

After Republican and Democrat state and local finance officials offered dueling views on fiduciary duty, the asset manager said such “politicization of pension fund management” costs retirees.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 3, 2025

Over 30 organizations urge EU to keep banks in sight for future CSDDD compliance

A joint letter asked policymakers to protect the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive’s “review clause,” which keeps the door open to applying it to the financial sector.

By Lauren Schenkman • Sept. 3, 2025

Preliminary injunction halts enforcement of Texas’ latest anti-ESG law

A federal judge stopped the state from enforcing its law targeting proxy advisers, which was set to go into effect Sept. 1, in a win for plaintiffs Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 2, 2025

NZBA will vote to abandon membership model after industry exodus

After waves of exits by U.S., Canadian and European banks, the Net-Zero Banking Alliance said it would vote on forgoing a membership-based model and focus on establishing industry guidance.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 27, 2025

FTA seeks to eliminate environmental criteria from capital investment grant guidelines

The Federal Transit Administration requests public comment on updated guidelines that would remove the “social cost of carbon” calculation and make broader changes to the multibillion-dollar program.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 27, 2025

Democrat finance officials push asset managers to reaffirm commitment to manage climate risks

A letter from 17 finance officials to BlackRock, Vanguard and 16 other firms seeks to counter a Republican-led letter urging firms to eschew viewing climate change as a long-term risk.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 22, 2025

Google, Kairos Power deal aims for Tennessee nuclear reactor by 2030

The agreement will provide Google with renewable energy attributes to decarbonize its data centers served by the Tennessee Valley Authority in Tennessee and Alabama.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 21, 2025

Rivian moving forward on $5B Georgia EV plant

The battery electric vehicle maker will host two events next month to mark the restart of construction in 2026. 

By Larry Avila • Aug. 21, 2025

Meta, Silicon Ranch partner on solar farm for South Carolina data center

Silicon Ranch will invest $100 million to bring the 100MW facility online by 2027, and Meta will receive all of the renewable energy credits from the deal to help power its first data center in the state.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 19, 2025

Wind, solar must show ‘significant’ work but ‘no fixed minimum’ under new Treasury rules

To qualify for tax credits, projects will need to meet less cut-and-dried physical construction requirements instead of spending at least 5% of project costs to prove construction had commenced.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 19, 2025

DOT relaunches EV charging fund with stripped-down guidance

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he does not "agree with subsidizing green energy," but he will run the NEVI program "efficiently." Critics said all he did was delay implementation.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2025

GOP attorneys general probe Science Based Targets initiative

A coalition of 23 state attorneys general are seeking information on SBTi and its recently rolled out net-zero standard for financial institutions.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 15, 2025

Homeowners rush to install solar ahead of expiring tax credits

Business is booming for residential solar installers, but with an important residential tax credit expiring at the end of this year, the increase could be short-lived.

By Meris Lutz • Aug. 15, 2025

Marsh issues insurance policy on US-based carbon removal project with ‘innovative’ financing

The policy will protect Chestnut Carbon from the risk of not delivering carbon credits to Microsoft from a 60,000 acre afforestation project it’s developing in the American south.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 15, 2025

Renewable power purchase agreement prices rising in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The average price of new wind and solar power purchase agreements is up 4% since the OBBBA’s passage. Almost a third of developers surveyed said they plan to suspend or cancel projects as a result of the reconciliation bill.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 14, 2025