Texas adds NatWest to its fossil fuel divestment list

The list that now includes 16 companies has only one U.S. firm, BlackRock, raising questions on whether Texas avoids punishing Wall Street giants for their fossil fuel stance.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Aug. 16, 2024

Standard Chartered unveils account linking clients’ rates to their ESG performance

The corporate banking product will be first piloted in the bank’s Hong Kong and Singapore markets before a further rollout “in due course.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 14, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, both on the regulatory and financial front, with the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the battle over shareholder rights and proposal approvals.

By ESG Dive staff

Anti-ESG proposals drove the increase in ESG proxy submissions: Morningstar

“For the first time, the growth in new resolutions was dominated by proposals from ‘anti-ESG’ filers,” per Morningstar Sustainalytics’ director of stewardship research and policy.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 13, 2024

​​Standard Chartered scores $235M green loan for Texas solar plant

The six-year loan will back the development of a 1.35 million square foot plant which will be operated by renewable energy company Trinasolar.

By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 13, 2024

Louisiana gives NZBA members underwriting approval despite anti-ESG law

Net-Zero Banking Alliance members were approved as underwriters for state bonds “under a yellow caution flag.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 12, 2024

Goldman Sachs latest to depart Climate Action 100+

The firm’s exit follows other high-profile financial institutions that quit CA100+ earlier this year, including JPMorgan Asset Management and State Street Global Advisors.

By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 12, 2024

Blackstone acquires majority stake of renewables engineering firm

While the terms of the deal with Westwood Professional Services were not disclosed, a Blackstone exec said its transition business has committed $1.3 billion in investments since June.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 9, 2024

SEC defends its authority for climate disclosure rule in court

The agency said its climate rule will help to better inform investors with “more detailed, consistent, and comparable information” in replying to legal challengers.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 8, 2024

Nat’l Association of Counties defends against attacks on its fiduciary duties

The organization representing about 3,000 U.S. counties passed a resolution opposing interference in its investment decisions as part of its 2024-25 platform.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 6, 2024

Bill Gates-backed energy investment firm pulls in $839M for new climate fund

Breakthrough Energy Ventures’ third fund will have an investment focus similar to that of its predecessors and target five key areas in climate innovation, including energy and transportation.

By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 6, 2024

Wells Fargo faces lawsuit for alleged sham DEI hiring effort

The bank is said to have interviewed diverse candidates for jobs that were already filled or for which they weren’t qualified to polish its DEI credentials.

By Robert Freedman • Aug. 6, 2024

House Republicans issue final ESG Working Group report

The Republican group housed within the House Financial Services Committee said the current proxy system is “an environment ripe for abuse.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 5, 2024

Window to repeal SEC climate disclosure rule closes

While congressional Republicans failed to repeal the rule through the Congressional Review Act, the rule is still being targeted by policy riders in the appropriations process.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 2, 2024

House Judiciary probes Climate Action 100+ members as ESG investigation continues

The Republican heads of the Judiciary Committee and one subcommittee sent letters to over 130 U.S.-based companies, systems and funds associated associated with CA100+.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 1, 2024

Dems back CFTC’s proposed guidance for voluntary carbon markets

Nine Democratic lawmakers expressed support for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s proposed guidance for companies looking to list and trade carbon credits.

By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 1, 2024

Approval rates for environmental, social proposals continue to crater despite record submissions

Average support for environmental and social shareholder proposals was at just 16.2% through the first half of the year, Diligent Marketplace Intelligence reported.

By Lamar Johnson • July 31, 2024

Weaving tech company scores $32M to decarbonize fashion supply chains

Unspun plans to expand the use of its 3D machinery which boosts circular production by localizing manufacturing capabilities.

By Lara Ewen • July 31, 2024

SBTi: ‘Clear risks’ to using carbon credits to offset emissions

Recent research from the climate target validation organization found that “various types of carbon credits are ineffective in delivering their intended mitigation outcome.”

By Lamar Johnson • July 30, 2024

Olympics aim to boost UN’s sustainable development goals

The Olympics’ governing body and France held a pre-opening summit to discuss how to use sports to drive the United Nations’ 2030 sustainability targets.

By Lamar Johnson • July 29, 2024

Data platform Paces nabs $11M to scale clean energy development

The new funding will help the company improve its platform, enhance its data intelligence and make certain data tools more available throughout the United States.

By Zoya Mirza • July 29, 2024

Labor Dept. defends ESG rule in a post-Chevron landscape

An ongoing challenge to a rule allowing pension fund managers to consider ESG factors stands as a litmus test under a recent Supreme Court ruling.

By Lamar Johnson • July 26, 2024

JPMorgan appoints new global head of sustainable solutions

Chuka Umunna, a former British MP, will lead the bank's ESG and sustainable solutions arm alongside his role overseeing Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

By Lamar Johnson • July 25, 2024

Energy storage industry sees 117% increase in corporate funding in H1 2024: Mercom

Storage deal volume reached $15.4 billion in the six months ending June 30, but funding for smart grid companies dropped 11% from the year-earlier period to $1.8 billion, Mercom Capital Group said.

By Brian Martucci • July 25, 2024

H&M’s ‘green’ financing tool supports supplier sustainability

The collaborative program aims to help manufacturers overcome the funding hurdles of implementing sustainable practices. Here's how.

By Kelly Stroh • July 24, 2024

COP29 president lays out climate action priorities ahead of summit

Azerbaijan’s Mukhtar Babayev said he’s committed to boosting climate finance and finalizing the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 at this year’s summit.

By Zoya Mirza • July 23, 2024