US solar industry awaits federal moves on interest rates, tax credits as global M&A activity drops 15%

Global corporate solar funding rose to $34.3 billion last year with help from IRA incentives, while high interest rates slowed acquisition activity, said Mercom Capital Group CEO Raj Prabhu.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 26, 2024

76% of companies link pay to ESG performance in rising trend: WTW

The biggest companies are weaving ESG into pay incentives despite a backlash against the use of sustainability as a metric for corporate performance.

By Jim Tyson • Jan. 25, 2024

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

BlackRock commits $500M to Recurrent Energy, expands renewable power portfolio

The investment allows the asset manager to have a 20% stake in the company, and marks the inaugural transaction by its fourth climate infrastructure fund.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 24, 2024

Public pensions in liberal-leaning states falling short on addressing climate risk: report

Most public pension funds had inadequate proxy guidelines and proxy voting records to mitigate climate-related financial risks, Sierra Club found.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 23, 2024

New Hampshire bill would make use of ESG in investments a felony

The bill would punish “knowingly” using ESG factors in investment decisions with at least a year in prison.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2024

House GOP says SEC is overstepping authority, cannot demand climate disclosures

Expert witnesses for the Financial Services Subcommittee differed in legal interpretations of the agency’s power to issue the rule.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 19, 2024

Exclusive: Pro-ESG group tallies $150M in Big Oil donations to Republicans opposing SEC climate rule

A broad majority of the nearly 250 Republican state and congressional lawmakers have also expressed concerns about the rule’s inclusion of scope 3 disclosure, according to Unlocking America’s Future.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 18, 2024

BlackRock buys Global Infrastructure Partners, makes $12.5B bet on infrastructure market

The asset manager cited “a movement toward decarbonization and energy security in many parts of the world” as a reason for the deal.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 16, 2024

Missouri’s bid to dismiss anti ESG-rules suit is denied

The U.S. federal judge’s decision greenlights a lawsuit challenging two of the state’s ESG rules that affect financial institutions.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 10, 2024

4 ESG trends that set the tone for 2024

It’s shaping up to be a big year for ESG with a packed SEC agenda, fights over corporate DEI efforts and shareholder rights and a focus on financing the net zero transition.

By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Jan. 10, 2024

World Bank launches $5B sustainable development bond

The 7-year benchmark bond will mature in January 2031 and seeks to support the financial institution’s goals to “end extreme poverty and boost prosperity.”

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 8, 2024

EU’s financial regulator: Stronger regulation needed to deter greenwashing

The European Securities and Markets Authority found negligible stock-based impacts of ESG controversies on companies, noting a lack of market-based mechanisms to prevent greenwashing. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 3, 2024

ESG to factor strongly in 2024 executive pay plans despite pushback: WTW

Environmental, social and governance strategies are “here to stay,” consultants said. But U.S. company boards are also seeking a more tailored approach.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 22, 2023

New York finalizes climate-risk guidance for financial institutions

The state said the new rules will help banking and mortgage institutions prepare for the physical and transition risks of climate change.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 22, 2023

Gen Z, millennial investor confidence slips regarding ESG investments

The number of investors under 41 years old who wanted fund managers to advocate for environmental change, even if it decreased their investment, dropped from 85% last year to 66%. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 21, 2023

EU Council reaches agreement on new ESG rating rule

The regulation is designed to increase transparency of sustainability score providers and will apply to non-European Union based companies looking to operate in the bloc.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 21, 2023

Tennessee sues BlackRock over ‘misleading’ ESG strategy

The lawsuit claims the $9.1 trillion firm misled consumers about the scope and effects of its ESG activity and released conflicting statements regarding ESG’s influence over its business decisions. 

By Anna Hrushka • Dec. 19, 2023

Banks are excluded from EU’s human rights, due diligence regulation — for now

Despite opposition to leaving financial institutions out, the final draft of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive only states the sector may need to comply at a later date.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 19, 2023

Navy Federal sued over alleged mortgage disparity by race

The credit union last year approved 48.5% of mortgage applications from Black borrowers, but 77.1% from White ones, CNN found. The gap drew comparisons to similar numbers from Wells Fargo in 2020.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 19, 2023

COP28 takeaways: More than $7B mobilized for food system climate action

With the end of the U.N. climate summit, here's a final tally of some of the major financial commitments and sustainability pledges meant to transform the agricultural and food sectors. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 18, 2023

Goldman Sachs to liquidate Paris-aligned climate ETF in new year

The fund closure bookends a year of contraction for the sustainable funds market, though the financial services firm said the move is not indicative of its broader positions.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 15, 2023

House panel to subpoena BlackRock, State Street on ESG practices

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan will subpoena four firms for more answers as to whether the companies’ climate-related efforts violate federal antitrust laws, Bloomberg reported.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Dec. 14, 2023

Companies setting their own carbon prices without global standard: Reuters

The new analysis from the Climate Disclosure Project has found companies’ internal carbon prices range anywhere from under $1 to $1,600 per metric ton of carbon emissions.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 13, 2023

Vanguard, Arjuna Capital issued House Judiciary subpoenas over ESG probe

The committee is seeking information from the two asset management firms for its investigation into whether industry climate alliances violate antitrust law.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 12, 2023

Final SEC climate disclosure rule pushed to April 2024

The long-awaited timing update comes via the Biden administration’s regulatory agenda for next year, which also unveiled new timetables for other ESG-related proposals.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 7, 2023