Democratic finance officers rebut Republican assertions to credit agencies: Exclusive

The state and local finance officers sent a letter to Fitch, Moody’s and S&P last month urging the companies to maintain “independent, forward-looking” risk assessments as part of their ratings frameworks. 

By Lamar Johnson • June 2, 2026

Cities push Congress to avert water infrastructure funding cliff

With enhanced funding from the Biden-era infrastructure law set to expire and proposed federal cuts on the table, local government and water groups are urging lawmakers to reauthorize key drinking water and wastewater programs.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 2, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

The ESG landscape in the U.S. continues to shift, as federal agencies' efforts to recalibrate their approach to sustainability are juxtaposed with states forging ahead with their own climate disclosure laws.

By ESG Dive staff

Wells Fargo CEO: AI’s effect on employment is ‘complicated’

The bank's biggest AI-related challenge is determining how the technology can transform its business model and how the lender should respond, Charlie Scharf said Wednesday.

By Caitlin Mullen • June 1, 2026

SEC proposes rule rescinding Biden-era climate risk disclosures

The agency’s proposal calls the 2024 climate disclosure rules “a dramatic overreach of the Commission’s statutory authority and, independently, unsound as a matter of policy.”

By Lamar Johnson • May 29, 2026

Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft initiative looks to boost sustainable data center tech

The initiative is backed by nonprofit investor Elemental Impact and also includes the Bill Gates-backed Breakthrough Energy Discovery, Salesforce and a philanthropic office founded by a Walmart heir.

By Lamar Johnson • May 29, 2026

CFPB faces lawsuit over fair housing rule change

The agency’s final rule amending how the Equal Credit Opportunity Act is applied “effectively guts” fair lending protections, according to four plaintiffs.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • May 29, 2026

Strong corporate social impact programs reap financial rewards: ACCP

Such programs, which can encompass DEI, ESG and CSR, strengthen brand resilience, mitigate risk and attract and retain talent, according to research compiled by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals.

By Lauren Schenkman • May 28, 2026

Data center firm DigitalBridge in $1.1B deal to buy ArcLight

The deal reflects the “convergence of power, AI and digital infrastructure,” the companies said. ArcLight owned about 20.8 gigawatts as of June.

By Ethan Howland • May 28, 2026

North Carolina sues EV maker VinFast over unbuilt factory

The state is looking to acquire the megasite of a proposed automotive and battery facility and protect taxpayer money tied to the delayed $3 billion project.

By Nathan Owens • May 28, 2026

Proxy adviser ISS sued by 4 Republican AGs over ESG

The state court lawsuits from Texas, Iowa, Nebraska and West Virginia allege the world’s largest proxy adviser violated state consumer protection laws. An ISS spokeswoman told ESG Dive “the allegations lack merit.”

By Lamar Johnson • May 26, 2026

Think you know what regulatory monitoring costs your organisation? Think again.

How much is manual regulatory monitoring really costing your organisation? The number may surprise you.

May 26, 2026

FASB finalizes new environmental credit rules

Previously generally accepted accounting principles provided no specific guidance to help companies account for carbon offsets and emissions allowances related to cap-and-trade programs.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Updated May 22, 2026

Wells Fargo agrees to $110M lending, hiring discrimination settlement

The agreement settles a suit that alleged the bank approved less than 50% of Black homeowners’ refinancing applications in 2020 and participated in discriminatory hiring practices.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • May 20, 2026

Google, Blackstone back AI infrastructure venture to support data center demand

The private equity firm will invest $5 billion in a new AI-focused company offering data center capacity. The venture expects to bring 500 MW of capacity online by 2027.

By Lamar Johnson • May 19, 2026

PayPal settles with DOJ over DEI

The digital payments company agreed last week to a settlement with the Department of Justice over a 2020 diversity investment fund.

By Lynne Marek • May 19, 2026

Crux gets $500M debt facility for clean energy investments

The company said it plans to use the funding to finance “tax-driven investments,” including “hybrid tax equity, accelerating the deployment of clean energy.”

By Diana DiGangi • May 15, 2026

Bill Gates-backed geothermal developer Fervo raises $1.89B in IPO

Fervo Energy CEO Tim Latimer rang Nasdaq’s opening bell Wednesday and said the company has “proven that geothermal deserves a spot among the major energy players.”

By Lamar Johnson • May 13, 2026

Corporate clean energy demand remains ‘extremely strong’: CEBA CEO

Despite tax incentive rollbacks in 2025, the pace of new clean energy procurement is “accelerating,” the Corporate Energy Buyers Association’s CEO told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • May 12, 2026

Arcadia acquires Engie Impact to create unified energy management platform

The combined company is expected to operate on a scale similar to a top-five U.S. utility and will serve around 25% of the Fortune 500.

By Lamar Johnson • May 5, 2026

Republican state AGs probe Fitch, Moody’s and S&P over ESG ratings

The attorneys general are questioning whether credit downgrades for fossil fuel companies by these rating agencies were based on ESG factors and the legality of such decisions.

By Lamar Johnson • May 4, 2026

Clean energy economy is ‘repricing itself,’ investor says at DC Climate Week

“Decarbonization is not ESG, it's EBITDA,” Climate Innovation Capital Managing Partner Nelson Switzer said at the opening of this year’s DC Climate Week.

By Lamar Johnson • April 29, 2026

Banks fail to address agriculture sector’s rising methane emissions: report

Most banks with greenhouse gas reduction targets failed to account for methane — a powerful driver of climate change — emitted by the meat, dairy, and rice companies they finance, per a new report from Planet Tracker.

By Lauren Schenkman • April 24, 2026

Mastercard grows revenue, reduces emissions for third straight year

The global payments company also said it achieved its 2025 emission reduction targets for its direct and indirect operations in an Earth Day blog. 

By Lamar Johnson • April 23, 2026

Innovative financing essential to decarbonizing fashion industry: H&M and EY

A recent white paper from the clothing brand and consulting firm asks executives to rethink traditional financing models and boost industry-wide collaboration to scale impact.

By Lauren Schenkman • April 22, 2026

Business conduct risks rising as data integration lags: report

Such risks have increased in frequency and complexity over the last year, with the average risk incident costing upwards of $14 million, according to new data from RepRisk. 

By Lauren Schenkman • April 20, 2026