US banks turn to SEC to dodge climate, social shareholder proposals

The agency has largely denied the requests, ruling that banks must put the requests to disclose its clean energy financing ratios and indigenous rights practices to a vote.

By Lamar Johnson • March 14, 2025

Lego ramps up sustainable investments, nearly tripling green spending over 2 years

The Denmark-based toy manufacturer said its green investments last year were nearly three times what it spent on the sector in 2022.

By Zoya Mirza • March 14, 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

Amazon, Google, Meta join pledge to help triple global nuclear capacity

“This is not the end; it is just the beginning,” the World Nuclear Association’s director general said of the 14 companies who committed to help expand nuclear capacity by 2050.

By Lamar Johnson • March 13, 2025

COP30 president calls for ‘ambitious climate action,’ unveils initial vision for summit

Brazil’s André Corrêa do Lago called on governments to move from negotiation to implementation and increase their ambition when drawing up national emissions reduction plans.

By Zoya Mirza • March 12, 2025

Climate United Fund sues EPA, Citibank over frozen $7B

The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order the funds be unfrozen and disbursed.

By Diana DiGangi • March 12, 2025

21 House Republicans oppose cutting clean energy credits to pay for tax cuts

“Both our constituencies and the energy industry alike remain concerned about disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure,” the letter led by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said.

By Lamar Johnson • March 11, 2025

US denounces UN’s sustainable development goals, quits climate damage fund

The U.S. voted against resolutions that promoted climate action and gender equality and withdrew from the United Nations’ Loss and Damage fund, all within a day.

By Zoya Mirza • March 11, 2025

Microsoft buys 1.5M tonnes of carbon credits from Climate Impact Partners

The tech giant will purchase the credits over a 30-year period, as the carbon credit project developer plants millions of native trees in India.

By Lamar Johnson • March 10, 2025

Basin Electric urges Congress to support clean energy tax credits

Inflation Reduction Act tax credits support energy infrastructure needed to meet rising demand for electricity, an Iowa Republican said during a House hearing.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2025

IRA funding freeze has put ‘many’ clean energy projects on pause

The uncertainty created by the funding freeze has affected projects at “various stages of development,” a clean energy executive said on a recent press call.

By Lamar Johnson • March 7, 2025

US exits climate finance initiative aimed at helping developing nations quit coal

The United States has dropped out of Just Energy Transition Partnership, a financing initiative that aims to help South Africa, Vietnam and others transition from coal to clean energy sources.

By Zoya Mirza • March 7, 2025

State Street ditches board diversity requirement, completes Big Three DEI retreat

The nation’s third-largest asset manager will no longer require company boards to feature a certain percentage of women, following similar changes by BlackRock and Vanguard.

By Lamar Johnson • March 6, 2025

Demand for renewable energy projects remains strong, but supply is growing: LevelTen Energy

As more developers are forced to sell early-stage projects, a glut of supply is eroding renewable energy profits, according to data from LevelTen Energy.

By Emma Penrod • March 5, 2025

EPA $20B funding freeze leaves ‘green bank’ nonprofits unable to pay bills

The Climate United Fund, which received a $6.97 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant, will soon become unable to make payroll or disburse funding to its contracted borrowers, said a spokesperson.

By Diana DiGangi • March 4, 2025

Goldman Sachs launches biodiversity bond fund to support SDGs

The fund became “one of the first fixed income funds” to focus on biodiversity conservation and remediation and support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

By Lamar Johnson • March 4, 2025

BofA, Wells, Truist de-emphasize DEI in annual filings

In its paperwork, BofA now uses “opportunity” in place of diversity. Wells, meanwhile, scrapped its diverse-slate interview policy, along with mentions of its pay equity review.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 4, 2025

BlackRock ends diversity goals, merges DEI team into ‘Talent and Culture’

The nation’s largest asset manager said it will not renew “aspirational workforce representation goals” which expired in 2024, in response to executive orders targeting DEI programs.

By Lamar Johnson • March 3, 2025

Wells Fargo scraps net-zero target as banks recalibrate sustainability strategy

The bank is dropping its goal of achieving net-zero financed emissions across its portfolio by 2050, in addition to 2030 targets it set for sector-specific financed emissions.

By Zoya Mirza • March 3, 2025

92% of CFOs plan to boost sustainability spending

A majority of companies expect to allocate more than 2% of revenue to sustainability initiatives this year.

By David McCann • March 3, 2025

Anti-ESG groups intensify activism early in 2025 proxy season

Opposition to corporate sustainability efforts has grown in recent years, culminating in an anti-ESG order by President Donald Trump last month.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 28, 2025

U.S. Bank scrubs DEI, fair pay references

Mentions of the lender’s diverse-slate hiring policy, pay comparisons by gender and race, and flexible work were absent from its most recent annual filing.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 27, 2025

Morgan Stanley, Capital One downplay DEI efforts

A Morgan Stanley filing highlights its proportion of women and ethnically diverse employees but contains a statement on “meritocracy.” Meanwhile, Capital One isn't touting pay equity like it used to.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 26, 2025

SEC updates guidance on ESG engagement disclosures, prompts temporary confusion

BlackRock and Vanguard, the nation’s largest asset managers, temporarily paused shareholder engagement meetings after a recent update to agency guidance.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 25, 2025

Asset owners demand greater transparency on ESG amid increased scrutiny: Cerulli

Pressure from regulators and stakeholders is driving a demand for accountability, but reporting standardization hurdles persist, analysts from the research firm said.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Feb. 25, 2025

Citi tosses diversity goals, DEI label

The lender is scrapping “aspirational representation goals” and diverse job candidate requirements, as more companies abandon diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 25, 2025