Three legal challenges to building a global carbon market for companies

As the global carbon market enters a critical stage, companies should prepare for a changing environment, a Morgan Lewis partner says.

By Levi McAllister • Sept. 3, 2026

California sues Trump administration over offshore wind ‘extortion racket’

The state alleges the Trump administration “abuses its authority” by diminishing the value of offshore wind energy leases before it makes an “unrefusable offer” to developers.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 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

SEC to propose recission of rule governing shareholder proposals: OMB

The Securities and Exchange Commission has submitted a proposal to rescind Rule 14a-8 to the White House Office of Management and Budget. The proposal is pending regulatory review.  

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 1, 2026

Republican AGs press Big 4 firms over climate-related financial reporting

Sixteen GOP state attorneys general are probing KPMG, EY, PwC and Deloitte over their membership to organizations that pushed to advance climate-related financial reporting.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 1, 2026

Dem AGs dispute GOP’s probe into credit ratings agencies over ESG

In their letter to the SEC, the state attorneys general said their Republican counterparts’ criticism of credit rating agencies drew conclusions “based on factual inaccuracies and distortions.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 28, 2026

Deloitte to pay $21.5M to settle claims its DEI programs violated federal civil rights law

“Government contractors cannot reward or penalize employees based on race or sex,” the attorney general said.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 28, 2026

Meta settles landmark child privacy case for up to $18B

The proposed settlement with multiple states, districts and territories would also create new rules for users under 18. Meta is calling on fellow platforms YouTube and TikTok to implement similar rules.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 26, 2026

B&G Foods’ Green Giant sale runs into antitrust concerns in Canada

The sale of two vegetable brands to Nortera Foods could lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers, the country’s Competition Bureau claimed.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 21, 2026

Governance proposals rise as environmental and social filings plummet: report

Though governance proposals remain the most popular category among companies, support also fell for such proposals, The Conference Board found.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 20, 2026

US calls for EU to ‘deliver’ on trade concessions on sustainability laws

The United States’ ambassador to the European Union said that the government will take “any actions necessary to address unreasonable burdens on U.S. commerce.”

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 18, 2026

SEC says it will stop responding to no-action requests ‘entirely’

After sitting out the bulk of the no-action process in the 2025-26 proxy season, the SEC is now considering broader changes to the rule governing shareholder proposals.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 17, 2026

$20B in federal climate grants unblocked by appeals court

A divided court rejected the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to reclaim Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the Inflation Reduction Act. 

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 6, 2026

Worker alleges lack of fossil fuel-free 401(k) option violated his religious rights

A lawsuit tying a worker’s climate objections to his Christian beliefs could set a precedent in the post-Groff landscape, his attorneys argued.

By Emilie Shumway • Aug. 5, 2026

Paper producer Domtar agrees to pay $1.5M to settle clean air violations

The company will also undertake approximately $2.6 million worth of projects at its pulp and paper mill in Ashdown, Arkansas, to address emissions and to correct inadequate inspection and monitoring practices.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 3, 2026

Tracking New York’s climate ambition and corporate disclosure laws

The Empire State has had to dial back its climate ambition and revise targets in the wake of COVID-19, the Trump administration’s opposition to renewable energy and the ongoing affordability crisis.

By Zoya Mirza • July 23, 2026

Investor coalition urges SEC to ‘largely retain’ shareholder proposal rule

The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated plans to alter Rule 14a-8, which governs the shareholder proposal process, with Chair Paul Atkins hinting at wholesale changes.

By Lamar Johnson • July 23, 2026

Meta’s AI-based layoffs allegedly targeted workers who had taken protected leave

The company used “a constellation of internal artificial-intelligence systems” to determine who would be included in its 10% reduction in force, per a lawsuit.

By Ginger Christ • July 20, 2026

Pennsylvania data centers face increased oversight under new law

Data centers will now have to provide annual energy usage reports to the state, and the PJM Interconnection will need to give state regulators additional insight into its demand forecasting.

By Diana DiGangi • July 17, 2026

Disclosing corporate sustainability progress in a divided regulatory landscape

As companies continue to grapple with what they are required to disclose, those who establish stakeholder-relevant reporting practices will be best prepared for what comes next, according to Smurfit Westrock’s sustainability head.

By Garrett Quinn • July 17, 2026

California blocked from enforcing upcoming law on recycling labels

Ahead of an October start date, a federal court has granted a preliminary injunction. The Flexible Packaging Association and American Forest & Paper Association reacted to the news.

By Maria Rachal • July 16, 2026

New York sues chemical titans over alleged PFAS exposure

The state accused 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva and Corteva subsidiary EIDP, of deliberately manufacturing, marketing and selling consumer products laced with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

By Sara Samora • July 15, 2026

New York becomes first state to impose moratorium on data center development

During this one-year pause, the state seeks to create a regulatory framework that will evaluate and address how data centers impact the environment, energy use and more.

By Zoya Mirza • Updated July 15, 2026

IRA clean energy gains mostly on track despite OBBBA, says MIT study

The report estimates 74% of all new clean electricity capacity that would have been added under the Inflation Reduction Act will be preserved despite Trump administration policy changes, including 82% of utility-scale solar generation.

By Diana DiGangi • July 13, 2026

EU Commission adopts revised sustainability reporting standards

The changes are expected to remove over 70% of data points from the European Sustainability Reporting Standards and cut compliance costs by 30% per company.

By Lamar Johnson • July 10, 2026

Environmental groups sue EPA over US Steel air permit

They are seeking a court order requiring the agency to grant or deny a clean air petition filed 10 months ago related to one of the largest steel mills in North America.

By Nathan Owens • July 8, 2026