$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

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

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

Analysts expect rising PPA prices as clean energy tax credits phase out

“That missing money has to come from somewhere to make the project pencil, and that will likely be through PPA prices,” said Josh Price, director of intelligence and research at Crux.

By Diana DiGangi • July 7, 2026

EEOC rescinds affirmative action guidelines

Right in time for America’s 250th birthday, the agency rescinded its interpretation of the law, saying the guidelines ran afoul of Title VII.

By Caroline Colvin • July 2, 2026

Zillow faces class-action lawsuit over Redfin deal

An investor filed a class-action lawsuit in June, claiming he was misled about the nature of the apartment listing giants’ partnership. Zillow has also been sued by the FTC and several states over the deal.

By Julie Strupp • June 30, 2026

California to sue Trump administration over offshore wind buybacks

The lease cancellations “are causing ongoing harm” to California, which has “invested more than $100 million to support the development of wind energy,” the state’s attorney general said.

By Diana DiGangi • June 29, 2026

CARB delays emissions reporting deadline by 3 months

The agency said it will delay the compliance deadline for California’s SB 253 — the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act — and propose “limited changes.”

By Lamar Johnson • June 26, 2026

Chemours agrees to $450M PFAS settlement with US government

The EPA accused the chemical giant of releasing forever chemicals into rivers near the company’s facilities in North Carolina, New Jersey and West Virginia. In some instances, without the required permits.

By Sara Samora • June 26, 2026

17 Republican AGs suing over California packaging EPR law

Less than a month out from a trial in Oregon, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors says it’s joining this California lawsuit as the sole business plaintiff.

By Maria Rachal • June 24, 2026

DOJ intervenes on behalf of xAI in data center gas turbine lawsuit

The Department of Defense said the xAI data center powered by the gas plant is critical to national security, revealing Grok was used to fire thousands of missiles in the Iran war.

By Diana DiGangi • June 22, 2026

NextEra to pay $150M to settle charges related to Florida political misconduct allegations

The agreement comes about a month after NextEra Energy proposed merging with Dominion Energy in a $67 billion deal.

By Ethan Howland • June 18, 2026

Judge overturns DOE’s cancellation of $82.1M in clean energy grants

The plaintiffs argued the 11 projects were targeted because they were located in states that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

By Diana DiGangi • June 16, 2026

HowGood, Sweep partner to track carbon footprint of food, agriculture products

The carbon accounting companies' partnership aims to help food and agriculture businesses incorporate ingredient- and product-level emissions data into broader sustainability reporting efforts.

By Zoya Mirza • June 5, 2026