Regulations
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Dem AGs: ‘We were on the verge of losing this messaging battle’ on ESG
“We're pushing back because the Republicans are rewriting reality, trying to voice the false narrative on business … and we can’t stand for that,” California AG Rob Bonta said.
By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 2, 2024 -
ESG and sustainability conferences to watch in 2025
Early agendas for 2025 events show a growing focus on decarbonizing data centers, as well as increasing climate financing and aligning ESG standards.
By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Oct. 1, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from ESG Dive
This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, both on the regulatory and financial front, with the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the battle over shareholder rights and proposal approvals.
By ESG Dive staff -
European Commission warns 17 member states to incorporate CSRD into national law
The Commission will not be able to achieve the “necessary level” of reporting harmonization without the full incorporation of the directive across the EU, it said last week.
By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 1, 2024 -
New program to help fashion brands navigate EU’s sustainability legislation
Nonprofit Fair Wear will launch the HRDD Academy to assist global garment and footwear brands meet the demands of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and other frameworks.
By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 1, 2024 -
EPA warns landfill owners to meet gas monitoring and collection obligations amid noncompliance
The federal agency issued alerts that revealed its findings from over 100 inspections. It noted the climate impact of failing to control methane pollution and warned landfill owners that the agency would hold them accountable.
By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 27, 2024 -
Now is the time to ‘lean into’ decarbonizing transportation sector: Biden climate advisor
Cutting transportation sector emissions would have both public health and climate benefits, Ali Zaidi, a national climate policy advisor for the Biden administration, said at Climate Week NYC.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 26, 2024 -
House GOP passes pair of anti-ESG bills targeting ‘woke’ investment policies
House Republicans passed a pair of bills this week aimed at pension funds and the Securities and Exchange Commission that Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif., said are “going nowhere” in a Democrat-controlled Senate.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 20, 2024 -
House GOP members probing federal membership in green finance network
Leaders of the House Financial Services Committee are conducting an investigation into the participation of U.S. agencies in the Network for Greening the Financial System.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 17, 2024 -
EPA issues violation notice to ADM over carbon sequestration permit
The violation relates to corrosion in a monitoring well at the agricultural supply chain company’s second injection site that has since been plugged and did not affect surface or groundwater, ADM said in a statement.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 16, 2024 -
EPA expands recommended ecolabels for food service ware purchases
It’s the first time in nearly 10 years the agency is evaluating new recommendations of standards for sustainable federal purchasing. EPA said it would accept comments on the proposed updates for 30 days.
By Maria Rachal • Sept. 16, 2024 -
SEC disbands its climate and ESG enforcement task force
The Securities and Exchange Commission said it will return its attention to greenwashing if it sees another spike in risk, an agency spokesperson told ESG Dive.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 13, 2024 -
House Financial Services panel hearing probes proxy advisors’ ESG influence
Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said advisors are becoming “de facto standard setters” for governance, while a witness compared them to consultants who help investors “sift through mountains of data.”
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 12, 2024 -
FERC greenlights BlackRock’s $12.5B purchase of Global Infrastructure Partners
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the transaction on the back of a blanket authorization it first granted the asset management firm in 2010.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Nasdaq partners with Crux to help companies access clean energy tax credits
The team-up will grant Nasdaq ESG Solution clients access to Crux’s platform of clean energy project developers and manufacturers to purchase transferable tax credits.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 9, 2024 -
Morgan Stanley drops plastic pollution financing goal
A spokesperson for the bank told ESG Dive it would no longer have the standalone goal due to data availability and quality challenges as required climate disclosures near.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 6, 2024 -
Coca-Cola must face greenwashing lawsuit: D.C. Appeals Court
The appeals court reversed a prior dismissal, ruling environmental nonprofit Earth Island Institute made plausible allegations the beverage company overstates its environmental efforts.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 4, 2024 -
Q&A
5 keys to strong organizational sustainability governance: MorganFranklin Consulting
Andrew Rizkallah, who leads the firm's ESG advisory services, explained how to beef up key reporting processes or start from scratch.
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 30, 2024 -
American Sustainable Business Council sues Texas over anti-ESG law
The organization alleged that the 2021 law violates its members rights to speech and free association, as well as due process, and are seeking an injunction.
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 29, 2024 -
Low-carbon materials a ‘huge opportunity’ to green the transportation sector
The Department of Transportation is releasing $800 million to reimburse builders for using cleaner construction products, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said
By Julie Strupp • Aug. 28, 2024 -
Hawaii $4B fire settlement would prevent insurers’ clawback claims
A deal to resolve hundreds of lawsuits from the devastating 2023 Maui fires could collapse without a resolution on insurers’ recoupment rights against defendants.
By Justin Bachman • Aug. 28, 2024 -
Deer Park water owner has microplastics greenwashing suit dismissed
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the class-action complaint against BlueTriton was preempted by federal law, but the plaintiffs recently amended their complaint.
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 27, 2024 -
BlackRock hit with cease-and-desist by Indiana secretary of state
The Hoosier State alleged 54 counts of securities violations in what BlackRock called “a politically motivated attack.”
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 26, 2024 -
Friend or foe: Unpacking what the amicus briefs say about the SEC’s climate rule
Amicus briefs in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s ongoing lawsuit concerning its climate disclosure rule find institutional investors and businesses largely on opposite sides.
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 20, 2024 -
Federal judge issues permanent injunction on Missouri anti-ESG rules
The court ruled that a pair of the state’s rules on socially responsible investing are preempted by national laws covering securities and pensions — and also unconstitutional.
By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 16, 2024 -
Texas adds NatWest to its fossil fuel divestment list
The list that now includes 16 companies has only one U.S. firm, BlackRock, raising questions on whether Texas avoids punishing Wall Street giants for their fossil fuel stance.
By Rajashree Chakravarty • Aug. 16, 2024