DOJ may intervene in NAACP lawsuit over xAI’s data center gas turbines

It is “the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance,” a deputy assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice wrote in a court notice suggesting it might intervene.

By Diana DiGangi • May 19, 2026

NY’s 2027 budget includes climate, emissions reduction rollbacks: Gov. Hochul

The state plans to scrap a 2030 goal that sought a 40% reduction in emissions and replace it with a 2040 goal that aims for a 60% reduction.

By Zoya Mirza • Updated May 14, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

The landscape for ESG continues to shift, as U.S. exits from major climate agreements and organizations are juxtaposed with states forging ahead with their own climate disclosure laws.

By ESG Dive staff

Florida AG subpoenas NFL over inclusive hiring practices, ‘Rooney Rule’

James Uthmeier is questioning whether the National Football League’s inclusive hiring policies are legal under state law, and whether alterations to how such policies are represented are misleading.

By Lamar Johnson • May 14, 2026

6 ways to reduce DEI programs’ legal risk

Despite claims to the contrary, diversity, equity and inclusion are very much alive, even if employers have tweaked their language and content, Epstein Becker Green attorneys said.

By Ryan Golden • May 13, 2026

SEC works to rescind Biden-era climate disclosure rule

The agency’s staff is working on a recommendation to retract its 2024 climate rule at the direction of Chair Paul Atkins, an agency spokesperson said.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated May 11, 2026

California subpoenas Golden State Wind over Trump lease deal

The state's Justice Department is “investigating potential violations of law” associated with offshore wind lease buyouts and anticipates litigation, the California Energy Commission said.

By Diana DiGangi • May 7, 2026

California publishes long-awaited packaging EPR rules

The milestone gives way to next compliance steps for SB 54, the sweeping extended producer responsibility and source reduction law. Circular Action Alliance also published estimated fees for obligated producers.

By Maria Rachal • May 6, 2026

Mondelēz CEO says Iran war could further erode consumer confidence

Dirk Van de Put said shoppers are already “very concerned” about affordability, the economy and job security.

By Christopher Doering • 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

City and state climate litigation would be banned under new federal GOP bill

The Stop Climate Shakedowns Act would strip local governments and others of legal pathways to hold energy companies liable for climate-related costs and assert federal authority over greenhouse gas emissions.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 28, 2026

The thousand-piece puzzle: How global companies are managing today’s ESG regulatory reality

The ESG landscape is more complex than the headlines suggest. Here's the reality.

By Datamaran • April 27, 2026

Deloitte Consulting penalized employees for taking pregnancy-related leave, lawsuit alleges

Employees who took protected pregnancy-related, parental or family leave allegedly received lower scores on their annual assessments, according to the complaint.

By Laurel Kalser • April 17, 2026

Affordable housing standard evolves from sustainability to resilience

Updated Enterprise Green Communities Criteria focus on extreme heat, wildfire, flooding and power outages, treating climate risk as a core housing responsibility.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 15, 2026

US C-suites taking action, but mostly stick to similar playbooks: PwC

While U.S. executives are more confident than they were last May, many companies are taking similar strategic actions, per a new report. 

By Lamar Johnson • April 14, 2026

IBM strikes $17M deal to end feds’ probe of DEI programs

An assistant U.S. attorney general said the settlement demonstrated the Justice Department’s commitment to ending “woke unconstitutional practices.”

By Ryan Golden • April 14, 2026

Courts likely to side with EEOC in DEI probes, attorneys say

A recent lawsuit against Nike represents the “tip of the spear” for the commission’s anti-DEI efforts, according to Duane Morris’ Gerald Maatman.

By Ryan Golden • April 13, 2026

Trump’s 2027 budget again aims to halve EPA spending

The president envisions steep cuts to social and environmental programming in an echo of his proposal last year. The final tally will likely change following negotiations with Congress.

By Jacob Wallace • April 6, 2026

Governance to remain a ‘focal point’ for shareholders this proxy season: report

“Companies now face a proxy environment defined less by volume and more by discretion, legal complexity, and evolving investor expectations,” a report from The Conference Board said.

By Lamar Johnson • April 1, 2026

ESG regulation has changed. Has your monitoring model?

ESG regulation has outpaced your monitoring model. Here's how to close the gap.

By Datamaran • March 30, 2026

Businesses prepping for California EPR and recyclability laws amid lawsuit

A lawsuit filed last week centers on SB 343, California’s forthcoming labeling law. But SB 54 concerns loom. “It’s a lot to balance in one year,” said Liz Morris of Anthesis Group.

By Maria Rachal • March 27, 2026

Cities struggle to meet drinking water PFAS standards by EPA deadline

Communities are grappling with how to fund removing PFAS “forever chemicals” from their water supplies, experts said during a National League of Cities panel.

By Danielle McLean • March 25, 2026

Investor groups sue SEC over no-action process policy changes

The agency’s changes to the shareholder proposal process violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the complaint from As You Sow and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility alleges.

By Lamar Johnson • March 23, 2026

White House calls for ‘minimally burdensome’ federal AI rules

The administration urged Congress to avoid creating new federal rule-making bodies for AI and instead lean on existing agencies and industry-led standards.

By Alexei Alexis • March 23, 2026

Cities sue EPA over endangerment finding repeal

A dozen cities and counties join states in challenging EPA’s rescission of a cornerstone climate rule, which leaves cities “to bear the costs of hotter summers, dirtier air, and extreme weather,” Denver’s mayor said.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • March 20, 2026

TotalEnergies accepts $1B offshore wind buyout, pivots to oil and gas in US

Under the terms of the settlement, the company said it will invest an equal amount in the development of U.S. gas and power production and exports.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated March 24, 2026