Regulations


  • A vehicle drives in the middle of a flooded road, with a house, trees and a pedestrian around it.
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    Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images
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    Florida AG sues climate analytics provider First Street over home risk scores

    James Uthmeier is suing the company over its assessment of climate risk factors that were used by Zillow, RedFin and Realtor.com.

    By • Updated Nov. 2, 2026
  • People protest artificial intelligence and data centers ahead of a New York City Council Committee hearing.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    AI regulation push gains steam ahead of midterms

    Reports of AI agents accessing bank accounts mark the latest in a string of developments putting pressure on lawmakers to act.

    By Alexei Alexis • Oct. 28, 2026
  • 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
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    Naomi Baker via Getty Images
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    Ikea accused of harmful wood sourcing in Europe’s forests

    Greenpeace International alleges the furniture maker — which has long faced backlash over its sourcing — is falling short in its efforts to protect biodiversity.

    By Kelly Stroh • Oct. 23, 2026
  • An excavator works to clear rubble after the East Wing of the White House was demolished on October 23, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
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    Eric Lee/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    NextEra’s $4M Trump ballroom donation muddies Dominion merger debate, watchdogs say

    The donation, which advocates called “problematic” and “convenient” for the company, comes to light as federal regulators chosen by President Donald Trump consider whether to allow NextEra to merge with Dominion Energy.

    By Robert Walton , Meris Lutz • Oct. 19, 2026
  • Trump holds up a signed execuitve order
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Judge declines to block Trump’s March anti-DEI order for federal contractors

    The ruling rejected plaintiffs’ constitutional arguments but said that the directive only pertains to conduct that is “already prohibited by federal law.”

    By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 16, 2026
  • Precious Metal Technologies for a Clean Energy Future infographic
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    Permission granted by TANAKA PRECIOUS METALS
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    Sponsored by TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd.

    Scaling the hydrogen economy: Why precious metals still matter—and how to use them effectively

    As industries accelerate toward net-zero emissions, hydrogen has become a cornerstone of the global energy transition - with precious metals enabling them.

    By Dr. Torsten W. Buennagel, Fuel Cell Manager, TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd • Oct. 12, 2026
  • People hold signs that say, "Stand with Communities, Not Big Oil" and "The People v. Big Oil"
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    Finn Gomez via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court hears arguments in Boulder County, Colorado, climate case

    In a case that could affect dozens of similar lawsuits nationwide, the justices are weighing whether cities and counties can use state courts to seek damages from fossil fuel companies.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 8, 2026
  • SEC Chair Paul Atkins Testifies To Senate Banking Committee
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    SEC proposal poses ‘direct threat’ to investors: Dem state finance officials

    The state officials, all Democrats, are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to extend the comment period for the proposal and to keep the rule governing shareholder resolutions.

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • Close-up of the head and shoulders of a person wearing glasses.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Cities, states sue EPA over power plant emissions rollback

    Chicago, Denver and New York City join multistate lawsuits challenging the agency’s move to end greenhouse gas emissions standards and failure to enforce requirements on existing gas-fired plants.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 5, 2026
  • South Fork Wind's first offshore wind turbine is seen being installed off the coast of Montauk.
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    Courtesy of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
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    States sue Trump administration, developers over offshore wind lease buyouts

    Attorneys general from California and a coalition of Northeastern states accused the federal government of violating several laws and the developers of colluding with the administration.

    By Diana DiGangi , Meris Lutz • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A person wearing a blue suit points and talks into a microphone.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    EPA unlawfully canceled $7B Solar for All program, judge rules

    The ruling could revive grants awarded to states, cities and nonprofits for low-income solar projects.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 22, 2026
  • Close up image of Wall Street sign in Lower Manhattan, New York City
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    Getty Images
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    SEC’s plan to scrap shareholder proposal rule sparks criticism

    Industry and legal experts told ESG Dive that the rescission proposal is likely to have ripple effects and spur more shareholder pressure elsewhere.

    By • Sept. 18, 2026
  • Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins speaks at a lectern
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    SEC moves to officially roll back Rule 14a-8

    The details of the plan to rescind the shareholder proxy proposal rule come on the heels of the SEC’s push to make quarterly reporting by public companies optional.

    By Maura Webber Sadovi • Sept. 18, 2026
  • Concrete buildings with smoke stacks emitting white smoke into blue sky with body of water in foreground.
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    Getty Images
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    EPA scraps Biden-era power plant carbon rules, moves to eliminate all power-sector GHG standards

    “While mayors continue to advance local initiatives to protect residents, the EPA is moving backwards,” Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright says.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Sept. 15, 2026
  • A eggshell-colored building with the red, white and orange Chemours sign on it.
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    Screenshot: Chemours/YouTube

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    Chemours, DuPont, Corteva reach $455M PFAS settlement with North Carolina

    The agreement resolves contaminant claims that Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility released into the water and air. The three chemical giants also established a $135 million reserve fund.

    By Sara Samora • Sept. 14, 2026
  • A nuclear power plant sits across a snowy field.
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    The image by AsNuke is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    NextEra secures $1.9B DOE loan for Duane Arnold nuclear restart

    The U.S. Department of Energy under the Trump administration has financed three plant restarts and made other conditional commitments to bring nuclear power online.

    By Robert Walton • Sept. 9, 2026
  • SEC prods ISS on client vote, recommendation disclosures

    The Securities and Exchange Commission’s request “raises serious First Amendment concerns,” an Institutional Shareholder Services spokesperson told ESG Dive.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    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
  • Offshore wind farm turbines against a graduated red sunset with the sun reflecting on the sea's horizon.
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    Getty Images
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    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
  • Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins speaks at a lectern
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 1, 2026
  • Closeup shot of a businesswoman calculating finances in an office
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    Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 1, 2026
  • Overhead shot of Wall Street in NYC April 2010
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    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 • Aug. 28, 2026
  • The Deloitte offices stand in 2 New Square on October 2, 2018 in London, England.
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    Jack Taylor via Getty Images
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    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
  • DEI, Fisher Phillips, Latham & Watkins
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    James Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 • Aug. 26, 2026
  • Cans of Green Giant vegetables.
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    Courtesy of B&G Foods
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    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