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

Walmart flags fewer supplier standard violations

The retailer logged 754 cases in fiscal 2026, down 35% year over year, according to its latest ESG report.

By Kelly Stroh • Aug. 19, 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

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

Labor market exhibits ‘continued resilience,’ The Conference Board finds

Multiple factors have made an already complex job market even more volatile this year, per a report.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 17, 2026

US sustainable funds see positive inflows for first time since 2022: Morningstar

After 14 consecutive quarters of outflows, sustainable funds in the United States saw almost $3 billion in net inflows during the year’s second quarter.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 5, 2026

TotalEnergies buys all of Shell’s European renewable energy assets

The French multinational energy company will separately sell a 50% stake in a 1.2 GW renewables portfolio, valued at €1.8 billion ($2.07 billion), to investment firm KKR.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 3, 2026

Sustainability teams narrowing focus, prioritizing compliance in 2026: report

Compliance and reporting requirements have emerged as a top driver for corporate sustainability teams as ESG enters a phase of “fewer, clearer priorities,” according to a new survey from GlobeScan and BSR.

By Lauren Schenkman • July 31, 2026

GHG Protocol, ISO to combine carbon accounting standards

A draft of a combined corporate greenhouse gas accounting standard from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the International Organization for Standardization is expected next year.

By Lamar Johnson • July 30, 2026

Gap meets 2025 sustainable fabric sourcing goals, emissions cuts uneven

The retailer procured 100% of its cotton from sustainable sources in fiscal 2025 but certain emissions increased from the prior year, per its annual environmental report.

By Antone Gonsalves • July 29, 2026

AI governance growing in importance for investors: Diligent Market Intelligence

“Governance around AI is probably going to be the most important thing in investor relations over the next two years,” Diligent’s editor-in-chief told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • July 28, 2026

Mondelēz shows uneven gains on 2025 sustainable sourcing goals

The Oreo and Ritz maker reported 100% certified sourcing for palm oil and cocoa.

By Antone Gonsalves • July 27, 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

BlackRock’s GIP, Microsoft-backed AI group buy Aligned Data Centers for $40B

The deal represents the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership’s first investment, as it joins Global Infrastructure Partners and UAE tech investment firm MGX in acquiring the data center developer.

By Lamar Johnson • July 22, 2026

CO2 emissions from US power sector rose 4% last year

The rise in emissions was linked to increased electricity generation and coal use, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. 

By Meris Lutz • July 22, 2026

Delta, Shell expand SAF partnership with new five-year deal

The agreement will expand sustainable aviation fuel capacity and infrastructure at five international airport hubs. 

By Lamar Johnson • July 21, 2026

Amazon’s 2025 emissions jump as AI brings ‘momentum and complexity’: report

The tech and e-commerce company’s absolute carbon emissions increased 16% in 2025 from the previous year, as it reported adding more data center capacity than any other company globally.

By Lamar Johnson • July 20, 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

PepsiCo improves sustainable sourcing, delays emissions reporting

The company reported a four percentage point increase in sustainably sourced ingredients in 2025 but will release Scope 3 emissions metrics later this summer.

By Phil Neuffer • Updated July 14, 2026

Microsoft’s data center expansion drove 25% emissions spike in 2025: report

The tech giant also saw its scope 2 emissions rise sharply, after it sunsetted its use of unbundled renewable energy certificates last year.

By Lamar Johnson • 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

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

Google’s emissions continue to climb due to AI buildout

Despite a 2030 net-zero target, the tech giant’s latest environmental report found its 2025 carbon footprint increased 18% from the year prior and is 81% higher than its 2019 baseline.

By Lamar Johnson • July 2, 2026

ISS, Glass Lewis score wins against Kansas, Indiana anti-ESG laws

Federal judges issued preliminary injunctions to stop the implementation of laws targeting the proxy advisers in the two states.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated July 1, 2026

MSCI acquires First Street to expand physical climate risk modeling

The climate risk tech and data company’s acquisition will help financial institutions embed climate risk calculations “directly into how capital is priced and allocated,” First Street founder Matthew Eby said.

By Lamar Johnson • June 29, 2026