EU promises to ‘reduce administrative burden’ of sustainability laws on US companies

A joint statement on the new trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union also promised “flexibility” regarding import fees tied to carbon emissions.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 26, 2025

CARB to propose California’s long-awaited climate-risk disclosure regulations this fall

The California Air Resources Board, tasked with implementing the rules, said at its latest public workshop that it would issue a notice of proposed rulemaking for the laws on Oct. 14.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 25, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, from the U.S. pulling out of major climate agreements to federal agencies recalibrating their approach to sustainability under the new administration.

By ESG Dive staff

Collection, not public disclosure, may doom Illinois demographic data law

Anti-DEI collective American Alliance for Equal Rights alleged that SB2930 violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 25, 2025

Companies with climate targets have more than tripled since 2023: SBTi

A total of 10,949 companies worldwide now either have near-term targets or near-term and net-zero targets, or have committed to set them, according to a report by the Science-Based Targets initiative.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 21, 2025

California’s climate disclosure laws survive preliminary injunction request

The ruling means companies won’t see a reprieve from the coming deadlines in California Senate Bills 253 and 261, says Juge Gregg, partner at the law firm Crowell & Moring.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 20, 2025

GOP attorneys general probe Science Based Targets initiative

A coalition of 23 state attorneys general are seeking information on SBTi and its recently rolled out net-zero standard for financial institutions.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 15, 2025

Remote sensing to verify carbon removal projects holds promise, faces obstacles: reports

Technologies to remotely assess the growth of forests could help verify carbon credits but leadership and standardization are lacking, according to two reports Meta commissioned from Carbon Direct.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 14, 2025

Countdown to compliance: Decoding California’s climate disclosure FAQs

As the California Air Resources Board works to finalize the state's climate-risk disclosure regulations, companies should work to understand how the laws apply to them, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius says.

By Ari Selman, Elizabeth Goldberg, Levi McAllister, Rick Rothman, Carl Valenstein, Rachel Mann • Aug. 13, 2025

Major companies reframing, not abandoning, DEI: report

More than half of S&P 100 companies adjusted their diversity, equity and inclusion messaging in major filings in 2025, according to The Conference Board.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 12, 2025

DEI pushback affects LGBTQ+ marketing: Here’s what the numbers say

Inclusive ads impact the purchasing behavior of 77% of LGBTQ+ consumers, according to data from Disqo and Do the Werq.

By Sara Karlovitch • Aug. 8, 2025

Over 300 organizations ask EU to preserve scope and rigor of sustainability legislation

Financial institutions, companies and advocacy groups released a joint statement calling for the European Union to maintain key aspects of the CSRD and CSDDD.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 8, 2025

Data center flexibility can save money but may come with higher emissions: MIT

In Texas, where renewable energy is booming, data center emissions fell by up to 40% in the MIT modeling of flexible data center workloads. In other regions, however, emissions rose.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 8, 2025

State finance officials press US asset managers to denounce ESG, climate

A coalition of 26 Republican state finance officials sent letters to executives at 25 firms, pushing them to denounce climate and net-zero commitments.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 4, 2025

Trump approves emissions exemptions for some chemical, taconite iron ore facilities

Dow, BASF, U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs are some of the companies that received two-year delays from complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s air pollutants regulations.

By Sara Samora • July 31, 2025

Sustainserv, Palau ink tech partnership to boost ESG reporting with AI

The deal will give users access to an AI-powered platform which offers templates for reporting aligned with multiple reporting and regulatory frameworks.

By Zoya Mirza • July 31, 2025

CleanCapital acquires 64-project solar portfolio from Greenbacker

The deal for 51.2 megawatts of operational solar systems will expand CleanCapital’s portfolio to include more than 350 solar and energy storage projects.

By Lamar Johnson • July 30, 2025

ISS, Glass Lewis sue Texas AG over state’s newest anti-ESG law

The nation’s top two proxy advisory firms are seeking a preliminary injunction to stop a Texas law targeting such firms from taking effect in September.

By Lamar Johnson • July 29, 2025

Voluntary sustainable packaging goals are on the way out, Gartner says

Companies are aligning their sustainability strategies with emerging legislation, such as EPR laws, according to the consulting firm. Adapting now can have cost advantages down the line.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 28, 2025

Trump’s SEC distances itself from Biden-era ESG, climate rulemaking

The Securities and Exchange Commission has looked to withdraw proposed ESG regulations introduced during the previous administration or stop defending them in court.

By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • July 25, 2025

SEC declines to confirm whether climate disclosure rule will be upheld if it survives litigation

The agency told an appeals court it “does not intend to review or reconsider” the rule but did not confirm whether it would enforce it if legal challenges against the rule fail.

By Zoya Mirza • July 25, 2025

SBTi unveils final net-zero standard for financial institutions

The Science Based Targets initiative’s FINZ framework is the first to guide the sector through the net-zero journey, including setting both near- and long-term portfolio targets.

By Lamar Johnson • July 22, 2025

Berlin Packaging details progress toward SBTi-validated targets

The global packaging supplier cited innovation in biomaterials and refill systems among the efforts driving growth and sustainability.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 22, 2025

Mastercard reports declining emissions and rising revenue for second straight year

The global payments company also surpassed and remains “on track” to hit interim 2025 emissions reductions targets.

By Lamar Johnson • July 21, 2025

US companies quietly maintaining, boosting sustainability investments in 2025: report

EcoVadis found companies are less likely to publicize their sustainability efforts this year, but have largely maintained or increased their ESG investments amid shifts and backlash.

By Lamar Johnson • July 16, 2025

California’s 2026 climate-risk reporting deadlines are here to stay: KPMG

Despite regulatory uncertainty at the federal level and internationally, California’s forging ahead and expecting companies to disclose their climate risks starting next year.

By Lamar Johnson • July 14, 2025