SEC pushes back Names Rule compliance dates

Funds will now have an additional six months to comply with the rule requiring funds’ investment strategies to align with any advertised purposes, like ESG or sustainability.

By Lamar Johnson • March 18, 2025

Deere shareholders vote down anti-DEI proposal

The move comes months after the tractor giant rolled back its support for “social or cultural awareness events” in July.

By Nathan Owens • March 17, 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

EU sustainability, supply chain simplification efforts face ‘split’ parliament, experts say

Efforts to simplify compliance “shouldn't compromise the protection of the people and the planet,” a policy adviser to a member of the European Parliament said at a conference.

By Lamar Johnson • March 17, 2025

Demystifying the carbon market with transparency

The question isn’t whether or not climate change is happening — the question is, how do we address it?

March 17, 2025

US banks turn to SEC to dodge climate, social shareholder proposals

The agency has largely denied the requests, ruling that banks must put the requests to disclose its clean energy financing ratios and indigenous rights practices to a vote.

By Lamar Johnson • March 14, 2025

EPA aims to roll back power sector regulations in broad deregulatory push

It would likely take several years — potentially into the next presidency — to revise at least some of the targeted regulations, according to analysts.

By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2025

Microsoft buys 1.5M tonnes of carbon credits from Climate Impact Partners

The tech giant will purchase the credits over a 30-year period, as the carbon credit project developer plants millions of native trees in India.

By Lamar Johnson • March 10, 2025

BofA, Wells, Truist de-emphasize DEI in annual filings

In its paperwork, BofA now uses “opportunity” in place of diversity. Wells, meanwhile, scrapped its diverse-slate interview policy, along with mentions of its pay equity review.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 4, 2025

Anti-ESG groups intensify activism early in 2025 proxy season

Opposition to corporate sustainability efforts has grown in recent years, culminating in an anti-ESG order by President Donald Trump last month.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 28, 2025

EU adopts omnibus proposal, trims sustainability reporting requirements

The simplified package would remove 80% of companies from the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and delay reporting timelines.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 27, 2025

U.S. Bank scrubs DEI, fair pay references

Mentions of the lender’s diverse-slate hiring policy, pay comparisons by gender and race, and flexible work were absent from its most recent annual filing.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 27, 2025

Apple shareholders emphatically reject anti-DEI proposal

More than 97% of voting shareholders dismissed the proposal by a conservative think tank asking Apple to “cease DEI efforts” at its annual meeting.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 26, 2025

Morgan Stanley, Capital One downplay DEI efforts

A Morgan Stanley filing highlights its proportion of women and ethnically diverse employees but contains a statement on “meritocracy.” Meanwhile, Capital One isn't touting pay equity like it used to.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 26, 2025

SEC updates guidance on ESG engagement disclosures, prompts temporary confusion

BlackRock and Vanguard, the nation’s largest asset managers, temporarily paused shareholder engagement meetings after a recent update to agency guidance.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 25, 2025

Asset owners demand greater transparency on ESG amid increased scrutiny: Cerulli

Pressure from regulators and stakeholders is driving a demand for accountability, but reporting standardization hurdles persist, analysts from the research firm said.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Feb. 25, 2025

CSDDD is a ‘non-tariff barrier’ for US companies: House Financial Services Chair

Rep. French Hill said during a webinar that the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will create costly barriers for U.S. corporations to do business in and engage with the bloc. 

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 19, 2025

The SEC has requested to delay climate rule arguments. What’s next?

Sustainable investing experts are not surprised by the delay and say it is expected to have minimal immediate impact.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 13, 2025

Acting SEC chair asks court not to schedule climate rule arguments

“The Commission’s briefs previously submitted in the cases consolidated in the Eighth Circuit do not reflect my views,” Acting Chair Mark Uyeda said.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 11, 2025

New York reintroduces bills seeking climate risk, emissions disclosures

Senate Bills 3456 and 3697, if approved, would mandate climate-related disclosures from large companies operating in the Empire State as early as 2027.

By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 6, 2025

Banks improving clean energy finance ratios, still well-short of net-zero pace: report

“The ratio isn’t evolving at the pace needed to hit the 4:1 level required this decade under commonly referenced scenarios to limit climate change to 1.5 [degrees Celsius],” according to BloombergNEF.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 31, 2025

Developments driving the ESG, sustainability industry in 2025

The change in U.S. presidential leadership has triggered drawbacks of ESG and DEI commitments, as the private sector braces for a change in political direction.

By Zoya Mirza , Lamar Johnson • Jan. 31, 2025

Rockefeller grant strengthens push for nature-related disclosures

The Rockefeller Foundation announced it will give the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures $500,000 to scale its voluntary adoption efforts, as the organization rolls out additional sector guidelines.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 30, 2025

Companies continue to pursue scope 3 reporting, despite regulatory and data collection challenges

Mejuri and Kontoor Brands are working with supplier networks to improve transparency of scope 3 reporting, while LinkedIn is using an internal carbon fee as an oversight mechanism.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Jan. 27, 2025

Investor interest in solar, storage cools amid Trump administration uncertainty

Venture capital investment dropped 36% in 2024 for solar companies and 60% in energy storage, according to Mercom Capital Group.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 23, 2025

BlackRock and Tennessee reach settlement on ESG suit

“We’re pleased to resolve this matter,” a BlackRock spokesperson told ESG Dive. The agreement dismisses the state’s 2023 lawsuit and does not find that the investment firm violated any laws.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2025