Sustainability


  • corporate activism backlash, Tom Lin, Temple Univ.
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    BlackRock scores win in ex-employee’s suit alleging discrimination in pursuit of DEI, ESG

    A federal judge found that the former equity trader failed to provide evidence he was fired for being a white, heterosexual male and not for violating the firm’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • A child walks among a row of red Ferrari cars on display.
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    Jack Taylor via Getty Images
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    Ferrari shutters gas-fueled plant to slash carbon emissions

    The Italian carmaker closed its Maranello trigeneration plant this week in a bid to reduce its methane gas consumption and pivot to cleaner energy sources.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Power lines and wind turbines are seen at dawn. Explore the Trendline
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    Alexander Koerner via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    The state of the clean energy transition in 2024

    This year saw a large volume of initiatives and investments from corporations focused on the clean energy transition — alongside a handful of reversions on carbon reduction goals.

    By ESG Dive staff
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    K Neville via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Hush-hush: Is greenwashing pushback prompting pivot to ‘greenhushing’?

    Companies must focus on data and transparency to back their sustainability claims instead of resorting to silence, or exaggerations, said sources from groups such as the U.S. Plastics Pact, Glass Packaging Institute and McCormick & Co.

    By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 3, 2024
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    Courtesy of Shein
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    Shein faces greenwashing investigation in Italy

    The Italian Competition Authority is accusing the fast fashion giant of posting misleading sustainability claims on its website.

    By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 3, 2024
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    California Gov. Newsom greenlights climate disclosure acts by signing new bill

    Senate Bill 219 includes a series of amendments to climate bills SB 253 and SB 261, originally approved by Newsom last October, while retaining a 2026 start date.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
  • Democrat AGs Rob Bonta, Letitia James, Kris Mayes, Keith Ellison and Matthew Platkin at a Climate Week NYC event hosted by Ceres.
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    Lamar Johnson/ESG Dive
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    Dem AGs: ‘We were on the verge of losing this messaging battle’ on ESG

    “We're pushing back because the Republicans are rewriting reality, trying to voice the false narrative on business … and we can’t stand for that,” California AG Rob Bonta said.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
  • A facade of Siemens' facility in Wendell, North Carolina
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    Permission granted by Siemens
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    Siemens’ free web tool aims to simplify decarbonization for commercial, industrial businesses

    The Decarbonization Business Optimizer provides baseline carbon assessments supported by datasets from federal agencies such as DOE and the EPA, Siemens Financial Services says.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 2, 2024
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    ESG and sustainability conferences to watch in 2025

    Early agendas for 2025 events show a growing focus on decarbonizing data centers, as well as increasing climate financing and aligning ESG standards.

    By , Oct. 1, 2024
  • The European Union flag.
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    artJazz via Getty Images
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    European Commission warns 17 member states to incorporate CSRD into national law

    The Commission will not be able to achieve the “necessary level” of reporting harmonization without the full incorporation of the directive across the EU, it said last week.

    By Oct. 1, 2024
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    Johannes Simon via Getty Images
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    New program to help fashion brands navigate EU’s sustainability legislation

    Nonprofit Fair Wear will launch the HRDD Academy to assist global garment and footwear brands meet the demands of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and other frameworks.

    By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 1, 2024
  • The Morgan Stanley sign is seen at the entrance of a building.
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    Stephen Chernin via Getty Images
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    Morgan Stanley secures $750M for climate-focused private equity fund

    The 1GT fund aims to collectively avoid or cut one gigaton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from the Earth’s atmosphere by 2050.

    By Sept. 30, 2024
  • Scientists stand beside a new carbon capture test unit.
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    Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Results show carbon capture’s alleged promises are full of hot air

    The happy-talk DOE press information says nothing about the difficulties associated with building a first-of-its kind technology and hooking it up to a large-scale electric generator.

    By Dennis Wamsted • Sept. 30, 2024
  • Solar panels on a building in New York City.
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    Lisa-Blue via Getty Images
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    Schneider Electric’s building decarbonization tool aims to ease regulatory compliance

    The new calculator allows building owners and operators to simulate energy-saving retrofits and evaluate their impact on emissions to aid compliance with laws such as New York City’s Local Law 97, the company says.

    By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 30, 2024
  • Speakers discuss carbon credits during a session on stage.
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    Permission granted by Clifton Prescod for Dow Jones
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    Transparency on carbon credits’ quality is ‘critical’ for reducing corporate emissions, experts say

    Verra CEO Mandy Rambharos said companies purchasing carbon credits should be able to understand where those credits come from and feel confident listing it as a decarbonization investment.

    By Sept. 27, 2024
  • A brown cylindrical stack rises behind some decorated fencing on a grassy hill. A body of water is visible in the background.
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    The image by Tdorante10 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    EPA warns landfill owners to meet gas monitoring and collection obligations amid noncompliance

    The federal agency issued alerts that revealed its findings from over 100 inspections. It noted the climate impact of failing to control methane pollution and warned landfill owners that the agency would hold them accountable. 

    By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 27, 2024
  • A general view of GMC Hummer EVs on November 17, 2021 at General Motors' Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan
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    Nic Antaya via Getty Images
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    White House backs $1B EV supplier fund

    Monroe Capital’s managed fund is focused on helping small- and medium-sized auto manufacturers transition to electric vehicle production.

    By Kate Magill • Sept. 27, 2024
  • Ali Zaidi, national climate advisor to Joe Biden, speaking at Climate Week
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    Lamar Johnson/ESG Dive
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    Now is the time to ‘lean into’ decarbonizing transportation sector: Biden climate advisor

    Cutting transportation sector emissions would have both public health and climate benefits, Ali Zaidi, a national climate policy advisor for the Biden administration, said at Climate Week NYC.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
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    Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury via Getty Images
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    CEOs face hurdles in meeting net-zero targets due to decarbonization challenges: KPMG

    CEOs pointed to the complexity of cutting supply chain emissions and implementing sustainable solutions as challenges affecting their net-zero target strategies.

    By Suman Bhattacharyya • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Environmental activists seen protesting outside the New York Supreme Court.
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    Climate lawsuits against largest fossil fuel producers have almost tripled, report finds

    Oil giants like ExxonMobil and Shell are increasingly facing lawsuits regarding their alleged culpability for climate change-related damages and engagement in misleading advertising.

    By Lyle Moran • Sept. 25, 2024
  • A person in a suit stands in front of a crowd of people holding signs that say "Trump 2024" and "Road to Victory."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    How a 2nd Trump administration could ‘jeopardize’ Inflation Reduction Act climate funds

    If elected, could Donald Trump claw back or withhold funds from communities? Experts from Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law offer insight.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Six executives from green banks in localities across the country announce the creation of the Green Bank 50 coalition.
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    Lamar Johnson/ESG Dive
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    Climate Week NYC 2024 kicks off with carbon removal deals, green banking coalition

    The annual climate event launched with announced commitments to triple nuclear energy financing, decarbonization initiatives across the aviation sector and some carbon offset deals.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Most global banks unprepared for climate change risks: report

    A majority of banks lack clear climate adoption strategies, a Climate X survey of 50 of the world's largest commercial banks found.

    By Suman Bhattacharyya • Sept. 24, 2024
  • Equipment at ExxonMobil's advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Texas
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    Courtesy of ExxonMobil
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    Lawsuits from California AG and others take aim at ExxonMobil’s chemical recycling claims

    The oil giant is facing a pair of coordinated lawsuits that collectively allege deceptive marketing, concealment of harm, and violations of nuisance and unfair competition laws.

    By Maria Rachal • Sept. 24, 2024
  • State Street building. Yellow banners say "State Street Global Advisors" "Reinventing Investing"
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    Monica Schipper via Getty Images
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    State Street reduces support for E + S proposals, following other Big Three asset managers

    State Street supported 6% of environmental and 7% of social proposals in the 2024 proxy season, confirming the nation’s largest asset managers all supported fewer such proposals than in 2023.

    By Sept. 23, 2024
  • Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee at the William McChesney Martin Jr. Federal Reserve Board Building on September 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Federal Reserve announced today that they will cut the central bank’s benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to a new range of 4.75%-5%.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Clean energy a ‘big winner’ as Fed cuts interest rates more than expected

    Renewable energy projects are “very sensitive to the cost of capital,” particularly for capital-intensive technologies like offshore wind, said Mona Dajani, a partner at Baker Botts.

    By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 23, 2024