Energy regulator grants BlackRock renewed authorization for large utility investments

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave the nation’s largest asset manager to continue to acquire up to 20% of voting securities for utility companies for another three years.

By Lamar Johnson • April 18, 2025

Trump administration ordered to resume IRA funding

A federal judge’s decision, which stated agencies lacked authority to pause funding, follows the president’s executive order to freeze the money on his first day in office. 

By Kate Magill • April 18, 2025

SEC approves first US ‘green’ stock exchange

The Securities and Exchange Commission gave final approval for Green Impact Exchange to open the first national exchange for sustainability offerings, with trading set to begin in 2026.

By Lamar Johnson • April 17, 2025

General Motors taps Dell sustainability head to become new CSO

Cassandra Garber will lead the automotive giant’s sustainability efforts and ESG practices starting April 22, which coincides with Earth Day.

By Zoya Mirza • April 17, 2025

Lego removes DEI mentions from latest ESG report

A webpage touting Lego’s “diverse and inclusive workplace” remains on the company’s site.

By Caroline Colvin • April 17, 2025

Microsoft signs pair of large-scale carbon removal deals with CO280, Terradot

The tech giant will purchase 3.685 million tonnes of removal credits through paper mill retrofits, and 12,000 tonnes of credits through enhanced rock weathering.

By Lamar Johnson • April 16, 2025

Occidental subsidiary secures final permit from EPA to sequester CO2 in Texas

Oxy Low Carbon Ventures’ proposed project includes three wells that aim to store 722,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually in Ector County.

By Zoya Mirza • April 16, 2025

NZBA scraps requirement for banks to strictly target a 1.5°C warming scenario

The United Nations’ Net-Zero Banking Alliance has updated its guidelines in the wake of departures, with its latest guidance aiming for global warming “well below 2°C.”

By Lamar Johnson • April 15, 2025

Organizations prioritize sustainability, but they’re slowed by manual data processes

A slowdown in federal sustainability mandates is pushing building operators to focus on reduction initiatives, Atrius says.

By Joe Burns • April 15, 2025

Rosendin to demo robotic solar panel installers on Texas jobsite

The electrical contractor claims the tech will triple installation speeds, enhance worker safety and help address the industry’s persistent labor shortage.

By Matthew Thibault • April 15, 2025

UN reaches deal on global shipping net-zero standard in spite of US opposition

The framework would set fuel intensity standards for the global shipping industry. The Trump administration has threatened “reciprocal measures” to offset costs for U.S. companies.

By Lamar Johnson • April 14, 2025

EnergyHub partners with GM to use EVs as grid resources

General Motors’ sales of electric vehicles jumped 94% in the first quarter. EnergyHub said its managed EV charging programs can help utilities maintain grid stability as EV demand rises.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2025

Fighting greenwashing with transparency and trust

Avoid greenwashing with the foundation of any credible sustainability strategy: transparency.

April 14, 2025

J.P. Morgan Asset Management closes $1.5B climate, forests fund

The fund exceeded its initial close target and aims to support sustainability in forestry, timber production and carbon sequestration.

By Lamar Johnson • April 11, 2025

Physical risk playbook: How and why companies should step up their climate resiliency efforts

Investors need information on corporate resilience strategies for climate-driven disasters to price investment risks accurately, says Impax Asset Management’s Julie Gorte.

By Julie Gorte • April 11, 2025

Trump directs FERC, other agencies to add 5-year sunsets to energy-related regulations

The executive order is “impossible to implement [and] blatantly illegal,” according to Harvard Law School’s Ari Peskoe.

By Ethan Howland • April 11, 2025

EU legislators work to simplify sustainability reporting requirements

The European Union has delayed sustainability reporting for the CSRD and CSDDD while legislators work to simplify the underlying requirements for businesses.

By Lamar Johnson • April 10, 2025

4 ways tariffs could impact recycled plastic markets

Recycling industry analysts say high-level trends affecting markets and manufacturing will affect recyclers as trade war uncertainties continue.

By Megan Quinn • April 10, 2025

Trump EO targets state climate, emissions and ESG policies

The executive order directs the attorney general to halt enforcement of state laws or civil actions targeting energy companies over climate change.

By Lamar Johnson • April 9, 2025

More than 25 consumer brands use packaging linked to Texas fracking: report

Single-use plastic packaging continues to drive fossil fuel extraction, despite brands’ promises to cut back, according to climate group Stand.earth.

By Lauren Schenkman • April 9, 2025

USDA tells digester funding applicants to remove diversity, climate language

The announcement means federal funding for anaerobic digesters on dairy farms could be unpaused for applicants willing to change project language.

By Jacob Wallace • April 9, 2025

Institutional Shareholder Services subsidiary launches sustainability bond ratings

The ratings aim to address investors’ “need for comparative insights on the material sustainability risks and opportunities” of green, social and sustainability bonds, ISS Stoxx’s head of ESG said.

By Lamar Johnson • April 8, 2025

The missing link: Data’s role in small business disaster recovery

Businesses and communities need more granular and reliable data to recover in the wake of natural disasters, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Marc DeCourcey and Fiserv’s Vivian Greentree say.

By Marc DeCourcey and Vivian Greentree • April 8, 2025

Shareholder advocacy targets flexible packaging, reusables and recycling labels

Coca-Cola, Hyatt, Sealed Air, Starbucks and Wyndham recently reached agreements with shareholder advocates. Proposals remain pending at Amazon, Home Depot, Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, PepsiCo and Wendy’s.

By Cole Rosengren • April 8, 2025

Dutch investor AIP Management invests $500M in US solar producer

AIP will invest half a billion dollars in Silicon Ranch, a full-service solar company and one of the largest U.S. independent power producers.

By Lamar Johnson • April 7, 2025