Sustainability

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    Deep Dive

    4 trends that will shape ESG in 2026

    After an eventful 2025, the next year holds further regulatory changes and a growing disclosure landscape, as companies quiet on sustainability talks.

    By , • Jan. 8, 2026
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    [Photograph]. Retrieved from Atlantic County Utilities Authority.
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    New Jersey court upholds key environmental justice law

    Recyclers argued the state's Department of Environmental Protection overstepped its authority and blocked business operations. But an appeals court said DEP appropriately applied the EJ law.

    By Megan Quinn • Jan. 8, 2026
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    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
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    Blackstone buys environmental services platform ATG from Morgan Stanley

    The private equity giant called Alliance Technical Group a “clear market leader in emissions testing and monitoring” that would help serve a broad range of clients.

    By • Jan. 7, 2026
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    Courtesy of LG Energy Solution
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    Honda buying LG Energy Solution’s stake in Ohio EV battery plant building for $2.85B

    The transaction includes the building and infrastructure assets related to the battery joint venture, but excludes the land and equipment.

    By Eric Walz • Jan. 7, 2026
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    Energy-as-a-service provider Redaptive closes $216M financing for novel securitization

    The company said the deal, which was underwritten and structured by Deutsche Bank, is the first securitization backed by EaaS contracts.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
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    Ørsted, Equinor challenge Trump administration’s offshore wind stop work order

    The December stop work order is estimated to be costing the 700-MW Revolution Wind project at least $1.44 million per day, project attorneys alleged.

    By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 6, 2026
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    Ron Jenkins via Getty Images
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    Alphabet acquires clean energy developer Intersect for $4.75B

    The acquisition follows a prior partnership between Google and Intersect and represents a new tactic being adopted by the tech giant’s parent company in its decarbonization journey.

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Matt Cardy via Getty Images
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    HSBC taps BNP Paribas exec to lead sustainable finance, transition in Asia

    The London-based bank said Chaoni Huang would help its clients in the region “decarbonize and invest in new growth.”

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Courtesy of Trimac 

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    Transportation company Trimac begins Hyundai hydrogen truck pilot

    The data collected will aid carriers in building knowledge of hydrogen systems.

    By Larry Avila • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Mercedes settles emissions-cheating lawsuits for nearly $150M

    The total value of the multi-state settlement could reach $347 million, according to one state attorney general.

    By • Dec. 23, 2025
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Trump administration halts all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in US

    The action affects five major offshore wind farms under development in federal waters, including the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. The administration cited classified “national security risks” for the move.

    By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 23, 2025
  • Brad Lander speaks at a podium outside of the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    NYC pension delays vote to drop BlackRock, Fidelity

    Outgoing Comptroller Brad Lander has urged the New York City Employees Retirement System’s trustees to replace BlackRock and Fidelity over climate policy deficiencies.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
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    Courtesy of NULIFE GreenTech facilities
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    Frontier inks $44.2M deal with biowaste carbon removal company

    Biomass carbon removal and storage platform Nulife GreenTech will remove 122,000 tons of CO2 for Frontier’s buyers, including Google, Stripe and Shopify.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
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    Whole Foods to launch in-store food waste infrastructure

    The Amazon-owned specialty grocer will be the first to deploy Mill Industries’ automated, on-site food recycling technology.

    By Peyton Bigora • Dec. 19, 2025
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    Opinion

    Hybrid heating: A bridge to decarbonization or a road to obsolescence for gas utilities?

    Combining heat pumps with gas furnaces can help manage winter peaks, lower energy costs and cut carbon emissions. But this approach requires well-structured regulatory frameworks and cost-recovery mechanisms, West Monroe experts write.

    By Andrew Biondi, Margaret Oloriz and Estelle Mangeney • Dec. 19, 2025
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    US sustainable investing hangs on against strong headwinds: report

    Sustainable assets rose slightly in 2025 — though its market share shrank — and most asset managers expect to increase sustainable investments next year.

    By Lauren Schenkman • Dec. 18, 2025
  • Doug Field, Ford's chief EV, digital and design officer, speaks at a presentation in August 2025 announcing the automaker's new Universal EV Platform.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford scraps EV plans, shifts to stationary energy storage

    The automaker will focus its North American EV development on a new family of smaller, highly efficient and less expensive models.

    By Eric Walz • Dec. 18, 2025
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    EU Parliament approves pact to alter sustainability reporting laws

    The bloc now awaits final approval from the European Council to substantially simplify the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Despite political backtracking, net-zero commitments rise in 2025: Accenture

    The number of the world’s largest companies setting net-zero targets has increased for the fourth year in a row.

    By Lauren Schenkman • Dec. 17, 2025
  • An aerial view of a solar power facility with a central tall white tower surrounded by concentric circles of blue reflective solar panels, set in a desert landscape.
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    Alamy
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    SBTi opens pilot for power sector net-zero standard

    The Science Based Targets initiative is looking for companies in the energy industry to test the practicality and usefulness of the draft framework.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
  • President Donald Trump at the White House on Dec. 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Trump issues EO targeting proxy advisers, including ISS, Glass Lewis

    The order is directed at the SEC, FTC and DOL with the aim of stymieing the reach of the two proxy advisers, particularly on ESG and DEI-related issues.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • Fervo Energy's Project Red enhanced geothermal facility near Winnemucca, Nevada.
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    Permission granted by Fervo Energy
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    Google, CalSTRS, others back $462M funding round for geothermal plant

    The funding will support Fervo’s 500-megawatt geothermal power plant in Utah, expected to be the “world’s largest next-generation geothermal development.”

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • The Apple logo is displayed on a storefront in Berlin, Germany, on April 23, 2025.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Apple’s environmental, social chief to retire next month

    Lisa Jackson, the tech company’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, will depart in late January 2026 without a direct replacement.

    By • Dec. 11, 2025
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    New York targets power sector carbon allowances in proposed climate regulations

    The amendments would reduce the annual budget of CO2 allowances through 2037, including the number of voluntary renewable energy purchases. 

    By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 11, 2025
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    CARB releases draft text for California’s climate disclosure regulations

    The proposed text of the rules comes before the holiday season, and the agency expects a hearing on final adoption of SB 253 and 261 in late February.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025