Companies face fragmented climate risk disclosure landscape in 2026

After the U.S. and European Union signaled an end to a growing regulatory consensus in 2025, businesses are bracing for a more complex environment this year.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 29, 2026

With Vineyard Wind ruling, four of five offshore wind projects win relief from Trump freeze

Project developers said despite their outreach, the government “refused to discuss the supposedly new information about national security impacts” cited as the reason for halting construction, or what they might do to mitigate them.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 29, 2026

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Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

The landscape for ESG continues to shift, as U.S. exits from major climate agreements and organizations are juxtaposed with states forging ahead with their own climate disclosure laws.

By ESG Dive staff

GHG Protocol proposal risks slowing clean energy expansion

Proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol would make it more difficult for companies to report renewables use and could discourage procurement, according Lesley Hunter and Jeffrey Gorham of the American Council on Renewable Energy.

By Lesley Hunter and Jeffrey Gorham • Jan. 28, 2026

Vycarb inks new deals to scale in 2026: Exclusive

The ocean-based carbon removal startup has expanded its partnerships and funding and is eyeing a path to commercial applications.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 28, 2026

TotalEnergies inks 10-year renewable energy deal with papermaker SWM

The contract is designed to use the oil major’s integrated power portfolio to help SWM reach its emissions reduction goals.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 27, 2026

New Jersey governor orders state to accelerate solar, storage and virtual power plants

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who was sworn in Tuesday, also ordered regulators to study how to “modernize” the traditional electric utility business model, including by making utility profits “less dependent on capital spending.”

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2026

Sam Altman-backed Exowatt launches arm to power data centers with clean energy

The company said “ExoRise” will lean on land, power and its proprietary solar and battery technology to provide data centers with reliable power around the clock.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 26, 2026

Lawsuits target EPA rollback of coal plant water pollution standards

The plants need flexibility to meet rising electricity demand, the EPA says. Environmental groups argue that undermines Clean Water Act protections for rivers and drinking water sources.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 26, 2026

Companies with validated science-based climate targets hit 10,000: SBTi

The Science Based Target initiative said validated companies represent over 40% of global market capitalization and include major names like Danone, McLaren Racing and Lenovo.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 23, 2026

US solar manufacturing momentum affected by shifting tax credits

The U.S. can now produce every major component of the solar and storage supply chain, with multiple facilities opening in recent years. Yet conflicting political priorities and federal policies are creating headwinds for the sector.

By Michelle No • Updated Jan. 26, 2026

Charm Industrial inks CO2 removal deal with TD Bank

The deal will expand the startup’s operations to Canada and provide the bank with 44,000 metric tons of biochar and bio-oil removal credits over 10 years.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 23, 2026

Most companies are staying the course on ESG — just talking about it less

While companies have increasingly downplayed or avoided announcing their sustainability efforts, experts say they “remain on the same trajectory.”

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 22, 2026

PepsiCo CEO says sustainability debate needs a ‘reframe’ at Davos

Corporate strategy debates shouldn’t pit sustainability against profitability, but see it as a short-term versus long-term risk issue, Ramon Laguarta said during a World Economic Forum event.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 21, 2026

Google sees CO2 batteries as large-scale way to store renewable energy

The batteries would do the work of lithium-ion batteries but on a much bigger scale to give its largest data centers backup power, the company says.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 21, 2026

Google inks PPAs to power data centers with carbon-free energy

The power purchase agreements with Clearway Energy Group will provide power to Google’s data centers across three power markets.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated Jan. 23, 2026

CleanCapital nabs $300M in debt financing for portfolio growth

French infrastructure investor Infranity will provide the financing, which CleanCapital CEO Thomas Byrne said will allow the company to build out its portfolio through 2028-29.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 16, 2026

New York Gov. Hochul expands state’s nuclear aspirations to 8-GW fleet

On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul called for adding 5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity to the state’s 3.4-GW fleet. The state’s new energy plan cast nuclear as key to its reliability and decarbonization goals. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 16, 2026

Microsoft signs record soil carbon removal deal to cut emissions

The agreement with Indigo Ag will remove 2.85 million metric tons of carbon dioxide for the tech giant, which is the largest soil carbon removal by tonnage to date, the agricultural tech company said.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 15, 2026

eBay unveils climate transition plan to reach 2045 net-zero target

The transition plan comes almost a year after the e-commerce giant had its net-zero and emissions reduction goals validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 14, 2026

Trump administration unlawfully cut clean energy grants, court rules

The decision is a victory for St. Paul, Minnesota, and a coalition of energy and environmental groups that sued the U.S. Department of Energy after it canceled $7.5 billion in financial awards.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2026

Bain signs first direct air capture carbon removal deal with 1PointFive

The consulting firm purchased 9,000 metric tons of carbon removal credits, to be delivered over a three-year period, in a bid to meet its sustainability goals.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 13, 2026

VC firm Superorganism raises over $25M to back biodiversity startups

The venture capital firm will look to expand its portfolio from 20 startups to 35 through its debut fund, its co-founders told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 13, 2026

GM expects a total charge of $7.1B in Q4 as it shifts from EVs

The automaker cited slowing demand and the termination of consumer tax incentives for its North America strategy realignment.

By Eric Walz • Jan. 13, 2026

Abandoning packaging sustainability a ‘serious strategic miscalculation’: Bain

Companies are still pursuing sustainable packaging strategies even though they’ve toned down public messaging about it, according to a newly released report from Bain & Co.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 12, 2026

Meta inks trio of nuclear deals to support AI ambitions

The tech giant announced deals with nuclear power providers TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra that are expected to yield 6.6 gigawatts of capacity by 2035.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 9, 2026