Data center flexibility can save money but may come with higher emissions: MIT

In Texas, where renewable energy is booming, data center emissions fell by up to 40% in the MIT modeling of flexible data center workloads. In other regions, however, emissions rose.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 8, 2025

UBS quits Net-Zero Banking Alliance, joins global exodus

The Swiss lender follows in the footsteps of banking peers who have departed NZBA this year, but said its “commitment to sustainability remains unchanged.”

By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 7, 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

EPA considers terminating $7B Solar For All program

If the Trump administration moves forward to claw back the funding, “we will see them in court,” said Kym Meyer, litigation director at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 7, 2025

ISS Sustainable Solutions acquires geospatial risk modeling firm

The Institutional Shareholder Services subsidiary bought Sust Global for an undisclosed price to allow investors to incorporate additional climate risk insights into their portfolio assessments.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 6, 2025

Environmentalists target biogas credits as ‘false’ climate solution

In California and New Mexico, environmental groups are ramping up their efforts to slash the strong carbon intensity scores that farm biogas receives through clean fuels programs.

By Jacob Wallace • Aug. 6, 2025

Shein fined $1.16M for greenwashing, releases plan to lower supply chain emissions

The fast fashion retailer was fined by the Italian government for using misleading environmental claims in the promotion and sale of its clothing.

By Laurel Deppen • Aug. 6, 2025

Meta turning to mass timber to build more sustainable data centers

The social media and tech conglomerate is looking to swap out steel and concrete for durable wood to lower the embodied carbon emissions of its data center campuses.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 5, 2025

Increased production, polyester use causing fashion industry’s emissions to rise: report

The apparel sector’s greenhouse gas emissions increased to 944 million metric tons in 2023, up by 7.5% compared to 2022, according to the Apparel Impact Institute.

By Lauren Schenkman • Aug. 5, 2025

Semiconductor industry faces water, sustainability challenges

The boom in chip manufacturing has also increased demand for ultrapure water. Fabrication plant operators are investing in ways to mitigate water usage, but are still reclaiming a small percentage of it in their operations.

By Michelle No • Aug. 5, 2025

State finance officials press US asset managers to denounce ESG, climate

A coalition of 26 Republican state finance officials sent letters to executives at 25 firms, pushing them to denounce climate and net-zero commitments.

By Lamar Johnson • Aug. 4, 2025

Advances in ‘green steel’ production could stall under the Trump administration

Federal efforts to lower emissions in steel manufacturing — the world’s largest industrial carbon emitter — are now in question, prompting steel giant Cleveland-Cliffs to drop a furnace project.

By Austyn Gaffney • Aug. 4, 2025

NYPA’s updated renewables plan would more than double capacity to 7 GW

The New York Power Authority’s draft plan includes new renewable and energy storage projects totaling more than 3.8 GW.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2025

Barclays exits Net-Zero Banking Alliance, follows HSBC

The British bank has become the latest to depart NZBA, trailing behind HSBC and other major financial institutions who have also left the group.

By Zoya Mirza • Updated Aug. 4, 2025

US states have passed 11 anti-ESG bills in 2025 so far: report

A total of 106 bills opposing ESG were introduced in state legislatures this year, but few were passed, according to a report from Pleiades Strategy.

By Lauren Schenkman • July 31, 2025

Sustainserv, Palau ink tech partnership to boost ESG reporting with AI

The deal will give users access to an AI-powered platform which offers templates for reporting aligned with multiple reporting and regulatory frameworks.

By Zoya Mirza • July 31, 2025

CleanCapital acquires 64-project solar portfolio from Greenbacker

The deal for 51.2 megawatts of operational solar systems will expand CleanCapital’s portfolio to include more than 350 solar and energy storage projects.

By Lamar Johnson • July 30, 2025

EPA aims to revoke ‘endangerment finding’ underpinning power, auto sector climate regs

The effort to end greenhouse gas-related rules that address climate change will likely face "significant legal pushback,” according to research firm Capstone.

By Ethan Howland • July 30, 2025

ISS, Glass Lewis sue Texas AG over state’s newest anti-ESG law

The nation’s top two proxy advisory firms are seeking a preliminary injunction to stop a Texas law targeting such firms from taking effect in September.

By Lamar Johnson • July 29, 2025

Solar continues to dominate new power generation ... for now

The United States added about 12 GW of generating resources between January and April of this year, mostly from solar, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Meris Lutz • July 29, 2025

Voluntary sustainable packaging goals are on the way out, Gartner says

Companies are aligning their sustainability strategies with emerging legislation, such as EPR laws, according to the consulting firm. Adapting now can have cost advantages down the line.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 28, 2025

Trump’s SEC distances itself from Biden-era ESG, climate rulemaking

The Securities and Exchange Commission has looked to withdraw proposed ESG regulations introduced during the previous administration or stop defending them in court.

By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • July 25, 2025

Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability

Flexible battery or generator solutions can help data centers power up faster, reduce grid impacts and keep their owners’ sustainability goals within reach, experts say.

By Brian Martucci • July 25, 2025

SEC declines to confirm whether climate disclosure rule will be upheld if it survives litigation

The agency told an appeals court it “does not intend to review or reconsider” the rule but did not confirm whether it would enforce it if legal challenges against the rule fail.

By Zoya Mirza • July 25, 2025

Meta leans on $900M Enbridge solar investment to power Texas data centers

The tech and social media conglomerate will purchase 100% of the power generated by the 600 megawatt Texas solar plant owned by the Canada-based energy developer.

By Lamar Johnson • July 24, 2025

Trump’s big bill is ‘tough but constructive’ for renewables: NextEra

Analysts on the call were skeptical of NextEra’s claims that the company could avoid losing tax credits for its projects.

By Emma Penrod • July 24, 2025