The Latest
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Generative AI gains foothold in ESG landscape
The increased use of artificial intelligence in ESG, beyond reporting, was on display at the Amazon Web Services conference last week.
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Google invests in BlackRock-owned solar company to aid net-zero goals
The tech giant will invest in the buildout of Taiwan’s clean energy capacity for the rights to procure up to 300 MW of solar power from New Green Power’s development pipeline.
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UN-backed group, others collaborate to boost global sustainable finance taxonomies
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, Principles for Responsible Investment and the Climate Bonds Initiative aim to “harmonize taxonomy definitions and concepts.”
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SCOTUS overturns Chevron doctrine, limiting federal agency reach
Federal courts will no longer have to defer to agency regulations for interpretation of ambiguous statutes.
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IFRS partners with World Bank member to improve emerging market disclosures
The foundation behind the International Sustainability Standards Board signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Finance Corporation Thursday.
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Supreme Court blocks enforcement of EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ rule
The 5-4 decision was criticized by clean energy advocates who said the court failed to address the “public health harm that occurs during the pendency of the stay granted.”
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T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods parent company to adopt new energy management system in the US
The off-price retailer’s move to integrate its U.S. building management systems into a single, centralized platform comes as it mulls the prospect of adding more than 100 U.S. stores this year.
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Wendy’s inks deal with solar company to cut restaurant emissions
The collaboration with Ampion Renewable Energy will help provide renewable electricity to local utility grids and decrease restaurants’ reliance on fossil fuels.
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US energy storage installations set Q1 record with 84% jump: WoodMac/ACP
Utility-scale installations more than doubled from Q1 2023 while residential installations increased by 48%, driven by California’s NEM 3.0 net billing tariff.
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Zara owner pledges to stop using endangered and ancient forests in paper packaging
The initiative builds on Inditex’s previous commitment to remove those materials from textiles.
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ExxonMobil taps Air Liquide for low-carbon hydrogen project
The industrial gasses company will invest up to $850 million to build and operate four air separation units to boost the oil giant’s Texas hydrogen project.
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ISSB aims to further streamline climate disclosures
“During the next two years, the ISSB will deliver further harmonization and consolidation of the disclosure landscape in response to market demand,” the sustainability reporting organization said.
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Corn growers file legal challenge against EPA’s trucking emissions rule
Industry groups argue that a transition to battery-powered trucks would have unintended consequences for the biofuels and agricultural industries.
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BlackRock becomes first firm on Indiana treasurer’s ESG watchlist
“Contrary to the Treasurer’s assertion, BlackRock has been singularly focused on delivering performance” for the state’s pension fund, a firm spokesperson told ESG Dive.
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Unilever, Ikea, others push governments to accelerate climate action plans
The “Mission 25” group — which represents some of the world’s biggest companies, financial institutions and cities — is urging governments worldwide to align climate goals with the Paris Agreement.
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Nestlé introduces sustainably sourced chocolate brand
The confectionery offering, which uses cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance, will be available in airports around the world.
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Bloomberg launches CSRD data tool as reporting deadlines begin to loom
“Better data drives better investment decisions,” Bloomberg’s global head of sustainable finance solutions said in a release.
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Microsoft partners with agricultural tech company for carbon removal
The tech giant will purchase 40,000 soil-based carbon credits from Indigo Ag, a transaction the sustainable agriculture company called a “major milestone.”
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PepsiCo anticipates missing certain 2025 packaging sustainability goals
The same day the company released its ESG report acknowledging it’s unlikely to hit a 2025 packaging circular design target, the city of Baltimore sued PepsiCo and others for their “significant roles in creating a plastic pollution crisis.”
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Anti-ESG laws challenge fiduciary obligations, add significant reporting burden: PRI
The impact of anti-ESG legislative efforts is uncertain and could affect capital availability for businesses and investment vehicles that have a sustainability or social focus, experts say.
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Morningstar index targets LGBTQ+ inclusive companies
“As LGBTQ+ identities become more ubiquitous, inclusive investing will continue to develop,” the firm said in an accompanying paper.
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11th Cir. deals another blow to corporate DEI programs
The federal appellate court ruled 2-1 that a competition designed to award grants to businesses owned by Black women likely violates federal civil rights law.
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Citi calls carbon emissions report from environmental group ‘misleading’
Stand.earth reported earlier this week that the bank is a leading financier of the maritime liquefied natural gas industry, but the bank takes issue with the methodology used.
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Workiva launches sustainable solutions platform, acquires carbon accounting firm
The ESG reporting software firm said its new platform will let companies “prepare and file audit-ready financial and non-financial reports” amid growing disclosure requirements.
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Trump could roll back Inflation Reduction Act tax credits if reelected
Volkswagen and Samsung SDI leaders expressed concerns at a conference last week about the stability of the IRA should the administration change.