2024 proxy outlook: What’s driving the ESG proposal approval dip?

Major asset managers and a spate of anti-ESG proposals helped push approval rates down, yet even more ESG proposals are expected after a record 2023.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 25, 2024

76% of companies link pay to ESG performance in rising trend: WTW

The biggest companies are weaving ESG into pay incentives despite a backlash against the use of sustainability as a metric for corporate performance.

By Jim Tyson • Jan. 25, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, both on the regulatory and financial front, with the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the battle over shareholder rights and proposal approvals.

By ESG Dive staff

Crown, IP, Smurfit Kappa among ‘early adopters’ for nature-related financial disclosures

As biodiversity loss becomes more of a concern in sustainability reporting, multiple packaging companies have agreed to align reporting with recommendations from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 23, 2024

ExxonMobil sues ESG investors to block climate proposals

The natural gas giant alleges shareholder proposals from Arjuna Capital and Follow This are a violation of federal securities laws and “driven by an extreme agenda.”

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2024

BlackRock eases on ESG messaging amid increased scrutiny

The asset manager’s investment stewardship and Q4 earnings report signal a pivot on BlackRock’s language on climate change and corporate sustainability initiatives.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 22, 2024

New Hampshire bill would make use of ESG in investments a felony

The bill would punish “knowingly” using ESG factors in investment decisions with at least a year in prison.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2024

Turning DEI policies into aspirations unlikely to stem bias lawsuits

Companies face challenges from conservative anti-bias groups even after replacing explicit diversity, equity and inclusion goals with more broadly characterized aims.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 22, 2024

House GOP says SEC is overstepping authority, cannot demand climate disclosures

Expert witnesses for the Financial Services Subcommittee differed in legal interpretations of the agency’s power to issue the rule.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 19, 2024

To keep or not to keep: The fate of scope 3 emissions in SEC’s climate disclosure rule

Given all of the pushback the agency has received over its proposed rule, particularly scope 3 reporting requirements, experts are uncertain if scope 3 will make the final cut.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 18, 2024

Anti-ESG crusader Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of 2024 presidential race

The political newcomer ended his GOP White House bid after finishing fourth place in the Iowa caucuses and endorsed former President Donald Trump shortly after.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 17, 2024

Walmart to pay $60K over claim it did not promote woman with young children

The retailer promoted an employee who did not have young children, amounting to sex discrimination, the EEOC alleged.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 17, 2024

4 ESG trends that set the tone for 2024

It’s shaping up to be a big year for ESG with a packed SEC agenda, fights over corporate DEI efforts and shareholder rights and a focus on financing the net zero transition.

By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Jan. 10, 2024

DOL: Beyond Yoga contractors to pay over $1M in wages, damages to garment workers

The U.S. Department of Labor’s settlement for 165 Los Angeles-based workers is the largest one to date for garment workers in the Golden State.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 9, 2024

SEC rules Disney, Apple can’t dodge AI shareholder proposals

The entertainment and tech conglomerates must vote on the AFL-CIO’s request for the companies to disclose their AI standards, setting the stage for more AI votes this proxy season.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 8, 2024

Companies show decline in wage growth, but increase in ESG concerns: survey

Companies also still expect to include ESG-related issues as a metric in their incentive plans, according to the latest research from Pearl Meyer.

By Laurel Kalser • Jan. 5, 2024

ESG to factor strongly in 2024 executive pay plans despite pushback: WTW

Environmental, social and governance strategies are “here to stay,” consultants said. But U.S. company boards are also seeking a more tailored approach.

By Ryan Golden • Dec. 22, 2023

Banks are excluded from EU’s human rights, due diligence regulation — for now

Despite opposition to leaving financial institutions out, the final draft of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive only states the sector may need to comply at a later date.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 19, 2023

Donuts and do nots: Krispy Kreme’s first ESG report reveals carbon emissions spike

The company said it achieved carbon neutrality in some global operations through carbon offsets, despite a jump in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions overall.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 18, 2023

Decarbonization strategies require corporate buy-in, USGBC says

While Inflation Reduction Act funding is a “key lever to decarbonization,” building owners, operators and occupants must do more to ensure that the U.S. reaches its Paris Agreement goals, the U.S. Green Building Council says.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 15, 2023

Democratic senators press Gensler to expedite release of human capital disclosure rule

The updated rule — which requires companies to report on employee compensation, benefits, turnover data and more — is now slated for release in April 2024.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 15, 2023

Toyota’s carbon footprint rises despite emissions-curbing initiatives

The car manufacturer’s scope 1 and scope 2 emissions saw an increase from levels recorded last year, even as the company aims to be carbon neutral by 2035 across its North America operations.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 8, 2023

Lidl US’s first corporate social responsibility report outlines a dozen top goals for the company

The discounter said it aims to narrow its gender pay gap as well as reduce scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 8, 2023

Final SEC climate disclosure rule pushed to April 2024

The long-awaited timing update comes via the Biden administration’s regulatory agenda for next year, which also unveiled new timetables for other ESG-related proposals.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 7, 2023

DEI top priority for Coty as it expands global parental leave policy

The cosmetics and fragrance brand also said it had achieved its 2022 pay equity goal and has a gender pay equity gap of less than 2% across all its global management.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 1, 2023

American Airlines inks deal with Bill Gates-backed carbon removal startup

The Fort Worth-based airline is the first commercial customer for Graphyte and is purchasing 10,000 tons of carbon removal credits.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 29, 2023