Finance
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Trump pulls US from Paris Agreement — again — in packed day one slate
The president’s executive order freezes all funding related to the 2015 global climate treaty and also rescinds the nation’s International Climate Finance plan.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 21, 2025 -
Federal Reserve exits climate-focused central bank coalition ahead of Trump’s inauguration
The U.S. central bank said the work of the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System has “broadened in scope” and no longer falls within its “statutory mandate.”
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 21, 2025 -
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 -
Google inks pair of ‘largest biochar carbon removal deals to date’
“The magnitude of these Google purchases speak to the importance of biochar as a carbon removal tool,” according to the CEO of Varaha, one of the companies involved.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 17, 2025 -
Opinion
The dual mandate: how CSOs and CFOs are tackling the regulatory and digital evolution in 2025
In the year ahead, chief sustainability officers and chief financial officers must combine digital sustainability leadership with financial discipline to thrive in a new low-carbon economy.
By Mandi McReynolds and Jill Klindt • Jan. 16, 2025 -
Federal judge rules against American Airlines in 401(k) ESG lawsuit
A judge ruled the airline violated its fiduciary duty to loyalty through its retirement plan management, though experts say “the bar is being set really low for what's a violation.”
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 15, 2025 -
NZAM suspends all activities after BlackRock’s exit
The United Nations-backed Net-Zero Asset Managers initiative has pulled its signatories page and won’t assess their commitments while it undergoes a review.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 14, 2025 -
Barclays’ head of sustainability steps down as sector scrutiny heats up
Barclays’ Group Head of Sustainability Laura Barlow will leave her leadership role but continue at the bank as a senior adviser, a bank spokesperson told ESG Dive.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 14, 2025 -
BlackRock leaves NZAM as Wall Street runs from climate groups
The nation’s largest investment manager is leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, joining a broader financial institution exodus from high-profile climate alliances.
By Lamar Johnson • Updated Jan. 10, 2025 -
Texas AG drops probe of major US banks following NZBA exodus
State Attorney General Ken Paxton said Texas will end its ongoing review of Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase following the banks’ exits from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 10, 2025 -
Treasury finalizes guidance for IRA’s tech neutral, clean electricity tax credits
They’re “the most important clean energy tax credits ever enacted,” said Brad Townsend, vice president of policy and outreach at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 10, 2025 -
Deep Dive
5 ESG trends sustainability professionals should monitor in 2025
Upcoming leadership changes in the White House and Congress are expected to create a more adversarial stance on ESG and climate issues in 2025.
By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Jan. 9, 2025 -
Toyota Motor North America lands $4.5M DOE grant for EV battery recycling
The funding will go toward the development of an industry template for EV battery recycling.
By Larry Avila • Jan. 9, 2025 -
Biden bans most new offshore oil and drilling in clean energy push
President-elect Donald Trump vowed on Monday to undo the executive order that applies to more than 625 million acres of federal coastline.
By Jennifer Goodman , Julie Strupp • Jan. 8, 2025 -
JPMorgan becomes latest major US bank to exit NZBA
The bank’s departure from the Net Zero Banking Alliance follows the exits of five other major U.S. banks from the climate coalition in the past month.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 7, 2025 -
Fervo Energy nabs $255M to deploy carbon-free geothermal power
The Houston, Texas-headquartered energy company said the new funding would help it deploy geothermal energy to meet the “skyrocketing demand for clean, firm power.”
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 7, 2025 -
Final 45V hydrogen tax credit guidance draws mixed response
While hydrogen industry leaders generally welcomed the final rule’s increased flexibility, some said the complicated tax credit guidelines will stymie industry growth.
By Emma Penrod • Jan. 7, 2025 -
Constellation NewEnergy, GSA ink $840M deal for emissions-free power to federal facilities
The procurement agreement will involve supplying over 1 million megawatt hours of electricity annually over the course of a 10-year contract, the U.S. General Services Administration said.
By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 6, 2025 -
Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley latest to exit Net-Zero Banking Alliance
The financial institutions’ decision to leave NZBA comes shortly after Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo announced they were departing the United Nations-backed climate coalition last month.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 3, 2025 -
Equinor secures $3B for Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm
Equinor expects capital investments in Empire Wind 1 to total around $5 billion, including fees for the use of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the company said.
By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 3, 2025 -
Nostromo Energy receives $305M conditional commitment from DOE for thermal energy storage system
If finalized, the loan will support up to 193 IceBrick installations in commercial buildings across California, scaling the ice-based system’s integration with virtual power plants, the company says.
By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 20, 2024 -
White House targets 61-66% GHG reductions by 2035
“Broad participation in the development, implementation, and evaluation of emissions reduction measures will play an important role in reaching the target,” the White House said.
By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 19, 2024 -
PG&E gets $15B from DOE’s loan office for hydropower, battery buildout
The gas and electric utility company expects the deal to close before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 18, 2024 -
Vanguard Renewables names new CEO as owner BlackRock looks for growth
The anaerobic digestion company’s former CEO, who held the role since before Vanguard was purchased by a division of BlackRock Real Assets, has departed, the company confirmed.
By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 18, 2024 -
More than 70 investors have left Climate Action 100+ since GOP probe: House Judiciary
The disclosure was made in an interim report that alleges climate coalitions developed a playbook to push “disfavored” companies towards net-zero.
By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 17, 2024 -
Appeals court rejects Nasdaq effort to boost director diversity
The Fifth Circuit found that the Securities Exchange Act doesn’t allow a stock exchange to require listed companies to report directors’ race and gender.
By Justin Bachman • Dec. 13, 2024