Regulations
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SEC withdraws defense of climate-risk disclosure rule
The agency will no longer defend its rule requiring companies to disclose certain climate-related risks, a move one commissioner called an attempt to “unlawfully” dismantle the rule.
By Lamar Johnson • March 28, 2025 -
House Republicans probe EPA climate grant recipients
The House Oversight Committee chair is spearheading an investigation into the eight environmental groups that received funding through the Biden-era Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
By Zoya Mirza • March 28, 2025 -
California Gov. Newsom uses judicial streamlining provision to advance 600 MW of solar, storage
A BayWa r.e. solar and battery farm is the 24th project to benefit from the California Environmental Quality Act’s judicial streamlining provision.
By Diana DiGangi • March 27, 2025 -
EPA to review ‘waters of the U.S.’ rule
The rule defines which wetlands or bodies of water fall under the Clean Water Act. The three previous presidential administrations have adjusted its scope.
By Mary Salmonsen • March 26, 2025 -
How fashion leaders are thinking about tariffs, textile sustainability
Companies should focus on smart sourcing and responsible manufacturing in response to fluctuating tariffs, per Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association.
By Laurel Deppen • March 25, 2025 -
EEOC outlines how DEI might be ‘unlawful’
Documents outlining discrimination related to “DEI at work” have prompted attorneys to say that employers should re-evaluate their DEI programs now.
By Caroline Colvin • March 24, 2025 -
Federal judge blocks EPA’s $14B GGRF funding freeze
The EPA “proffered no evidence to support their basis for the sudden terminations, or that they followed the proper procedures,” said U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.
By Diana DiGangi • March 24, 2025 -
BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street seek dismissal of red states’ coal antitrust suit
The asset managers said the Republican-led states offered “no plausible facts” to support the claim that the three firms conspired to collectively cut coal production in the U.S.
By Lamar Johnson • March 21, 2025 -
EPA yanks air quality permit for 1.5-GW Atlantic Shores offshore wind project
EPA Region 2 requested the permit remand as part of President Trump’s mandated review of offshore wind projects, the agency said.
By Diana DiGangi • March 21, 2025 -
CARB asked to implement California’s climate disclosure laws, align with global standards
Ceres asked the California Air Resources Board to support climate laws to “help deliver standardized, high-quality disclosures of companies’ climate related financial risks.”
By Zoya Mirza • March 21, 2025 -
Amid shifting views on ESG, investors retain climate focus: Berkeley Climate Summit
Anti-ESG backlash, reporting hurdles and regulatory uncertainty have put sustainability at a crossroads, panelists said.
By Suman Bhattacharyya • March 19, 2025 -
Opinion
Sustainability as strategy: Why smart companies keep ESG policies despite political headwinds
ESG integration delivers operational benefits that transcend political viewpoints, says Aquent Sustainable Solutions Vice President Jody Mousseau.
By Jody Mousseau • March 18, 2025 -
"U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., near Union Station" by AgnosticPreachersKid is licensed under CC BY 3.0
SEC pushes back Names Rule compliance dates
Funds will now have an additional six months to comply with the rule requiring funds’ investment strategies to align with any advertised purposes, like ESG or sustainability.
By Lamar Johnson • March 18, 2025 -
IRA credits and energy demand continue to drive renewables investments
Despite the Trump administration’s focus on fossil fuels and opposition to the IRA, analysts anticipate the renewables market will continue benefiting from high energy demand.
By Diana DiGangi • March 18, 2025 -
Deere shareholders vote down anti-DEI proposal
The move comes months after the tractor giant rolled back its support for “social or cultural awareness events” in July.
By Nathan Owens • March 17, 2025 -
EU sustainability, supply chain simplification efforts face ‘split’ parliament, experts say
Efforts to simplify compliance “shouldn't compromise the protection of the people and the planet,” a policy adviser to a member of the European Parliament said at a conference.
By Lamar Johnson • March 17, 2025 -
EPA aims to roll back power sector regulations in broad deregulatory push
It would likely take several years — potentially into the next presidency — to revise at least some of the targeted regulations, according to analysts.
By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2025 -
EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’
The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new “waters of the U.S.” definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.
By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025 -
Supreme Court won’t hear lawsuit on Democrat-led states’ climate litigation
The court declined to take up a suit that pitted 19 Republican-led states against five Democratic-led states that are pursuing lawsuits against major oil companies.
By Lamar Johnson • March 12, 2025 -
Climate United Fund sues EPA, Citibank over frozen $7B
The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order the funds be unfrozen and disbursed.
By Diana DiGangi • March 12, 2025 -
21 House Republicans oppose cutting clean energy credits to pay for tax cuts
“Both our constituencies and the energy industry alike remain concerned about disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure,” the letter led by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said.
By Lamar Johnson • March 11, 2025 -
How are C-suites reacting to Trump’s DEI orders?
Most are in a holding pattern, a Littler survey showed — but certain initiatives may be on the chopping block.
By Kathryn Moody • March 10, 2025 -
IRA funding freeze has put ‘many’ clean energy projects on pause
The uncertainty created by the funding freeze has affected projects at “various stages of development,” a clean energy executive said on a recent press call.
By Lamar Johnson • March 7, 2025 -
‘EPA’s action is illegal,’ says green group attorney about $20B GGRF funding freeze
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says the $20 billion freeze stopped disbursement riddled with “self-dealing [and] conflicts of interest,” while grant recipients say the freeze will not hold up to judicial review.
By Diana DiGangi • March 7, 2025 -
Paramount DEI initiative changes spark employee ire
While Paramount's co-CEOs cited the president's executive order in their decision, internal backlash highlights the line employers are trying to toe.
By Caroline Colvin • March 6, 2025