Reporting
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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 -
ING becomes first global bank with SBTi-validated targets
The bank set targets to reduce its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions for 2030, as well as portfolio targets related to its fossil fuel financing.
By Lamar Johnson • March 27, 2025 -
Retrieved from Disney 2025 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders on March 25, 2025
Disney shareholders vote to remain in embattled LGBTQ+ ranking
Only 1% of shareholders voted in favor of stepping back from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
By Caroline Colvin • March 26, 2025 -
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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 -
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SBTi releases draft of updated corporate net-zero standard
The Science Based Targets initiative said this “Version 2” of the standard focuses on companies going “from ambition to progress.”
By Lamar Johnson • March 20, 2025 -
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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 -
"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 -
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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 -
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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 -
Permission granted by Cool Effect
Sponsored by Cool EffectDemystifying the carbon market with transparency
The question isn’t whether or not climate change is happening — the question is, how do we address it?
March 17, 2025 -
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US banks turn to SEC to dodge climate, social shareholder proposals
The agency has largely denied the requests, ruling that banks must put the requests to disclose its clean energy financing ratios and indigenous rights practices to a vote.
By Lamar Johnson • March 14, 2025 -
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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 -
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Microsoft buys 1.5M tonnes of carbon credits from Climate Impact Partners
The tech giant will purchase the credits over a 30-year period, as the carbon credit project developer plants millions of native trees in India.
By Lamar Johnson • March 10, 2025 -
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BofA, Wells, Truist de-emphasize DEI in annual filings
In its paperwork, BofA now uses “opportunity” in place of diversity. Wells, meanwhile, scrapped its diverse-slate interview policy, along with mentions of its pay equity review.
By Caitlin Mullen • March 4, 2025 -
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Anti-ESG groups intensify activism early in 2025 proxy season
Opposition to corporate sustainability efforts has grown in recent years, culminating in an anti-ESG order by President Donald Trump last month.
By Jim Tyson • Feb. 28, 2025 -
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EU adopts omnibus proposal, trims sustainability reporting requirements
The simplified package would remove 80% of companies from the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and delay reporting timelines.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 27, 2025 -
Courtesy of U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank scrubs DEI, fair pay references
Mentions of the lender’s diverse-slate hiring policy, pay comparisons by gender and race, and flexible work were absent from its most recent annual filing.
By Dan Ennis • Feb. 27, 2025 -
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Apple shareholders emphatically reject anti-DEI proposal
More than 97% of voting shareholders dismissed the proposal by a conservative think tank asking Apple to “cease DEI efforts” at its annual meeting.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 26, 2025 -
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Morgan Stanley, Capital One downplay DEI efforts
A Morgan Stanley filing highlights its proportion of women and ethnically diverse employees but contains a statement on “meritocracy.” Meanwhile, Capital One isn't touting pay equity like it used to.
By Dan Ennis • Feb. 26, 2025 -
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SEC updates guidance on ESG engagement disclosures, prompts temporary confusion
BlackRock and Vanguard, the nation’s largest asset managers, temporarily paused shareholder engagement meetings after a recent update to agency guidance.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 25, 2025 -
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Asset owners demand greater transparency on ESG amid increased scrutiny: Cerulli
Pressure from regulators and stakeholders is driving a demand for accountability, but reporting standardization hurdles persist, analysts from the research firm said.
By Suman Bhattacharyya • Feb. 25, 2025 -
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CSDDD is a ‘non-tariff barrier’ for US companies: House Financial Services Chair
Rep. French Hill said during a webinar that the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will create costly barriers for U.S. corporations to do business in and engage with the bloc.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 19, 2025 -
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The SEC has requested to delay climate rule arguments. What’s next?
Sustainable investing experts are not surprised by the delay and say it is expected to have minimal immediate impact.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 13, 2025 -
Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
Acting SEC chair asks court not to schedule climate rule arguments
“The Commission’s briefs previously submitted in the cases consolidated in the Eighth Circuit do not reflect my views,” Acting Chair Mark Uyeda said.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 11, 2025 -
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New York reintroduces bills seeking climate risk, emissions disclosures
Senate Bills 3456 and 3697, if approved, would mandate climate-related disclosures from large companies operating in the Empire State as early as 2027.
By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 6, 2025
