Sustainability
-
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 -
Google announces four sustainability partnerships aimed at water stewardship, farming
The projects build on Google’s target to restore the volume of freshwater consumed across its offices and data centers, on average, by 120% by 2030.
By Zoya Mirza • March 27, 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 -
JLL acquires renewable energy banking firm Javelin Capital
The global commercial real estate firm said the acquisition will “significantly enhance” the company’s capabilities in the U.S. energy and infrastructure markets.
By Lamar Johnson • March 26, 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 -
Amazon launches carbon credit service through sustainability hub
The credits will be available to its U.S. supply chain partners, enterprise customers and Climate Pledge signatories with certain emissions reporting, net-zero targets and decarbonization strategies.
By Lamar Johnson • March 25, 2025 -
CalSTRS, Microsoft anchor $175M funding round for Al Gore-backed Just Climate
Just Climate’s Natural Climate Solutions strategy will focus on avoiding emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use while also delivering “attractive returns.”
By Zoya Mirza • March 25, 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 -
JPMorgan rebrands DEI, leaves Net-Zero Asset Managers initiative
The bank said it will swap “equity” for “opportunity” in its DEI policy and that it left NZAM due to the net-zero group’s operational pause.
By Lamar Johnson • 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 -
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 -
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 -
30 businesses launch initiative to scale carbon markets, harmonize carbon credit data
The Carbon Data Open Protocol is backed by a group of corporations, nonprofits and public sector organizations and aims to “dramatically scale” the markets.
By Zoya Mirza • March 19, 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 -
Amazon to expand its use of in-house AI tools to conserve water, reduce energy use
The tools have helped identify underground water leaks, faulty energy meters and malfunctioning refrigeration equipment at its facilities, the company says.
By Brian Martucci • 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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Lego ramps up sustainable investments, nearly tripling green spending over 2 years
The Denmark-based toy manufacturer said its green investments last year were nearly three times what it spent on the sector in 2022.
By Zoya Mirza • March 14, 2025 -
Walmart says it’s unlikely to meet 2025 plastic, recycling targets
The largest U.S. retailer discussed challenges to increasing post-consumer recycled content adoption. More than two-thirds of its global private-brand packaging was recyclable, reusable or industrially compostable in 2023, according to a company update.
By Maria Rachal • March 13, 2025 -
Amazon, Google, Meta join pledge to help triple global nuclear capacity
“This is not the end; it is just the beginning,” the World Nuclear Association’s director general said of the 14 companies who committed to help expand nuclear capacity by 2050.
By Lamar Johnson • March 13, 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