Sustainability: Page 19


  • A rooftop solar installation against the backdrop of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan.
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    FernandoAH via Getty Images
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    New York City bill would mandate solar panels on public buildings

    The legislation would require 100 megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems to be installed on the roofs of city-owned buildings by the end of 2025, with a broader goal of 150 MW by 2030.

    By Nish Amarnath • March 13, 2024
  • The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seal hangs on the facade of its building.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    SEC’s climate disclosure rule: from proposal to approval

    A look at the agency’s two-year journey to finalizing the rule amid a backdrop of conflicting opinions on its authority.

    By , March 13, 2024
  • Power lines and wind turbines are seen at dawn. Explore the Trendline
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    Alexander Koerner via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    The state of the clean energy transition in 2024

    This year saw a large volume of initiatives and investments from corporations focused on the clean energy transition — alongside a handful of reversions on carbon reduction goals.

    By ESG Dive staff
  • A close up of Unilever's logo.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Unilever updates climate action plan, targets scope 3 emissions reduction

    The consumer goods company said it plans to completely eliminate direct emissions and reduce indirect emissions by 42%, compared to a 2021 baseline, by the end of the decade.

    By March 12, 2024
  • Boston skyline with a view of Prudential Center
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    Massachusetts pension fund updates ESG proxy voting policies

    The updates include additional information on how the state pension fund will vote on the “most important and scrutinized corporate governance topics among institutional investors.”

    By March 12, 2024
  • A wind turbine lays on the ground as part of a wind farm being built in New Mexico.
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    Renewable energy M&A is entering a new paradigm, LevelTen Energy says

    The latter half of 2023 saw a significant slowdown in M&A transactions, which LevelTen Energy believes signals a shift in strategy among renewable energy developers.

    By Emma Penrod • March 12, 2024
  • Solar panels are mounted on the west wing roof of the Oregon State Capitol.
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    Melanie Conner via Getty Images
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    Oregon retirement fund to divest $1B from coal industry under new bill

    Alongside its decarbonization directives, the bill also states that divestments “must be accomplished without monetary loss to the investment funds.”

    By March 11, 2024
  • Oil rigs at sunset
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    Appeals court upholds oil permitting pause in California’s Kern County

    The ruling sends the county back to the drawing board on both its environmental report and amendments to its permitting process for new oil and gas wells.

    By March 11, 2024
  • A tractor turns hay in a field under a partly cloudy sky.
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    David Silverman via Getty Images
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    USDA counters claims over misuse of climate funds

    An Environmental Working Group report says the majority of climate-smart agriculture funding go toward projects with no proven sustainability benefits.

    By Nathan Owens • March 11, 2024
  • People seen protesting for climate change.
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    SEC faces legal action from environmental groups over ‘significantly weaker’ climate rule

    Sierra Club said it will also take action to defend the SEC’s authority to implement such a rule.

    By March 8, 2024
  • West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey
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    Patrick Smith via Getty Images
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    10 Republican-led states file lawsuit to block SEC’s climate disclosure rule

    The challenge, led by West Virginia, was announced before the ink could dry on the agency’s final rule.

    By March 8, 2024
  • The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seal hangs on the facade of its building.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Conflicting views on SEC’s authority set the tone for climate disclosure rule vote

    The newly-passed regulation faces criticism from supporters and detractors for not going far enough and going too far, respectively.

    By , March 7, 2024
  • Gary Gensler points
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    SEC approves final climate disclosure rule, starts compliance countdown

    The rule passed by a 3-2 vote Wednesday morning, absent requirements for scope 3 reporting and slimmer scope 1 and scope 2 requirements.

    By March 6, 2024
  • Gary Gensler smiles as he prepares to sit and testify
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    SEC drops scope 3 from final climate rule, takes phased approach to scope 1 and 2 reporting

    The agency said scope 3 was removed due to a large number of comments concerning compliance costs, as well as the consistency and reliability of scope 3 data.

    By Updated March 6, 2024
  • Gary Gensler is in focus speaking with a finger raised in front of a name card. An aide sits behind him out of focus.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    A primer on the SEC’s climate disclosure rule ahead of its vote

    A look at the rule the agency proposed in 2022, what’s expected to change and what will be finalized at Wednesday’s vote.

    By March 5, 2024
  • A closeup of beverage cups featuring the logo of Starbucks Coffee.
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    Stephen Chernin via Getty Images
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    Starbucks loses ground on emissions reduction, sets new 2030 sustainability goals

    The coffee chain aims to slash its climate, water, and waste footprints by 50% by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline.

    By March 4, 2024
  • A sign hangs on the BlackRock offices
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Mounting ESG scrutiny could affect revenues, reputation: BlackRock

    Increasing domestic and international ESG regulations could increase compliance costs and uncertainty, the firm said in its annual SEC filing.

    By March 4, 2024
  • A person with white hair looks to the side against a yellow background.
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    Michael Loccisano via Getty Images
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    Sustainable Apparel Coalition rebrands as Cascale

    The move follows the December exit of CEO Amina Razvi and the organization’s step back from the Higg Materials Sustainability Index.

    By Lara Ewen • March 4, 2024
  • Wind farm and electricity pylons in the desert of Coachella Valley, California.
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    Phil Augustavo via Getty Images
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    Slowing wind installations threaten emissions progress under the IRA: report

    More action on transmission may be needed for the Inflation Reduction Act to reach its full potential on climate, but the success of solar and batteries in particular could also hold policy lessons, an Energy Innovation report said.

    By Emma Penrod • March 1, 2024
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    Matthew Stockman via Getty Images
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    New York sues JBS over ‘misleading’ climate claims

    The state's attorney general is accusing the world's largest meatpacker of exploiting consumers by falsely advertising its products as sustainable.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Feb. 29, 2024
  • An all-electric Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ parked.
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    Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz AG
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    Mercedes-Benz delays EV goal amid slowing demand

    Low-cost EV sales are growing faster than more expensive luxury models, a company executive said.

    By Michael Brady • Feb. 28, 2024
  • A Nokia logo sits illuminated on the wall.
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    David Ramos via Getty Images
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    Nokia commits to net-zero emissions by 2040, accelerating timeline by a decade

    The telecom company also said it will fast-track its existing target of slashing scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by half by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline.

    By Feb. 27, 2024
  • Tanker trucks drive past an ExxonMobil oil refinery.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    ExxonMobil forges ahead with lawsuit against ESG investors

    “The true goal of Exxon's legal attack is preventing shareholders from voting on its greenhouse gas emissions,” said Follow This founder Mark van Baal.

    By Feb. 27, 2024
  • A facade of a Schneider Electric building.
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    Permission granted by Schneider Electric
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    Schneider Electric expects to slash scope 2 emissions with tax credit deal

    Schneider says the tax credit transfer agreement with Engie, which leverages Inflation Reduction Act provisions, will accelerate scope 3 emissions reductions for its clients.

    By Nish Amarnath • Feb. 26, 2024
  • Microsoft logo is seen in the background.
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    Jeenah Moon via Getty Images
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    Microsoft closes on 6-year carbon removal deal with Catona Climate

    The tech giant will purchase carbon removal credits generated through an agroforestry project based in Kenya, working toward its 2030 goal to become carbon negative.

    By Feb. 23, 2024
  • Walmart storefront sign.
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    Kaarin Vembar/ESG Dive
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    Walmart hits supplier emissions goal 6 years early

    The retailer’s vendors have already reported enough projects to fulfill Project Gigaton’s target of cutting 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from its supply chain.  

    By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 23, 2024