Countdown to compliance: Decoding California’s climate disclosure FAQs

As the California Air Resources Board works to finalize the state's climate-risk disclosure regulations, companies should work to understand how the laws apply to them, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius says.

Renewable power purchase agreement prices rising in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The average price of new wind and solar power purchase agreements is up 4% since the OBBBA’s passage. Almost a third of developers surveyed said they plan to suspend or cancel projects as a result of the reconciliation bill.

Nuveen raises $1.3B for energy and power infrastructure fund

The fund will look to capitalize on a global growing need for power associated with artificial intelligence, digitalization and electrification.

Battery recycling facilities and programs ramp up in U.S. and Canada

Princeton NuEnergy’s black mass facility has opened, while Washington seeks comments on its battery EPR rulemaking and two Canadian programs join forces on battery recycling education.

Major companies reframing, not abandoning, DEI: report

More than half of S&P 100 companies adjusted their diversity, equity and inclusion messaging in major filings in 2025, according to The Conference Board.

BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street bid to dismiss coal antitrust case fails

A federal judge ruled that the case against the nation’s largest asset managers can proceed, as the states have alleged plausible claims.

Truck manufacturers sue CARB over zero-emission vehicle plan

Four truck manufacturers filed the lawsuit in a move to bring clarity regarding a state and federal conflict over which emissions regulations the companies must follow.

European Union seeking input on proposed Circular Economy Act

Part of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, the act aims to make 24% of the region’s materials circular by 2030.

Glencore completes takeover of Li-Cycle battery recycling assets

Lithium-ion battery recycler Li-Cycle filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and cut most of its staff in North America. A European commodities firm submitted a $40 million bid for its assets in May.

Trump takes aim at alleged debanking of conservatives

An executive order the president issued Thursday demands that regulators remove reputational risk from evaluations and review complaint data for instances of religion-based debanking.

AI could cut disaster infrastructure losses by 15%, new research finds

Artificial intelligence applications like predictive maintenance and digital twins can help keep the power on and the roads open during natural disasters — and save $70 billion in infrastructure losses by 2050, according to a Deloitte Global report.

Over 300 organizations ask EU to preserve scope and rigor of sustainability legislation

Financial institutions, companies and advocacy groups released a joint statement calling for the European Union to maintain key aspects of the CSRD and CSDDD.

UBS quits Net-Zero Banking Alliance, joins global exodus

The Swiss lender follows in the footsteps of banking peers who have departed NZBA this year, but said its “commitment to sustainability remains unchanged.”

DEI pushback affects LGBTQ+ marketing: Here’s what the numbers say

Inclusive ads impact the purchasing behavior of 77% of LGBTQ+ consumers, according to data from Disqo and Do the Werq.

Data center flexibility can save money but may come with higher emissions: MIT

In Texas, where renewable energy is booming, data center emissions fell by up to 40% in the MIT modeling of flexible data center workloads. In other regions, however, emissions rose.

ISS Sustainable Solutions acquires geospatial risk modeling firm

The Institutional Shareholder Services subsidiary bought Sust Global for an undisclosed price to allow investors to incorporate additional climate risk insights into their portfolio assessments.

EPA considers terminating $7B Solar For All program

If the Trump administration moves forward to claw back the funding, “we will see them in court,” said Kym Meyer, litigation director at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

How and why to conduct a DEI audit in construction

The industry has been working to improve diversity, but that could also bring scrutiny from Washington. Here’s how to walk the line.

Shein fined $1.16M for greenwashing, releases plan to lower supply chain emissions

The fast fashion retailer was fined by the Italian government for using misleading environmental claims in the promotion and sale of its clothing.

State finance officials press US asset managers to denounce ESG, climate

A coalition of 26 Republican state finance officials sent letters to executives at 25 firms, pushing them to denounce climate and net-zero commitments.

Increased production, polyester use causing fashion industry’s emissions to rise: report

The apparel sector’s greenhouse gas emissions increased to 944 million metric tons in 2023, up by 7.5% compared to 2022, according to the Apparel Impact Institute.

Meta turning to mass timber to build more sustainable data centers

The social media and tech conglomerate is looking to swap out steel and concrete for durable wood to lower the embodied carbon emissions of its data center campuses.

Environmentalists target biogas credits as ‘false’ climate solution

In California and New Mexico, environmental groups are ramping up their efforts to slash the strong carbon intensity scores that farm biogas receives through clean fuels programs.

Semiconductor industry faces water, sustainability challenges

The boom in chip manufacturing has also increased demand for ultrapure water. Fabrication plant operators are investing in ways to mitigate water usage, but are still reclaiming a small percentage of it in their operations.

Barclays exits Net-Zero Banking Alliance, follows HSBC

The British bank has become the latest to depart NZBA, trailing behind HSBC and other major financial institutions who have also left the group.

Updated Aug. 4, 2025