Corporate Governance: Page 18
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GreenBiz24: US companies seek to understand EU CRSD impact
While the process may be complex, it is important for companies to recognize they “are not starting from scratch,” Nado Saab, Mondelēz International’s director of ESG reporting told attendees.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Sustainability experts called to ‘LEAD’ a push for climate policy at GreenBiz24
Bill Weihl, former head of sustainability at Google and Facebook, said industry professionals need to urge their companies to advocate for additional green policies.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 13, 2024 -
The image by FirstEnergy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
FirstEnergy increases 5-year spending plan 44%, to $26B, drops 2030 carbon goal
The company abandoned its plan to cut carbon emissions 30% below 2019 levels by 2030 amid tightening power supplies in the PJM Interconnection, but it still intends to be net carbon neutral by 2050.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 13, 2024 -
Barclays ceases direct funding of new fossil fuel projects
The London-based bank will also require all its portfolio energy companies to report their scoped emissions reductions targets and any expansion plans by Jan. 1, 2025.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 12, 2024 -
Cost cutbacks to go hand-in-hand with emissions reduction strategy: USPS
The postal service said it plans to slash scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% and scope 3 emissions by 20% by 2030, compared to a 2021 baseline.
By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 9, 2024 -
Shell rebrands climate tech company Studio X as Onward, eyes net-zero economy
The updated energy venture falls in line with the oil major’s goal to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.
By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 8, 2024 -
ESG to be a ‘major’ M&A driver in 2024: Norton Rose Fulbright
The vice president of a U.S. corporation warned in the report that companies will cancel acquisition deals if “critical ESG information is not provided or unavailable.”
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 7, 2024 -
Arjuna Capital, Follow This pull Exxon climate proposal after lawsuit
Natasha Lamb, Arjuna Capital’s chief investment officer, warned the lawsuit will silence investors concerned about climate risks.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 5, 2024 -
Legal chiefs, diversity officers view DEI differently, survey finds
“The lack of alignment in the C-suite could pose new challenges for organizations in communicating and acting on their IE&D-related positions and values,” the Littler report said.
By Lyle Moran • Feb. 2, 2024 -
Global standard-setter proposes ethics guidelines to curb greenwashing risks
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants prepared a pair of ethics standards to help sustainability experts foster trust.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 31, 2024 -
Ikea makes strides in reducing carbon footprint, attributes progress to clean energy initiatives
The home furnishings retailer said its greenhouse gas emissions declined by 11.5% from the previous year and it has updated its climate strategy to reach net-zero by 2050.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 31, 2024 -
Extreme weather and climate regulations are 2024’s top supply chain risks: Everstream
Wildfires, rains and droughts could cause shipping delays, while agricultural commodities might face shortages from weather and other factors, the analytics firm said.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 31, 2024 -
A dozen state GOP agriculture heads probe Net Zero Banking Alliance members’ climate targets
None of the six banks — which include JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Citi — have published climate targets for the sector, according to their websites.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 30, 2024 -
The ESG industry outlook on 2024: Climate disclosure rules, proxy voting and more
The upcoming year will determine how national and international regulation, shareholder rights and proposal approvals, and scope 3 reporting influence the ESG landscape.
By Zoya Mirza , Lamar Johnson • Jan. 30, 2024 -
Walgreens reports spike in scope 3, points to business travel and downstream transportation
The retail pharmacy chain said it had reduced its overall carbon footprint by almost 25% compared to a 2019 baseline, despite a surge in scope 3 emissions.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 29, 2024 -
Opinion
EU ESG due diligence directive set to take effect
Final approval of the regulatory action is expected to happen soon. When it does, U.S. companies doing $300M in EU business must show they're meeting environmental and social goals.
By Neil D’Souza • Jan. 29, 2024 -
HSBC launches first net-zero transition plan in a move to slash emissions
The bank’s plan to meet climate objectives comes against a backdrop of financial institutions facing pressure to address climate risk and sever ties with the fossil fuel industry.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 26, 2024 -
Global Reporting Initiative updates biodiversity reporting standards
The standard for the first time includes increased transparency on impacts through the supply chain, as biodiversity loss is affecting every region of the world.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 26, 2024 -
Deep Dive
2024 proxy outlook: What’s driving the ESG proposal approval dip?
Major asset managers and a spate of anti-ESG proposals helped push approval rates down, yet even more ESG proposals are expected after a record 2023.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 25, 2024 -
76% of companies link pay to ESG performance in rising trend: WTW
The biggest companies are weaving ESG into pay incentives despite a backlash against the use of sustainability as a metric for corporate performance.
By Jim Tyson • Jan. 25, 2024 -
Crown, IP, Smurfit Kappa among ‘early adopters’ for nature-related financial disclosures
As biodiversity loss becomes more of a concern in sustainability reporting, multiple packaging companies have agreed to align reporting with recommendations from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.
By Maria Rachal • Jan. 23, 2024 -
ExxonMobil sues ESG investors to block climate proposals
The natural gas giant alleges shareholder proposals from Arjuna Capital and Follow This are a violation of federal securities laws and “driven by an extreme agenda.”
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2024 -
BlackRock eases on ESG messaging amid increased scrutiny
The asset manager’s investment stewardship and Q4 earnings report signal a pivot on BlackRock’s language on climate change and corporate sustainability initiatives.
By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 22, 2024 -
New Hampshire bill would make use of ESG in investments a felony
The bill would punish “knowingly” using ESG factors in investment decisions with at least a year in prison.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2024 -
Turning DEI policies into aspirations unlikely to stem bias lawsuits
Companies face challenges from conservative anti-bias groups even after replacing explicit diversity, equity and inclusion goals with more broadly characterized aims.
By Robert Freedman • Jan. 22, 2024