Companies reduce philanthropy aimed at boosting racial, gender equality

Change in “corporate citizenship” initiatives coincide with a federal backlash against efforts to promote sustainability in the private and public sectors.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 5, 2025

Vanguard dilutes diversity guidelines for US board proxy voting

The updated policies exclude a recommendation that boards “at a minimum, represent diversity of personal characteristics, inclusive of at least diversity in gender, race and ethnicity.”

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 4, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, both on the regulatory and financial front, with the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the battle over shareholder rights and proposal approvals.

By ESG Dive staff

Meta’s HR changes reflect widely touted aspirational approach to DEI

Eliminating hard inclusivity goals won’t protect against reverse discrimination complaints but it will help, legal specialists say.

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 4, 2025

Republican officials urge SEC, DOL to adopt anti-ESG, DEI rules

The letter signed by 22 Republican state finance officials cited American Airlines’ recent legal loss as evidence that fiduciaries are breaching their duty to loyalty with regards to ESG and DEI.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 3, 2025

Treasury Department exits global regulatory climate coalition

The Treasury’s Federal Insurance Office withdrew from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System last week to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders.

By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 3, 2025

Developments driving the ESG, sustainability industry in 2025

The change in U.S. presidential leadership has triggered drawbacks of ESG and DEI commitments, as the private sector braces for a change in political direction.

By Zoya Mirza , Lamar Johnson • Jan. 31, 2025

Target ends some DEI initiatives, reiterates commitment to belonging and inclusion

Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer Kiera Fernandez cited “the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape.”

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 31, 2025

Why climate alliance memberships are no longer ‘en vogue’ for Wall Street

Financial institutions have increasingly departed groups like the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and Climate Action 100+, but experts say banks are still committed to sustainability.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 30, 2025

Rockefeller grant strengthens push for nature-related disclosures

The Rockefeller Foundation announced it will give the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures $500,000 to scale its voluntary adoption efforts, as the organization rolls out additional sector guidelines.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 30, 2025

1 in 8 companies say they plan to weaken DEI commitments in 2025

More than half of managers said diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives were implemented primarily for public relations purposes, Resume.org found.

By Carolyn Crist • Jan. 29, 2025

American Express’ travel arm unveils emissions-based carbon pricing tool

American Express Global Business Travel said its new tool will help business travelers calculate their carbon footprint and direct investments toward sustainability initiatives.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 28, 2025

Companies continue to pursue scope 3 reporting, despite regulatory and data collection challenges

Mejuri and Kontoor Brands are working with supplier networks to improve transparency of scope 3 reporting, while LinkedIn is using an internal carbon fee as an oversight mechanism.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Jan. 27, 2025

While Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders pile up, JPMorgan Chase CEO doesn’t flinch

In response to activists’ anti-DEI efforts against his company, the CEO said to “bring them on.”

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 27, 2025

Tech industry works to meet AI’s energy demands as ESG use cases grow

“I don't think we're going to ever capture the opportunities of AI if we don't think about it in a responsible way,” Cisco Chief Sustainability Officer Mary de Wysocki told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 24, 2025

Northern Trust AM exits Climate Action 100+, Net-Zero Asset Managers initiative

The departure is the latest in Wall Street’s continued exodus from climate-focused alliances and groups as sector scrutiny heats up under the new Trump administration.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 24, 2025

Judge dismisses New York City’s lawsuit against Big Oil

A state judge ruled that NYC had failed to demonstrate that ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and the American Petroleum Institute had deceived consumers about the climate impact of their fossil fuel products.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 23, 2025

BlackRock and Tennessee reach settlement on ESG suit

“We’re pleased to resolve this matter,” a BlackRock spokesperson told ESG Dive. The agreement dismisses the state’s 2023 lawsuit and does not find that the investment firm violated any laws.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 22, 2025

JLL establishes energy advisory and sustainability practice

The global real estate services company will now provide technical expertise on energy sourcing, efficiency and end-use optimization across the company’s business lines.

By Joe Burns • Jan. 22, 2025

The dual mandate: how CSOs and CFOs are tackling the regulatory and digital evolution in 2025

In the year ahead, chief sustainability officers and chief financial officers must combine digital sustainability leadership with financial discipline to thrive in a new low-carbon economy.

By Mandi McReynolds and Jill Klindt • Jan. 16, 2025

‘Inappropriate’ micromanaging: Apple pushes back on anti-DEI proposal

In a proxy filing ahead of the annual 2025 shareholders meeting, a conservative think tank asked Apple to cut back on DEI.

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 16, 2025

Federal judge rules against American Airlines in 401(k) ESG lawsuit

A judge ruled the airline violated its fiduciary duty to loyalty through its retirement plan management, though experts say “the bar is being set really low for what's a violation.”

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 15, 2025

Supreme Court denies Big Oil’s bid to toss Honolulu climate case

Justices denied petitions put forward by Sunoco LP and Shell that asked for a review of a Hawaii State Supreme Court decision that allowed Honolulu’s climate lawsuit to continue.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 15, 2025

Amazon to focus on inclusion, internal DEI memo indicates

The changes outlined in the memo are vague, but Amazon has taken its previously strong commitments to Black and LGBTQ+ people off of its policy page.

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 15, 2025

NZAM suspends all activities after BlackRock’s exit

The United Nations-backed Net-Zero Asset Managers initiative has pulled its signatories page and won’t assess their commitments while it undergoes a review.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 14, 2025

Barclays’ head of sustainability steps down as sector scrutiny heats up

Barclays’ Group Head of Sustainability Laura Barlow will leave her leadership role but continue at the bank as a senior adviser, a bank spokesperson told ESG Dive.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 14, 2025