BlackRock launches brown to green material fund to back low-carbon transition

The materials sector-focused fund will be the first the firm launches under the United Kingdom’s “Sustainability Improvers” label.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 28, 2025

State AGs threaten financial institutions over ESG, DEI policies

Bank of America, BlackRock, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley were all asked about how they plan to implement or have implemented hiring or supplier diversity goals.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 27, 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

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

Trump freezes Inflation Reduction Act funding

The White House later issued a memo to clarify the funding pause, specifying that it pertains only to aspects of the law mentioned in Section 2 of the executive order.

By Kate Magill • Jan. 24, 2025

Investor interest in solar, storage cools amid Trump administration uncertainty

Venture capital investment dropped 36% in 2024 for solar companies and 60% in energy storage, according to Mercom Capital Group.

By Emma Penrod • 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

Trump pulls US from Paris Agreement — again — in packed day one slate

The president’s executive order freezes all funding related to the 2015 global climate treaty and also rescinds the nation’s International Climate Finance plan.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 21, 2025

Federal Reserve exits climate-focused central bank coalition ahead of Trump’s inauguration

The U.S. central bank said the work of the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System has “broadened in scope” and no longer falls within its “statutory mandate.”

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 21, 2025

Google inks pair of ‘largest biochar carbon removal deals to date’

“The magnitude of these Google purchases speak to the importance of biochar as a carbon removal tool,” according to the CEO of Varaha, one of the companies involved.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 17, 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

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

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

BlackRock leaves NZAM as Wall Street runs from climate groups

The nation’s largest investment manager is leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, joining a broader financial institution exodus from high-profile climate alliances.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated Jan. 10, 2025

Texas AG drops probe of major US banks following NZBA exodus

State Attorney General Ken Paxton said Texas will end its ongoing review of Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase following the banks’ exits from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 10, 2025

Treasury finalizes guidance for IRA’s tech neutral, clean electricity tax credits

They’re “the most important clean energy tax credits ever enacted,” said Brad Townsend, vice president of policy and outreach at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. 

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 10, 2025

5 ESG trends sustainability professionals should monitor in 2025

Upcoming leadership changes in the White House and Congress are expected to create a more adversarial stance on ESG and climate issues in 2025.

By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Jan. 9, 2025

Toyota Motor North America lands $4.5M DOE grant for EV battery recycling

The funding will go toward the development of an industry template for EV battery recycling.

By Larry Avila • Jan. 9, 2025

Biden bans most new offshore oil and drilling in clean energy push

President-elect Donald Trump vowed on Monday to undo the executive order that applies to more than 625 million acres of federal coastline.

By Jennifer Goodman , Julie Strupp • Jan. 8, 2025

JPMorgan becomes latest major US bank to exit NZBA

The bank’s departure from the Net Zero Banking Alliance follows the exits of five other major U.S. banks from the climate coalition in the past month.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 7, 2025

Fervo Energy nabs $255M to deploy carbon-free geothermal power

The Houston, Texas-headquartered energy company said the new funding would help it deploy geothermal energy to meet the “skyrocketing demand for clean, firm power.”

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 7, 2025

Final 45V hydrogen tax credit guidance draws mixed response

While hydrogen industry leaders generally welcomed the final rule’s increased flexibility, some said the complicated tax credit guidelines will stymie industry growth.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 7, 2025

Constellation NewEnergy, GSA ink $840M deal for emissions-free power to federal facilities

The procurement agreement will involve supplying over 1 million megawatt hours of electricity annually over the course of a 10-year contract, the U.S. General Services Administration said.

By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 6, 2025

Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley latest to exit Net-Zero Banking Alliance

The financial institutions’ decision to leave NZBA comes shortly after Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo announced they were departing the United Nations-backed climate coalition last month.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 3, 2025

Equinor secures $3B for Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm

Equinor expects capital investments in Empire Wind 1 to total around $5 billion, including fees for the use of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the company said.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 3, 2025