Regulations
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The SEC has requested to delay climate rule arguments. What’s next?
Sustainable investing experts are not surprised by the delay and say it is expected to have minimal immediate impact.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 13, 2025 -
Accenture rolls back DEI goals to comply with Trump’s EOs
CEO Julie Sweet said the company would end its employee diversity representation goals and put “a greater focus on inclusion and a sense of belonging for all,” in an internal memo.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 12, 2025 -
Explore the Trendline➔
TarikVision via Getty ImagesTrendlineTop 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 -
Cheung, Lance. (2017). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Former EEOC commissioner weighs in on feds targeting private sector DEI
Chai Feldblum said employers may consider framing their programs on inclusion and preventing discrimination, but she also expressed confusion over some of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s enforcement priorities.
By Ryan Golden • Feb. 12, 2025 -
Acting SEC chair asks court not to schedule climate rule arguments
“The Commission’s briefs previously submitted in the cases consolidated in the Eighth Circuit do not reflect my views,” Acting Chair Mark Uyeda said.
By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 11, 2025 -
EPA funding freeze endangers $7B Solar For All program
“We don't know how much money got out the door, we don't know how much money the administration can seek to claw back,” said Vote Solar’s executive director, Sachu Constantine.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 11, 2025 -
Deep Dive
US state legislatures take aim at fashion’s sustainability and safety concerns
The new regulations are designed to protect workers, consumers and the environment, but there are still hurdles to face between passing the bills and implementing them.
By Siera Nezaj • Feb. 10, 2025 -
Google moves away from aspirational diversity hiring goals
This move is on par with what attorneys have been recommending in a tense political landscape around DEI and compliance.
By Caroline Colvin • Feb. 10, 2025 -
Clean energy stakeholders descend on Capitol to lobby for IRA tax credits
Groups participating in the lobbying blitz in Washington, D.C. represent over 2,000 companies and hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 6, 2025 -
New York reintroduces bills seeking climate risk, emissions disclosures
Senate Bills 3456 and 3697, if approved, would mandate climate-related disclosures from large companies operating in the Empire State as early as 2027.
By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 6, 2025 -
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 -
Trump’s executive orders cause hesitation, confusion for clean energy developers
“There are daily developments, and I think people are just doing the best they can with the limited information we have at the moment,” said Felisa Sanchez, a partner with law firm K&L Gates.
By Diana DiGangi • 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 -
Zeldin is confirmed as the new EPA administrator. What’s next?
The former New York representative will helm the agency as it navigates executive orders pausing climate programs and reviews pending regulations that could affect the waste and recycling industries.
By Megan Quinn , Jacob Wallace • Updated Jan. 30, 2025 -
Trump pauses renewable projects leasing on federal lands, waters
The Department of the Interior issued the order on Donald Trump’s first day in office, though just a small portion of the nation’s renewable energy capacity is located on government land.
By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 29, 2025 -
USDA releases guidance on climate-smart crops in biofuels
The interim rule gives insight into how farmers can access renewable fuel tax credits, though a Trump administration freeze on recent federal regulations is creating more uncertainty.
By Sarah Zimmerman • 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 -
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 -
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 -
Trump orders agencies to target private-sector DEI
In a Tuesday executive order, President Trump asked members of his administration to develop a strategic enforcement plan to deter “illegal” DEI programs and principles.
By Emilie Shumway • 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 executive orders halt wind development, declare energy emergency
The orders pause wind lease sales and permitting on federal lands while taking steps to accelerate other forms of energy production.
By Diana DiGangi • 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 -
Trump executive orders torch Biden’s DEI initiatives
The 47th president promptly axed federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs after repeatedly promising to do so on the campaign trail.
By Ryan Golden • Jan. 21, 2025 -
Biden orders Energy, Defense departments to lease sites for AI data centers, clean energy generation
The executive order calls for using “categorical exclusions” to rapidly site data centers and power generation.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2025