Top court appears mixed on keeping Chevron deference

The doctrine was recently cited to support the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a Labor Department rule allowing employee retirement fund managers to consider ESG factors.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 19, 2024

House GOP says SEC is overstepping authority, cannot demand climate disclosures

Expert witnesses for the Financial Services Subcommittee differed in legal interpretations of the agency’s power to issue the rule.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 19, 2024

To keep or not to keep: The fate of scope 3 emissions in SEC’s climate disclosure rule

Given all of the pushback the agency has received over its proposed rule, particularly scope 3 reporting requirements, experts are uncertain if scope 3 will make the final cut.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 18, 2024

Exclusive: Pro-ESG group tallies $150M in Big Oil donations to Republicans opposing SEC climate rule

A broad majority of the nearly 250 Republican state and congressional lawmakers have also expressed concerns about the rule’s inclusion of scope 3 disclosure, according to Unlocking America’s Future.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 18, 2024

Walmart to pay $60K over claim it did not promote woman with young children

The retailer promoted an employee who did not have young children, amounting to sex discrimination, the EEOC alleged.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 17, 2024

What Congress’ new attempt to strengthen age bias laws means for employers

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act would restore the “mixed-motive” test struck down by a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 11, 2024

Missouri’s bid to dismiss anti ESG-rules suit is denied

The U.S. federal judge’s decision greenlights a lawsuit challenging two of the state’s ESG rules that affect financial institutions.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 10, 2024

How 3 states are attacking carbon emissions from transportation

While 21 states sued the federal government over its new rule requiring transportation emission reduction targets, others are forging ahead to clean up the sector.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 10, 2024

4 ESG trends that set the tone for 2024

It’s shaping up to be a big year for ESG with a packed SEC agenda, fights over corporate DEI efforts and shareholder rights and a focus on financing the net zero transition.

By Lamar Johnson , Zoya Mirza • Jan. 10, 2024

Federal court won’t reconsider decision to overturn Berkeley, California, natural gas ban

If the city wants to continue to appeal the decision, its next step would be the U.S. Supreme Court. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 4, 2024

EU’s financial regulator: Stronger regulation needed to deter greenwashing

The European Securities and Markets Authority found negligible stock-based impacts of ESG controversies on companies, noting a lack of market-based mechanisms to prevent greenwashing. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 3, 2024

Industry leaders blast Treasury’s draft guidance for clean hydrogen tax credits

Some leading hydrogen producers are already talking about suing to stop the implementation of the Treasury Department’s proposal, according to Mona Dajani, a partner at Baker Botts.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 22, 2023

New York finalizes climate-risk guidance for financial institutions

The state said the new rules will help banking and mortgage institutions prepare for the physical and transition risks of climate change.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 22, 2023

EU Council reaches agreement on new ESG rating rule

The regulation is designed to increase transparency of sustainability score providers and will apply to non-European Union based companies looking to operate in the bloc.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 21, 2023

Wyoming to require disclosure of the use of social investment factors

The secretary of state adopted the rule because of ongoing concerns about ESG strategies negatively affecting state industries like coal and agriculture.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 20, 2023

Tennessee sues BlackRock over ‘misleading’ ESG strategy

The lawsuit claims the $9.1 trillion firm misled consumers about the scope and effects of its ESG activity and released conflicting statements regarding ESG’s influence over its business decisions. 

By Anna Hrushka • Dec. 19, 2023

Banks are excluded from EU’s human rights, due diligence regulation — for now

Despite opposition to leaving financial institutions out, the final draft of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive only states the sector may need to comply at a later date.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 19, 2023

Treasury releases sustainable aviation fuel tax credit guidance

SAF manufacturers could receive an additional $0.01 per gallon over the base credit for each percentage point the fuel reduces emissions above 50%.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 18, 2023

Democratic senators press Gensler to expedite release of human capital disclosure rule

The updated rule — which requires companies to report on employee compensation, benefits, turnover data and more — is now slated for release in April 2024.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 15, 2023

Companies setting their own carbon prices without global standard: Reuters

The new analysis from the Climate Disclosure Project has found companies’ internal carbon prices range anywhere from under $1 to $1,600 per metric ton of carbon emissions.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 13, 2023

Vanguard, Arjuna Capital issued House Judiciary subpoenas over ESG probe

The committee is seeking information from the two asset management firms for its investigation into whether industry climate alliances violate antitrust law.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 12, 2023

Gensler: EU regulations would take precedence without SEC climate rule

The Securities and Exchange Commission will talk with its European counterparts on using its rule as a substitute for compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 8, 2023

UN report proposes measures to slash up to 96% of cooling emissions by 2050

Passive cooling, higher energy efficiency standards and a quicker phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants could save $1 trillion by 2050, according to the report released during COP28.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 7, 2023

Final SEC climate disclosure rule pushed to April 2024

The long-awaited timing update comes via the Biden administration’s regulatory agenda for next year, which also unveiled new timetables for other ESG-related proposals.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 7, 2023

House Republicans say climate disclosure rule puts Science Based Targets initiative outside oversight

GOP members of the House Science Committee took issue with the Biden administration's rule requiring large contractors to have emissions reductions targets validated by the international organization.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 1, 2023