Court blocks Target’s attempt to move, dismiss DEI-related shareholder suit

The lawsuit argued that Target’s “DEI/ESG mandates” had a “known risk of adverse customer reactions,” and should have therefore been disclosed in investor statements.

By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 12, 2024

Trump’s SEC pick sparks concern from ESG, climate experts

The president-elect picked Paul Atkins for Securities and Exchange Commission chair, who experts expect to prioritize maximizing corporate returns over ESG considerations.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 5, 2024

Inflation Reduction Act changes ‘not a Day 1 priority’ for Trump, Congress: Crux

Though a full repeal of the 2022 climate law is unlikely, a Republican-controlled legislature could repeal or phase out some of its individual provisions beginning next year, policy experts said.

By Brian Martucci • Dec. 3, 2024

BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street sued by Texas, red states

The three firms are accused of forming “a cartel to rig the coal market,” but State Street and BlackRock called the lawsuit “baseless” in separate statements to ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Updated Dec. 2, 2024

Phillips 66 indicted over alleged wastewater dumping violations in LA

The company is charged with six counts of Clean Water Act violations related to two discharges from the company’s Los Angeles area refineries into the local sewage system.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 26, 2024

SEC’s Gensler to step down Jan. 20 after robust rulemaking, enforcement

In one of his most widely criticized moves, Gensler gained SEC approval this year for a regulation requiring companies to disclose the impact of climate change on their finances, operations and business strategy.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 22, 2024

IRS finalizes direct pay rules, increasing access to IRA’s clean energy tax credits

Direct-pay-eligible entities like local governments, public school districts, churches and hospitals will more easily be able to jointly invest in clean energy projects under rules released Tuesday.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 20, 2024

Trump picks oil services CEO Chris Wright to lead Energy Department, alarming climate groups

Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, which is engaged in lawsuits over the Labor Department's ESG rule and the Securities and Exchange Commission's climate-risk disclosure rule.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 18, 2024

American Petroleum Institute gives Trump a deregulatory policy wishlist

The organization seeks to have a number of Biden era regulations that focus on increasing electric vehicle adoption and slowing natural gas exports rescinded.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 15, 2024

Trump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue

Trump’s victory means a Republican will be selected to lead FERC, which will likely work to rein in transmission incentives, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2024

What COP29 entails for the global energy transition, business priorities

COP29 will be a “critical moment” in the global climate transition, further shaping the ESG landscape and motivating companies to ramp up sustainability initiatives, says Workiva’s chief sustainability officer.

By Mandi McReynolds • Nov. 13, 2024

ExxonMobil urges Trump not to withdraw from Paris Agreement again

“A second U.S. exit from the Paris Climate Agreement will have profound implications for the United States’ efforts to reduce its own emissions,” an Exxon spokesperson told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 13, 2024

California biofuel restrictions limit farms’ role in renewable energy transition

New changes to the state's low carbon fuel standard cap incentives for soybean oil in renewable diesel and give a timeline to phase out subsidies for dairy methane digesters.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 13, 2024

California’s climate disclosure laws survive first legal challenge

A federal judge denied a motion for summary judgment from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which alleged the state’s climate bills — SB 253 and SB 261 — violated the First Amendment.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 12, 2024

Trump taps former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead EPA

The Trump administration will likely roll back EPA regulations affecting fossil-fuel power plants, including a carbon emissions rule, according to Michelle Bloodworth, president and CEO of America’s Power.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 12, 2024

SEC charges Invesco $17.5M for misleading ESG statements

“Companies should be straightforward with their clients and investors rather than seeking to capitalize on investing trends and buzzwords,” the acting head of SEC enforcement said.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 11, 2024

Clean energy, sustainable investors brace for second Trump presidency

Experts expect private sector work on ESG issues and the clean energy transition to continue, albeit at a slower pace, under a reelected Donald Trump.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 7, 2024

The ESG, climate rules at stake under a second Trump term

Several climate and ESG-related regulations at the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Labor are likely headed for the chopping block come January.

By Zoya Mirza • Nov. 7, 2024

What Trump’s reelection could mean for the IRA, offshore wind

President-elect Trump has vowed to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and stop offshore wind development, but clean energy advocates say his administration could benefit from both.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 7, 2024

SEC says funds mischaracterizing use of ESG factors

The assessment is part of a broader risk alert by the agency regarding the discrepancy between funds’ investment strategies and marketing literature.

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 6, 2024

How a second Trump presidency could impact DEI, employment actions

Employers are likely to see immigration raids, limitations on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and agency chair replacements, experts at Littler predicted.

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 6, 2024

Marsh to insure carbon credits against counterfeits, fraud

The insurance broker said the new insurance facility will help de-risk carbon credit investments and protect companies from potential “fraudsters.”

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 5, 2024

PepsiCo gets New York plastic pollution lawsuit dismissed

The development comes on the heels of Los Angeles County filing its own complaint against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola focused on public nuisance and alleged violations of unfair competition and false advertising law.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 5, 2024

SEC says Vanguard can nix human rights shareholder proposals from 2025 proxy materials

The agency agreed that two sets of the firms’ funds can exclude a proposal to provide greater transparency to ensure their investments don’t “substantially contribute to genocide.”

By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 4, 2024

As US EV sales growth slows, election results could reverse or reinforce the trend

U.S. electric vehicle sales are rising, though the rate of growth has declined in the past year. The next president may continue support for purchase incentives or seek to cut the popular tax credit, say experts.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2024