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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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

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

Meta joins chorus of DEI rollbacks, cutting roles and programs

The tech and social media giant ended a number of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives last week, including its supplier diversity program.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 13, 2025

ESG tops in-house counsel litigation concerns

Organizations bringing lawsuits are finding more ways to tie company actions to impacts, a report finds.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 13, 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

McDonald’s cools on DEI, shifts to ‘global inclusion’

The shift in strategy comes as a result of work done last year, McDonald’s said, including a “comprehensive Civil Rights Audit.”

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 8, 2025

Did Costco just reset the narrative around DEI?

In contrast to a slew of companies, the warehouse retailer has forcefully rejected an anti-DEI shareholder proposal as bad for business.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 3, 2025

DOL kills apprenticeship rule aimed to increase DEI, raise labor standards

Lawmakers and business groups objected to the burden the rule might place on small businesses and expressed concerns regarding its diversity proposals.

By Kathryn Moody • Dec. 17, 2024

E+S proposals grew over decade alongside anti-ESG submissions: report

“Investors show little to no interest in proposals that advocate a political viewpoint without demonstrable economic relevance,” proxy advisory firm ISS-Corporate said in an analysis.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Dec. 13, 2024

Appeals court rejects Nasdaq effort to boost director diversity

The Fifth Circuit found that the Securities Exchange Act doesn’t allow a stock exchange to require listed companies to report directors’ race and gender.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 13, 2024

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

Shein launches independent advisory boards for ESG, corporate responsibility issues

The groups will work with the fast fashion company’s leaders on how to reach the commitments it laid out in its EvoluSHEIN plan.

By Laurel Deppen • Dec. 10, 2024

Catona Climate, Compassionate Carbon team up to boost nature-based projects

The collaboration aims to restore and protect vast land areas across the Global South and remove millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 9, 2024

What’s driving governance support as E+S approval dips: Diligent Market Intelligence

“Investors are increasingly focused on good governance and are taking basic governance structures quite seriously,” Diligent’s Editor In Chief Joshua Black told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 6, 2024

DEI failures contributed to a drop in stock prices, Lululemon shareholder alleges

Lululemon’s DEI initiative was “misguided” and its structure raised ethical concerns, the shareholder said in a derivative action lawsuit filed on behalf of the company.

By Emilie Shumway • Dec. 6, 2024