Banks improving clean energy finance ratios, still well-short of net-zero pace: report

“The ratio isn’t evolving at the pace needed to hit the 4:1 level required this decade under commonly referenced scenarios to limit climate change to 1.5 [degrees Celsius],” according to BloombergNEF.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 31, 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

Explore the Trendline➔

The state of the clean energy transition in 2024

This year saw a large volume of initiatives and investments from corporations focused on the clean energy transition — alongside a handful of reversions on carbon reduction goals.

By ESG Dive staff

Why climate alliance memberships are no longer ‘en vogue’ for Wall Street

Financial institutions have increasingly departed groups like the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and Climate Action 100+, but experts say banks are still committed to sustainability.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 30, 2025

Rockefeller grant strengthens push for nature-related disclosures

The Rockefeller Foundation announced it will give the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures $500,000 to scale its voluntary adoption efforts, as the organization rolls out additional sector guidelines.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 30, 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

PPA prices continue to rise amid Trump policy uncertainty: LevelTen Energy

But energy buyers and sellers have grown more adaptable in the face of an unstable policy landscape, LevelTen Energy said.

By Emma Penrod • 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

Triumvirate Environmental confirms private equity investment

Berkshire Partners’ investment values the Massachusetts-based environmental services company at $1.8 billion and marks the latest example of growing interest in the sector.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Feb. 4, 2025

American Express’ travel arm unveils emissions-based carbon pricing tool

American Express Global Business Travel said its new tool will help business travelers calculate their carbon footprint and direct investments toward sustainability initiatives.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 28, 2025

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

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

Tech industry works to meet AI’s energy demands as ESG use cases grow

“I don't think we're going to ever capture the opportunities of AI if we don't think about it in a responsible way,” Cisco Chief Sustainability Officer Mary de Wysocki told ESG Dive.

By Lamar Johnson • Jan. 24, 2025

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

Judge dismisses New York City’s lawsuit against Big Oil

A state judge ruled that NYC had failed to demonstrate that ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and the American Petroleum Institute had deceived consumers about the climate impact of their fossil fuel products.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 23, 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

JLL establishes energy advisory and sustainability practice

The global real estate services company will now provide technical expertise on energy sourcing, efficiency and end-use optimization across the company’s business lines.

By Joe Burns • 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

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

O-I Glass secures DOE funding as it begins Ohio decarbonization project

The glass packaging company will bring together energy efficiency technologies to upgrade furnace infrastructure, aiming to reduce carbon intensity by as much as 40%.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 17, 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