In this week’s ESG News Week In Review, regulators and standard-setters moved to refine the rules shaping corporate sustainability. The EU pushed forward an ESRS overhaul to reduce duplication with taxonomy requirements, the SEC reopened consultation on climate disclosure rules amid rising investor demand, and the SBTi tightened FLAG guidance to accelerate deforestation deadlines and supply chain decarbonization.

Carbon markets and transition investment continued to scale. Google backed a 200,000-ton carbon removal deal, Apple secured a key greenwashing case as scrutiny on “carbon neutral” claims intensifies, and Holcim delivered net zero concrete using biochar. At the same time, major capital flowed into clean energy and infrastructure, from KKR’s investment in India’s electric bus platform to multi-million green bonds and renewable energy financing across global markets.

GOVERNMENT, POLICY & REGULATION

• EU Platform Pushes ESRS Overhaul to Align Taxonomy, Cut Duplication in Corporate Reporting
• Australia Sets 2035 Targets To Align Property Development With Global Biodiversity Goals
• SBTi Tightens FLAG Rules to Accelerate Corporate Deforestation Deadlines, Supply Chain Decarbonization
• SEC Seeks Public Input on Climate Disclosure Rules as Investor Demand for ESG Data Intensifies
• India Considers Softer Grid Penalties For Renewable Power Producers To Protect Clean Energy Investment

CARBON

• Google Backs 200,000-Ton Carbon Removal Deal With AMP to Tackle Methane From Waste
• Octopus Energy Generation Expands Cultivo Partnership To $100M To Scale U.S. Grasslands Carbon Removal
• Holcim UK Delivers Net Zero Concrete Using Carbon Storing Biochar
• Apple Wins US Greenwashing Case as EU Rulings Tighten Scrutiny on Carbon Neutral Claims

Related Article: ESG News Week In Review: 08 March – 15 March

CLIMATE & ENERGY TRANSITION

• Google Locks In 1 GW Demand Response to Cut Grid Costs, Support U.S. Power Reliability
• IATA Urges EU ETS Overhaul to Protect Aviation Competitiveness, Accelerate Decarbonization
• H&M Adopts Science-Based Land Targets to Cut Agricultural Footprint, Protect Ecosystems
• LEGO Scales On-Site Solar at $1.5 Billion Virginia Plant to Cut Industrial Emissions
• Nordex Updates Sustainability Framework To Align With CSRD, Deepen Supply Chain Accountability

AI

• Germany Moves To Double Data Centres, Quadruple AI Capacity By 2030
• ESG.ai and Rho Impact Partner to Advance Climate Investment Analytics in Europe
• AI Washing Becomes the New Greenwashing: The $1.5 Billion Collapse of Builder.ai
• Google.org Backs CDP AI Platform To Unlock $105 Billion In Climate Finance

SUSTAINABLE/CLIMATE FINANCE

• COFCO International Secures $435 Million Sustainability-Linked Loan
• KKR Commits $310 Million to Scale India’s Electric Bus Platform Allfleet
• BMO Issues $540 Million Green Bond to Scale Renewable Energy
• ReNew Secures $95 Million to Expand India’s Corporate Clean Energy Market
• RGREEN INVEST Raises $980M For European Energy Infrastructure Fund
• Reliance Secures $3 Billion Green Ammonia Deal With Samsung C&T
• Solugen Raises $50 Million to Scale Organic Fertilizer

ESG INVESTING, FUNDS

• ESG.ai and Rho Impact Partner to Advance Climate Investment Analytics in Europe
• BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts Backs West Africa Forest Restoration to Scale Carbon Removal Credits
• AI Washing Becomes the New Greenwashing: The $1.5 Billion Collapse of Builder.ai
• Greening Wall Street: By Peter Fusaro

ENVIRONMENT, NATURE & BIODIVERSITY

• SBTi Tightens FLAG Rules to Accelerate Corporate Deforestation Deadlines, Supply Chain Decarbonization
• H&M Adopts Science-Based Land Targets to Cut Agricultural Footprint, Protect Ecosystems
• Google Targets Industry Shift With Recycled Materials Guide as Devices Reach 60% Circular Content
• Ambienta Backs P.I.ECO to Scale Industrial Water Recycling as Regulation Tightens
• Nestlé Waters Becomes First Beverage Company to Certify 100% of Sites to AWS Standard

ESG/SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING

• EU Platform Pushes ESRS Overhaul to Align Taxonomy, Cut Duplication in Corporate Reporting
• SEC Seeks Public Input on Climate Disclosure Rules as Investor Demand for ESG Data Intensifies
• Nordex Updates Sustainability Framework To Align With CSRD, Deepen Supply Chain Accountability
• GRI Expands Vietnam Presence to Scale ESG Reporting, Unlock SME Access to Global Capital
• Early CSRD Filings Reveal How Mandatory EU Disclosure Is Reshaping Corporate Sustainability Reporting

TOOLS & SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY

• AstraZeneca, Secaro And ERM Launch Clean Heat Program To Tackle Industrial Heat Emissions
• Google Targets Industry Shift With Recycled Materials Guide as Devices Reach 60% Circular Content

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