In this week’s ESG News Week In Review: China announced its first absolute emissions cut target for 2035, while the EU delayed supply chain deforestation rules by a year. California named 4,000+ companies subject to new climate disclosure mandates, and the UK signed contracts for its first commercial carbon capture projects.
In carbon markets, Barclays struck its first major removal deal in Canada, Schneider Electric secured a new agreement with Climeworks, and Frontier launched a rail-based carbon management platform for ethanol. Finance headlines featured Macquarie’s $3B global energy transition fund, Iberdrola’s $120B grid investment plan, and Brazil’s $4.5B bioeconomy coalition ahead of COP30.
Meanwhile, companies from Microsoft and Apple to DHL, Mars, and IKEA rolled out new decarbonization initiatives spanning cement, forests, steel, and food systems.
GOVERNMENT, POLICY & REGULATION
- China Sets First Absolute Emissions Cut Target for 2035
- EU Pushes Back Supply Chain Deforestation Rules by One Year
- UK Signs Contracts for First Commercial Carbon Capture Projects
- Trump Administration Cuts $679 Million in Offshore Wind Funding
- California Names 4,000+ Companies Facing Mandatory Climate Disclosures
- Singapore to Contract High-Quality Nature-Based Carbon Credits from Four Projects in Ghana, Peru, and Paraguay
CARBON
- Frontier Launches Rail-Based Carbon Management Platform for Ethanol Sector
- UK Signs Contracts for First Commercial Carbon Capture Projects
- Barclays Strikes First Major Carbon Removal Deal with UNDO in Canada
- Nonprofit Cool Effect to Launch $1,000,000 Award to Accelerate Carbon Project Development
- Schneider Electric Signs 31,000-Ton Carbon Removal Agreement with Climeworks
CLIMATE & ENERGY TRANSITION
- Apple Expands Nature-Based Climate Investments with California Redwood Forest Project
- TotalEnergies to Lead France’s Largest Renewable Energy Project
- Microsoft Invests in Fortera to Scale Low-Carbon Cement Production
- Mercedes-Benz, UKA Secure Approval for 140 MW Wind Farm in Northern Germany
- Microsoft Partners with Stegra to Accelerate Market for Near-Zero Emission Steel
- IKEA U.S. Launches Food Waste-to-Energy Program with Vanguard Renewables
- DHL, Hapag-Lloyd Expand Use of Sustainable Marine Fuels to Cut Supply Chain Emissions
- Mars Expands Decarbonization Push With Enel Contracts to Power Entire Value Chain
SUSTAINABLE/ CLIMATE FINANCE
- Eni Expands Partnership with CFS in $1B Fusion Power Agreement
- Amazon Expands U.S. Renewable Energy Supply with Avangrid’s $100M Solar Project
- McDonald’s USA Commits $200M to Regenerative Ranching Across 38 States
- Macquarie Closes $3B Fund to Accelerate Global Energy Transition Investments
- Iberdrola to Invest $120B by 2031 Shifting Focus to Regulated Power Grids in US, UK
- BRB Finance Coalition Secures $4.5B for Brazil’s Forests, Bioeconomy Ahead of COP30
- Dutch Startup Brineworks Secures $7.3M to Scale Direct Air Capture for e-Fuels
- La Caisse to Acquire Australia’s Edify Energy in $1.1 Billion Clean Power Deal
ESG INVESTING & FUNDS
- PRI Awards 2025 Spotlight Responsible Investment Leaders
- PRI, Wharton Launch Global Program on Responsible Investment Leadership
ENVIRONMENT, NATURE & BIODIVERSITY
- EU Pushes Back Supply Chain Deforestation Rules by One Year
- Apple Expands Nature-Based Climate Investments with California Redwood Forest Project
- BRB Finance Coalition Secures $4.5B for Brazil’s Forests, Bioeconomy Ahead of COP30
ESG & SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
- California Names 4,000+ Companies Facing Mandatory Climate Disclosures
- EFRAG Maps Digital Tools to Advance SME Sustainability Reporting
TOOLS & SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY
- EFRAG Maps Digital Tools to Advance SME Sustainability Reporting
- Watershed Launches AI-Driven Product Footprints to Tackle Scope 3 Supply Chain Emissions
- Frontier Launches Rail-Based Carbon Management Platform for Ethanol Sector
- PRI, Wharton Launch Global Program on Responsible Investment Leadership
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