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Category: Global News
• The Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued the world’s first Climate Bonds Certified Resilience Bond, raising €300 million.• The bond was oversubscribed seven times, attracting €2.2 billion in bids from nearly...
China has recorded 217.5 billion yuan (approximately $30.5 billion USD) in direct economic losses from natural disasters in the first nine months of 2025, according to the country’s Ministry of...
• The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) launches a first-of-its-kind certification tailored to the sector’s specific ESG challenges.• The framework aligns growers, processors, and traders around verified sustainability...
• ISO 17298 offers a globally recognized framework for organizations to assess and act on biodiversity impacts and risks.• Developed by experts from over 60 countries, the standard aligns with...
• Renewable generation reached 5,072 TWh in the first half of 2025, overtaking coal’s 4,896 TWh.• China and India accounted for the bulk of global solar and wind expansion, offsetting...
A Strategic Carve-Out in Solar TotalEnergies has sold a 50% stake in a 1.4 gigawatt (GW) solar portfolio across the United States to insurance vehicles and funds managed by KKR,...
A new Forest 500 report by nonprofit Global Canopy reveals that in 2024, the 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to deforestation risk collectively financed US$8.9 trillion to companies...
The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) reports a sharp rise in corporate climate ambition, with the number of companies committing to both near-term and net-zero science-based targets climbing 227% between the...
The UN Global Compact has launched the Central Asia Network, a multi-country office uniting over 140 companies across five nations to accelerate sustainable business practices and alignment with the Sustainable...
Marking International Youth Day, the European Parliament’s Youth Survey 2024 reveals young Europeans prioritise affordability and climate action — offering a roadmap for EU policy, investment, and ESG strategy. The...
Swiss banking giant UBS has withdrawn from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), becoming the latest in a string of high-profile exits from the global climate finance initiative. The move comes...
Italy agreed Thursday to a Vatican plan to convert a 430-hectare (1,000-acre) field at Santa Maria Galeria—about 35 kilometers (20 miles) north of Rome—into a large solar farm intended to...
Helion, a Washington-based fusion energy company, has started development on the site of its first fusion power plant, Orion, a move that positions it at the forefront of commercial fusion...
Air France-KLM has become the first airline group to partner with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to support the creation of the EU Flight Emissions Label (FEL), a...
In a move that could reshape global climate accountability, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its highly anticipated advisory opinion on July 23, 2025, clarifying state obligations regarding climate...
EU-China Joint Climate Statement Marks New Phase in Green Cooperation At the EU-China Summit in Beijing, held during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the...
Renewables firmly cemented their cost leadership in global energy markets in 2024, with 91% of newly commissioned renewable projects delivering electricity at a lower cost than any fossil fuel alternative,...
The International Tin Association (ITA) has announced the launch of the Responsible Tin Network, a new industry-wide initiative aimed at accelerating collaboration, closing critical engagement gaps, and advancing responsible sourcing...
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has officially launched its Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard, marking a major milestone in sustainable finance. For the first time, banks, asset managers, private equity...
A coalition of eight countries — France, Spain, Kenya, Barbados, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Antigua & Barbuda — has launched a global initiative to tax premium air travel and...
Google has taken a bold step toward a fusion-powered future through a new partnership with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), signing the largest-ever direct corporate offtake agreement for fusion energy. Under...
A first-of-its-kind international coalition led by Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Kenya will issue shared global principles to strengthen voluntary carbon markets and scale climate finance ahead of COP30 in...
Interview Highlights: Christine Montenegro McGrath (Mondelēz) & Alejandro Navarro (BCG) discuss their takes on ESG in 2025. The ESG narrative is shifting. According to Christine Montenegro McGrath of Mondelēz and...
Carbon pricing mechanisms raised more than $100 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank’s latest State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 report. Over half of the revenue was...
The European Union is closing in on its 2030 climate and energy targets, according to the European Commission’s latest assessment of Member States’ National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). Improved...
Microsoft has signed a landmark 10-year agreement with Bolivia-based Exomad Green to remove nearly 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ via biochar—a move that marks the largest biochar carbon removal deal...
Aramco has commissioned a world-first Iron-Vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery system to store renewable energy for its gas operations, marking a major milestone in industrial energy storage. The 1-MW/hour battery system—installed...
The European Commission and the UK government have agreed to work towards linking their carbon markets, in a move that could unify the EU and UK Emissions Trading Systems (ETS)...
The world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol plant has officially opened in Kassø, Denmark, positioning itself as a cornerstone in the global transition to low-emission fuels. The €150 million Kassø e-methanol...
The Council of the European Union has endorsed a key amendment to CO₂ emissions regulations for new passenger cars and vans, granting automakers a more flexible path to meet 2025...
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against New York and Vermont, challenging their newly enacted “climate superfund” laws that seek to hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for...
Chestnut Carbon has planted more than 17 million trees across 30,000 acres in the Southeastern U.S., completing its third afforestation season and establishing the largest afforestation project in the U.S....
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are advancing efforts to scale up urban climate finance, signaling increased commitment to cities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. At the roundtable “Scaling Sustainable...
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IDB Invest, and the IFRS Foundation have launched a strategic partnership to promote the adoption and implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards throughout Latin...
BloombergNEF’s New Energy Outlook 2025 delivers a sharp assessment of how the global energy transition may unfold by mid-century—assuming market forces, not climate mandates, dictate investment. While renewables and electrification...
Europe is heating faster than any other continent—and the consequences are multiplying.The European State of the Climate 2024 report, released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World...
Global maritime shipping is poised for a transformative shift following a landmark agreement reached by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO). The newly approved framework sets the sector on course...
What’s happening U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday directing the federal government to block state-level climate policies that restrict fossil fuel use or promote environmental...
Britain is rolling back parts of its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate in a bid to protect its auto industry from the fallout of new 25% tariffs on car imports...
The European Parliament has voted to adopt the European Commission’s “stop-the-clock” directive, delaying implementation timelines for key sustainability regulations: the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due...
China will officially enter the global green sovereign bond market Wednesday, issuing its inaugural 6 billion yuan ($825 million) bond on the London Stock Exchange. This issuance, anticipated for years,...
EU member states have approved the Council’s position on the “Stop-the-clock” mechanism aimed at simplifying EU sustainability regulations and enhancing business competitiveness. “Simplification is one of the priorities of the...
Renewable energy capacity surged by a record 585 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, reaching a total global capacity of 4,448 GW—marking the fastest annual growth rate ever at 15.1%, according to...
ING announced today its climate targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), marking it as the first global systemically important bank to align its emission reduction...
The Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF), advising the European Commission, has proposed a voluntary “SME sustainable finance standard” aimed at easing access to sustainability financing for small and medium-sized enterprises....
Key Takeaways Germany’s Major Climate Investment Move Germany’s parliament has approved a €500 billion infrastructure and defense fund, with €100 billion allocated to climate and energy transition projects. This funding...
China’s Finance Ministry announced Wednesday that it plans to issue its first-ever overseas sovereign green bonds in yuan, totaling up to 6 billion yuan ($829 million), with London chosen as...
FireSat Revolutionizes Wildfire Detection The first satellite of the groundbreaking FireSat constellation has successfully launched, promising to transform wildfire detection and response by leveraging artificial intelligence. Developed through a collaboration...
Major global corporations, including Amazon and Google, signed a groundbreaking pledge at the CERAWeek 2025 conference, aiming to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. The initiative marks the first...
Effective immediately, the Ontario government has imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the United States, targeting power supplies to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. This measure responds directly...
SSBJ Introduces First Sustainability Disclosure Standards The Sustainability Standards Board of Japan (SSBJ) has officially launched its inaugural Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SSBJ Standards) to enhance corporate sustainability reporting in Japan....
The European Commission has announced a plan to extend the compliance period for CO2 emissions targets from one year to three, giving automakers more time to meet stringent regulations and...
Governments reached a crucial agreement on February 27, 2025, in Rome to mobilize the resources needed to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This follows COP16 negotiations, which resumed...
The 2025 Global Risks Landscape The 2025 WEF Global Risks Report underscores that nature-related risks remain one of the most persistent and pressing challenges for businesses. Political shifts won’t change...
EU Simplifies Sustainability and Investment Rules The European Commission has unveiled two major legislative packages—Omnibus I and Omnibus II—aimed at reducing regulatory burdens, improving sustainability rules, and unlocking investment. The...
Global Biodiversity at Risk Countries are meeting in Rome to advance a $200 billion annual nature finance deal. The initiative builds on last year’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aimed at...
Cities are stepping up in the fight against climate change, but a significant funding gap threatens progress. New data from CDP, in collaboration with the Global Covenant of Mayors for...
Nikola Corporation, once a beacon of innovation in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection according to a recent press release issued by the automaker....
TikTok’s Multi-Year Carbon Commitment TikTok has entered a multi-year partnership with Climeworks to remove 5,100 tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere by 2030. The plan combines Direct Air Capture, Biochar,...
Eurostat’s latest report shows a continued decoupling of emissions from economic growth. Sector trends: Related Article: EU Invests €4.8 Billion from Emissions Trading Revenues to Fund Net-Zero Projects Country breakdown:...
BYD and SEC’s Landmark Deal BYD Energy Storage and Saudi Electricity Company have signed the world’s largest grid-scale energy storage contract, totaling 12.5GWh. Combined with a previously delivered 2.6GWh project,...
Global sustainable bond issuance is projected to hit $1 trillion in 2025, sustaining the momentum from 2024. ESG Challenges Deepen Big picture: The gap between decarbonization goals and real-world implementation...
Salesforce, alongside Hugging Face, Cohere, and Carnegie Mellon University, launched the AI Energy Score—a new benchmarking tool to measure and compare AI model energy consumption. Salesforce is the first AI...
BBVA reached its €300 billion sustainable business target one year early, exceeding its initial 2018-2025 commitment. The bank had progressively raised its goal, from €100 billion in 2018 to €200...
The BBC has unveiled its first Climate Transition Plan, outlining its roadmap to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. This milestone reflects the Corporation’s dedication to building a sustainable organization...
The UK Government has officially announced the launch of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in October 2027. The long-anticipated initiative aims to boost recycling rates by offering financial incentives for...
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) have introduced integrated standards to strengthen sustainability reporting and assurance practices. These measures...
EU’s Omnibus Proposal Faces Industry Backlash A coalition of 11 global corporations, including Unilever, Nestlé, Mars, and DP World, has urged the European Commission not to dilute existing sustainability reporting...
The European Commission is set to propose a ban on PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in consumer products, targeting their widespread use in items like cosmetics, non-stick pans, and industrial applications. Health...
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Societe Generale have announced an unprecedented collaboration to unlock €8 billion in investment for Europe’s wind industry. Central to this initiative is a €500...
Apollo Global Management and Standard Chartered PLC have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate financing for infrastructure and renewable energy projects worldwide. The partnership leverages Apollo’s sustainable investment platform,...
Schroders has been entrusted with a £5.2 billion sustainable investment mandate by UK wealth manager St. James’s Place (SJP), marking a significant endorsement of Schroders’ sustainable and active investment expertise....
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced $6 billion in tax credit allocations for the second round of the § 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy...
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has released comprehensive guidelines on managing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks. These regulations target EU financial institutions, requiring robust governance to mitigate risks related...
ERM, the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, has launched the Council on Sustainability Transformation to drive corporate progress on sustainability amid economic and political pressures. The Council brings together senior...
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 outlines how macrotrends, including technological advancements, economic shifts, and climate priorities, will reshape the labor market by 2030. The report, based on insights from...
Great Britain marked a milestone in 2024 as coal generation ended on September 30 with the closure of Ratcliffe power station. This marked the final chapter of 142 years of...
Navigating Stricter EU Emissions Rules To comply with the EU’s 2025 carbon emissions rules, major automakers are partnering with electric vehicle (EV) leaders like Tesla and Polestar to pool CO₂...
U.S. Banks Leave NZBA Amid Political U.S. Banks Leave NZBA Under Political and Legal Pressure Morgan Stanley, Citi, and Bank of America have joined Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs in...
Portugal’s Renewable Energy Milestone Portugal’s renewable energy generation hit a record 71% in 2024, marking a significant leap from 61% in 2023, according to grid operator REN. REN stated, “This...
What’s happening: India is reconsidering its decade-old, $30 billion program requiring coal-fired power plants to install flue-gas desulphurization (FGD) systems. Only 8% of the 540 targeted power plant units have...
The European Commission has awarded the construction contract for its new Joint Research Centre (JRC) building in Seville, Spain. Once approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the...
Europe’s Banks Are “In Debt to the Planet” Europe’s 25 largest banks are not doing enough to address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, according to a...
President Joe Biden has announced an ambitious 2035 climate target to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 61-66% below 2005 levels. This builds on the U.S. commitment to achieve net-zero...
The News: The European Parliament approved a one-year delay for the EU deforestation law, which aims to ban products sourced from deforested or degraded land. Initially set to take effect...
Invesco Unveils Climate-Focused ETF Invesco Ltd. has launched the Invesco MSCI North America Climate ETF (KLMN), which debuted on the New York Stock Exchange with $2.4 billion in assets from...
The Story: Microsoft has launched a groundbreaking datacenter design that consumes zero water for cooling, a significant step toward sustainability amid rising water stress. The innovative design employs chip-level cooling...
Why it matters: Offshore wind is pivotal for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and achieving global net-zero goals. bp and JERA are joining forces to accelerate progress with JERA Nex bp, set...
Here are five notable sustainability developments from the past week: Related Article: IMF Barbados Agree To $30 Million in Loans Under Climate Trust Follow ESG News on LinkedIn
Oslo, Norway, Dec 6, 2024 (ESG NEWS) – SLB Capturi has achieved a major milestone with the completion of the world’s first industrial-scale carbon capture plant at Heidelberg Materials’ cement...
Meta Platforms Inc. has announced a deal to purchase green credits from four major U.S. solar energy projects developed by Invenergy. This strategic move aims to meet Meta’s escalating clean...
ADNOC has unveiled XRG, a transformational international investment company with an enterprise value exceeding $80 billion. The independently operated venture focuses on lower-carbon energy and chemicals, aiming to double its...
Sustainability as a Business Imperative A new DHL Express global survey of 5,000 SME decision-makers across 11 markets reveals that sustainability is now a critical priority for small and medium-sized...
Singapore has solidified its leadership in sustainability reporting, surpassing global benchmarks in six of twelve key indicators, according to KPMG’s 2024 Survey of Sustainability Reporting. The city-state is one of...
Google has announced the opening of 1265 Borregas, its first office building constructed using mass timber, in Sunnyvale, California. The building reflects Google’s commitment to sustainability, employee wellbeing, and community...
The COP29 Presidency announced a major milestone in climate diplomacy: the full operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, unlocking international carbon markets after years of complex negotiations. The...
A contested proposal The Azerbaijani presidency at COP29 revealed a draft plan urging wealthy nations to lead a $250 billion annual financing initiative by 2035. This figure, termed the “new...
A Historic Step for Climate and Tourism The United Nations announced on Wednesday that over 50 governments have signed a declaration to make global tourism more climate-friendly, calling it a...
The Council of the European Union has approved a groundbreaking regulation to enhance the transparency, consistency, and comparability of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings. This move aims to bolster...
Released during COP29, Deloitte’s report, Turning Point: Feeding the World Sustainably, details the economic and social benefits of transforming global food production. The analysis highlights that addressing undernourishment, feeding a...
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