April 2023 Week-1; Volkswagen to invest EUR 52 billion for emission-free mobility, Amprion to invest €22 billion in grid expansion, Ford to invest C$1.8 billion to form Canadian hub of EV manufacturing, U.S. EPA proposes 56% vehicle emissions cut by 2032, $200 million grant from the World Bank to help repair energy infrastructure in Ukraine, Apple to use 100% recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025, Sustainalytics launches Low Carbon Transition Ratings, Chipotle pilots 100% renewable energy restaurant design alongside sustainability campaign…

See below for the highlights of the past week:

Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements

• Chipotle Pilots New 100% Renewable Energy Restaurant Design Alongside Sustainability Campaign
• American Express Announces New Initiatives to Support A Low-Carbon Future
• BBVA Publishes Its Clients’ Progress Toward Decarbonization for the First Time
• Apple To Use 100 Percent Recycled Cobalt in Batteries By 2025
• Frito-Lay and Schneider Complete EV Shipment in Continued Effort to Decarbonize Supply Chain
• Iberdrola to Require 85% of Purchases Come From Suppliers That Meet ESG Criteria

Executive Moves

• Chemours Appoints Dr. Amber Wellman to Chief Sustainability Officer

ESG Around the World

• $200 Million Grant Supported by the World Bank Will Help Repair Energy Infrastructure in Ukraine
• Hong Kong Stock Exchange To Make Climate Disclosures Mandatory For Issuers

Government & Regulators

• U.S. EPA Proposes 56% Vehicle Emissions Cut By 2032, Requiring Big EV Jump
• EPA Publishes 30th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

ESG Services & Tools

• PepsiCo Debuts Platform Designed To Support Customers In Achieving Their Sustainability Goals
• Morningstar Sustainalytics Launches its Low Carbon Transition Ratings

ESG Investing

• Ford to Invest C$1.8 Billion to Form Canadian Hub of EV Manufacturing
• GM Leads $50 Million Funding Round in EnergyX to Unlock U.S.-Based Lithium Supply for Rapidly Scaling EV Production
• Asahi Kasei Invests $100 Million in Environmental Startups
• Apple to Invest $200 Million in Carbon Removal Fund Managed by Climate Asset Management
• Volkswagen Group to Invest EUR 52 Billion for Emission-Free Mobility
• Lloyd’s Launches Schroders-Managed Private Impact Fund with £250 Million for Sustainability-Focused Assets
• Amprion To Invest €22 Billion in Accelerated Grid Expansion Over Next Five Years

Sustainable Finance

• EU Commission Approves €158 Million to Support LOTOS Green H2 in the Production of Renewable Hydrogen
• SunPower Secures $450M Financing Commitment to Meet High Solar Loan Demand

Energy Transition

• Iberdrola Presents Accelerated Climate Transition Plan to the United Nations

Social Responsibility & DEI

• PepsiCo Launches Greenhouse Accelerator Program: Juntos Crecemos Edition to Identify and Uplift Emerging Hispanic-Owned Food and Beverage Start-Ups
• Kellogg Company Moves Closer to Achieving Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Goals
• The Home Depot Announces Grants for 36 HBCUs at 2023 Retool Your School Awards Celebration

ESG Reporting

• IBM Releases IBM Impact Report 2022
• IBM Study Finds Consumer Goods Companies Boost Tech Budgets by 34% to Align Sustainability and Operational Goals

ESG Events