Welcome back to the ESG News Week In Review! We’re thrilled to have you with us again. Get ready for another week of staying ahead with our curated roundup of the latest headlines covering ESG around the globe. Explore the newest developments in Energy Transition, Sustainable Finance, and beyond. Uncover groundbreaking Sustainability Goals, and gain insights from ESG Executives on the move. Dive into government policies, cutting-edge technology, and more.

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ESG Around the World

• Top 5 Dutch Pension Funds Offer Billions for Energy Transition in Netherlands
• Climeworks Partners with LEGO Group and KIRKBI for Long-Term CO₂ Removal Agreement
• EU Nature Restoration Law Stalled as Member States Withdraw Support
• BlackRock Faces Legal Heat in Mississippi Over Alleged Misleading ESG Statements
• The presidents of France and Brazil meet and launch $1.1 bln program to protect Amazon rainforest
• Climate Action 100+ Releases Net Zero Standard for Oil & Gas Company Assessments
• ESMA Sets Out Rules for External Reviewers of EU Green Bonds

Climate & Energy Transition

• Walmart Expands Clean Energy Commitments with Nearly 1 GW of New Projects
• The Next 150 Partners with Microsoft to Supply 95,000 Tons of Biochar Carbon Removal Credits
• Australia creates $1 billion fund called Solar Sunshot to expand solar panel manufacturing
• SLB Acquires Majority Stake in Norway’s Aker Carbon Capture for $380 Million
• U.S Solar Factories Suniva and Heliene strike deal to produce ‘Made in USA’ panels

And More…

Sustainable Finance

• Iceland Issues Inaugural Green Bond of 750 million Euros
• South Korea Unveils $313 Billion Green Financing Plan to Combat Climate Change
• TenneT Raises €1.1 Billion Through Green Hybrid Bond Issuance for Renewable Energy Projects
• Britain extends $100 million finance facility to support food security in Africa
• BNP Paribas Asset Management Unveils Inaugural Active Global Net Zero Transition Equity Fund

And More…

Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements

• 96 percent of the electricity consumed by the BBVA Group is of renewable origin
• Google Announces Water Stewardship Initiatives for World Water Day
• Eight Industry Giants Including Mitsubishi Form e-NG Coalition for Sustainable Energy
• CMA Secures Green Claims Clarity from ASOS, Boohoo, and George at Asda
• Brent Floating Farms Invites Participation to Combat Environmental Damage and Ensure Food Security

ESG Reporting

• Nigeria gives companies until 2028 to adopt eco-friendly reporting standards
• Morningstar Sustainalytics Report Challenges Perception of Global Utility Industry
• New report finds secondhand clothing on track to take 10% of global fashion sales
• Billups Partners with Cedara to Pioneer Global OOH Sustainability Solution

Government

• Biden-Harris Administration Unveils Historic $6 Billion Investment to Decarbonize America’s Industrial Sector
• Nigeria gives companies until 2028 to adopt eco-friendly reporting standards
• Iceland Issues Inaugural Green Bond of 750 million Euros
• UK’s Environment Agency publishes guidance on production of green hydrogen

ESG Investing & Funds

• Nature Action 100 Unveils Guide to Help Investors Drive Corporate Action on Nature Loss
• Top 5 Dutch Pension Funds Offer Billions for Energy Transition in Netherlands
• Congressman Introduces Bill to Exclude ESG Factors from Retirement Investment Plans
• Denmarks Industriens Pension weaves MSCI Climate Action Indexes into foreign equities benchmark
• BII and Idemitsu Collaborate with Skye Renewables to Drive Decarbonisation in South-East Asia
• Public vs. Private Climate Funds: Bridging the Gap for a Sustainable Future – MSCI Study

ESG Execs on the move

• Verdane Expands Decarbonisation Team with New Partners, Dr. Erich Becker and Christina Levin-Rylander
• Lombard Odier Investment Managers Hires Mona Shah as Senior Sustainability Strategist

Technology, ESG Tools & Services

• Persefoni Launches Free, Self-Guided Software for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Across Supply Chains
• Tesco and NatWest Launch Sustainable Farming Initiative for Cost Reduction and Decarbonization
• Nature Action 100 Unveils Guide to Help Investors Drive Corporate Action on Nature Loss

Last Weeks Review: ESG News Week In Review: 18 March – 24 March