This week in ESG news: State Street launches dedicated sustainability stewardship service for investors; Morgan Stanley survey finds growing interest in sustainable investing – especially by younger investors; Microsoft signs another record-breaking carbon removal deal; Google backs series of new advanced nuclear projects; India launches climate finance taxonomy; EU consults on changes to sustainable finance disclosure rules; Trump, Republican AGs sue states over laws fining fossil fuels companies for climate change; states sue Trump for cancelling renewable energy projects; Iberdrola launches green bond aligned with new “gold standard”; major investor group urges HSBC to confirm commitment to net zero; IKEA’s new Chief Sustainability Officer; Coca-Cola cleans up sustainability claims following greenwashing action, and more.
See below for the highlights of the past week, and get all your ESG news at ESG Today:
Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements
Google Signs Deals to Eliminate Super-Potent GHG Emissions
Microsoft Signs 3 Million Ton Nature-Based Carbon Removal Deal with Forest Investor EFM
Google to Back Three New Advanced Nuclear Projects
Amazon Launching Custom-Fit Cardboard, Paper Packaging Across Europe
Google Signs PPA to Extend Life of Netherlands’ First Offshore Wind Farm
Coca-Cola Commits to Improve Recycling Claims Following EU Greenwashing Complaint
Microsoft Expands Carbon Removal Agreement with Stockholm Exergi to Record-Breaking 500,000 Tonnes per Year
Dow, Google Partner to Use AI to Tackle Hard to Recycle Soft Plastics
Government & Regulators
India Releases Draft Climate Finance Taxonomy to Drive Capital to Net Zero Goals
EU Commission Launches Call for Evidence to Simplify and Update SFDR Regulation
NGFS Releases its First Short Term Climate Scenarios
18 State Coalition Sues Trump Administration for Halting Wind Energy Projects
Trump, 24 States Sue New York, Vermont Over Laws Charging Fossil Fuel Companies for Climate Change
ESG Services and Tools
ICE Launches Physical Climate Risk Assessment Solution for Corporate, Sovereign Asset Classes
Sustainable Finance
Iberdrola’s First EuGB-aligned Green Bond Draws its Largest Order Book in 4 Years
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Breathe Raises $21 Million to Power Launch of Solutions to Build Better Batteries
United Airlines Invests in Twelve to Turn CO2 into Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Schroders Acquires $610 Million Stake in UK Offshore Wind Farm From Ørsted
Exterra Raises $14 Million to Turn Mining Waste into Sustainable Materials
Power Sustainable Raises $330 Million to Launch New Decarbonization Private Equity Strategy
Sustainable Investing
State Street Launches Sustainability Engagement and Voting Service
80% of Gen Z, Millennials Plan to Increase Allocations to Sustainable Investments: Morgan Stanley Survey
$1.6 Trillion Investor Group Pushes HSBC to Confirm Net Zero Commitment
Exec Moves
Inter IKEA Appoints Lena Julle as New Chief Sustainability Officer
HSBC AM’s Global Head of Sustainability Erin Leonard Exits
