This week in ESG news: China sets first-ever emissions reduction goal, while Trump calls climate change a “con job”; Microsoft buys green steel for its data centers; California releases list of over 4,000 companies required to report under new climate disclosure laws; Mars achieves new renewable energy milestone; EU plans to delay key supply chain deforestation law for another year;…

Freight company DHL Global Forwarding and container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd announced today a new three-year agreement aimed at enabling Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions through the use of sustainable marine fuels in Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet for ocean shipping. The new agreement utilizes a “book and claim” chain of custody mechanism, which enables customers to claim Scope 3 emission reduction for…

Cleantech startup Brineworks announced that it has raised €6.8 million (USD$7.95 million) in funding, with proceeds aimed at advancing its technology enabling renewable energy-powered, and low-cost Direct Air Capture (DAC) carbon removal and clean fuel production. DAC technology, listed by the IEA as a key carbon removal option in the transition to a net-zero energy system, extracts CO2 directly from…

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) released a list of more than 4,000 companies that will be required to comply with the state’s new climate reporting laws, mandating disclosures on climate-related risks and opportunities, and for some companies on value chain greenhouse gas emissions as well. The new laws will introduce climate-related reporting requirements for most large companies in the…

Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) announced the launch of the LS&Co. Energy Accelerator Program (LEAP) in partnership with Schneider Electric, a new initiative aimed at speeding the shift to renewable electricity in its supply chain. According to Levi Strauss, the new initiative will support its target to reduce supply chain emissions 42% by 2030, compared to a 2022 baseline, and…

Climate solutions provider Watershed announced the launch of Watershed Product Footprints, a new AI-powered solution aimed at enabling companies to measure and address the carbon footprint of products, materials and processes. According to Watershed, the new solution comes as companies continue to face challenges in assessing and understanding their upstream purchasing emissions, which can account for 70% or more of…

French energy giant TotalEnergies announced that its consortium with German power producer RWE has been awarded the Centre Manche 2 (AO8) offshore wind tender by the government of France, winning a bid to design, develop, build and operate the largest-ever renewable energy project in France. Alongside the announcement, the company said that RWE has decided to exit the consortium, with TotalEnergies stating…

Snacking, food, and pet care products provider Mars announced a key sustainability milestone, reaching 100% renewable energy in its Snacking factories in Europe. According to the company, the achievement was made following Mars’ first investment in a European windfarm in 2016, and the transitioning of all of its confectionary manufacturing sites across Europe to renewable electricity over the past decade….

The European Commission is looking to further delay the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) – its new law aimed at ensuring that products imported to or exported from EU markets no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation globally – for a year, due to concerns that IT systems currently in place will not be sufficient to handle…

China’s President Xi Jinping announced a series of new interim climate goals, including a target to reduce economy-wide net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 7%-10% from peak levels by 2035, marking the country’s first-ever absolute emissions reduction target. Speaking by video in a speech to a UN Climate Summit, President Xi also announced 2035 targets to expand China’s installed capacity…