This week in ESG news: SEC approves U.S.’ first sustainability-focused stock exchange; Microsoft signs record-breaking permanent carbon removal deals; Net-Zero Banking Alliance drops 1.5°C commitment; U.S. walks out on international shipping decarbonization agreement; GM’s new Chief Sustainability Officer; EU selects first industries for product ecodesign requirements; Trump halts work on massive New York renewable energy project; Oxy acquires another DAC…

The UK government announced the launch of a new consultation into a series of “integrity principles” for carbon and nature credits, aimed at helping to advance the development and growth of voluntary carbon and nature markets. The consultation comes as demand for carbon offset projects and related credits is expected to increase significantly over the next several years, with the…

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced an order to stop construction activities on the Empire Wind project, a large scale offshore wind project off the coast of New York, anticipated to power 500,000 homes with renewable energy. New York Governor Hochul said that she would fight the order “every step of the way.” In a social media announcing the…