EU Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho announced that she has opened an inquiry into the process behind the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal to simplify and reduce corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, following complaints alleging that the Commission failed to meet procedural requirements in preparing the proposals. The Commission released its Omnibus I package in late February 2025, aimed at significantly…

Germany’s federal government softened its language on calls to eliminate the EU’s new law requiring companies to address their negative impacts on human rights and the environment across their value chains – the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) – with a government spokesperson clarifying that the government’s position is to “de-bureaucratize” and “streamline” the regulation. The clarification, provided in…

This week in ESG news: JPMorgan buys carbon removal for under $200/ton; Meta, Google sign large-scale renewable energy deals to power data centers; France joins call to scrap EU’s supply chain sustainability law; Lululemon hires former Nike CSO as new sustainability chief; PepsiCo pushes back climate and sustainable packaging goals; EU Parliament agrees to exempt most companies from CBAM import…

Natixis Investment Managers’ sustainability- and thematics-focused affiliates, Mirova and Thematics Asset Management announced today the launch of a strategic merger project, aimed at creating a “unique offering” combining innovation and positive impact, and becoming “a major player in thematic management worldwide. “ Mirova was launched as a subsidiary of Natixis Investment Management in 2014, with a focus on sustainable and…

Investment giant BlackRock issues a strong statement following the release of a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission in support of a Texas-led multistate lawsuit accusing asset managers BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street of using ESG investing to manipulate coal markets, calling the case “baseless,” and “based on an absurd theory.” The case, launched by…

London-based cleantech construction technology firm Converge announced that it has raised $22 million in a new investment round, with proceeds aimed at further developing and commercially scaling its AI-based platform for decarbonizing concrete. Building materials are a key source of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cement production, an ingredient in concrete, accounts for approximately 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with…

Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owner Meta announced that it has signed two long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) to acquire 650 MW of solar energy in Texas and Kansas from energy provider AES to support the social media giant’s data centers. Virginia-based AES is among the largest power providers in the world. Meta will draw power via the PPAs from solar…

Supply chain sustainability management solutions provider Assent announced the launch of a new solution aimed at helping manufacturers to comply with the regulatory requirements of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Ottawa-based Assent provides systems to help manufacturers collect and manage the supply chain data needed to meet environmentally and socially responsible product standards and regulations. According to Assent,…

Food and beverage giant PepsiCo announced today a series of updates to its key sustainability goals in areas across climate, packaging, agriculture and water, including pushing back its 2040 target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by ten years to 2050. While also announcing more ambitious goals to integrate sustainable farming practices across its agricultural…

Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted 564 – 20 today to approve proposed changes to approve proposed changes to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU’s carbon tax on imported goods, which would exempt the vast majority of importers from the CBAM rules, while allowing the mechanism to continue to cover nearly all emissions from imports across key carbon-intensive…