ESG Today: Week in Review
This week in ESG news: Wells Fargo drops net zero goals; Japan releases first sustainability reporting standards; Microsoft signs 30-year carbon removal deal; EU gives automakers more flexibility on emissions rules; Standard Chartered to engage with high-emission clients; SMBC exits net zero banking group; Mars introduces new sustainable packaging; U.S. rejects UN Sustainable Development Goals; Watershed seeks 1 million tons of carbon removal; Goldman Sachs launches new biodiversity fund; Amundi, Invesco win $35 billion investment mandates for ESG policies; senior execs say they consider ESG policies in job choices; LEGO increases use of sustainable materials; capital raises for sustainable data centers, carbon capture tech, recycling solutions, climate risk management, 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
Liverpool FC to Offset Climate Footprint of Products Through Carbon Removal Credits
Delta Partners with JetZero to Develop 50% More Fuel-Efficient Blended-Wing Aircraft
Microsoft Signs 30-Year Carbon Removal Afforestation Deal in India
Mars Launches 100% Recycled Plastic Jars for M&Ms, Skittles
Baker Hughes, Frontier Infrastructure to Develop Large-Scale Power and Carbon Capture Projects
LEGO Group Launches Tires Containing Recycled Materials from Engine Oil, Fishing Nets
ESG Reporting
Japan Releases Inaugural IFRS-Aligned Sustainability Reporting Standards
Government & Regulators
U.S. Rejects UN Sustainable Development Goals
EU to Give Automakers More Time to Meet Emissions Goals
ESG Services and Tools
Assent Launches Platform to Help Suppliers Manage Sustainability Data Requests
Watershed Launches RFP to Add 1 Million Tons of Carbon Removal to its Portfolio
Sustainable Finance
Areim Raises Over $970 Million for Sustainable Data Center Fund
Sumitomo Mitsui Becomes First Japanese Bank to Exit Net Zero Banking Alliance
Standard Chartered to Engage with all Priority Clients in High-Emitting Sectors Over Next 12 Months
Wells Fargo Drops Net Zero Goal
Private Equity & Venture Capital
PropTech Startup Telescope Raises $4 Million to Help Real Estate Owners Manage Climate Risks
Epoch Biodesign Raises $18.3 Million to Use Enzymes to Tackle Hard-to-Recycle Plastic
Mitico Raises $4.3 Million to Commercialize Industrial Carbon Capture Solution
CarbonQuest Raises $20 Million to Capture CO2 from Buildings
Sustainable Investing
M&G to Adopt “Sustainability Improvers” Label for Climate-Focused Fund Range
Goldman Sachs Launches SDG-focused Biodiversity Bond Fund
Exec Moves
Morningstar Sustainalytics Appoints David Pagliaro to Lead Global Product Strategy
Carbon Credit Platform Puro.earth Appoints Jan-Willem Bode as New President
Reports, Studies & Surveys
Over 40% of Senior Executives Prioritizing ESG in Career Decisions: Survey