Hot Topics
Featured Blogs - Subscribe to Free Blog
Apr 24 2025 #compliance, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #supply-chain
Is It Buh-Bye to the Conflict Minerals Rule?
In Tuesday’s TheCorporateCounsel.net blog, John wrote that Paul Atkins has been sworn in as the new SEC Chair, along with his likely priorities. “Chairman Atkins’ testimony during his confirmation hearing provides some clues. This excerpt from a recent Meridien Compensation...
Apr 24 2025 #assurance, #climate, #environment, #esg, #supply-chain
Study Suggests Assurance is Key to Serious Decarbonization
Decarbonization is a major pillar of ESG as anthropogenic climate change is arguably the world’s biggest environmental issue. As ESG took off and became widely adopted, so too did emissions disclosures and net-zero targets. However, it’s one thing to disclose...
Apr 24 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
New This Week on PracticalESG.com
This week’s notable additions to PracticalESG.com are below. We added 15 new CSRD reports, which can be viewed here. Blog of the Week: Early CSRD Reports Struggle to Link Sustainability to Strategy Hot Topics for the Week: The Future of...
Apr 23 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
Will AI Tech Slowdown Dampen Renewables Growth?
Last year’s explosion in AI rippled across sectors but none as much as Tech, of course. I’m now seeing some retraction (perhaps, realism?) in the AI world. Basic questions about the ROI for AI started popping up late last year....
Apr 23 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #supply-chain
EU Emissions Trading Scheme Sees Big Results
Here’s something you don’t see every day – some good news about a GHG emissions trading mechanism. Granted, this isn’t about voluntary offset markets, but still. The European Commission announced that “The data reported by EU Member States by the...
Apr 23 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #social
Untying the ESG/Sustainability Ownership Knot
Despite recent pushback in the US, sustainability remains a priority for many companies domestically and globally. There’s no doubt that ESG has matured over the last few years, especially as new legal requirements and risks emerged. We’ve seen sustainability reporting...
Apr 22 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #supply-chain
NGOs Cry Foul on Omnibus Legislative Process
The EU is currently in the process of revisiting key pieces of Green Deal legislation in an effort to “simplify” compliance burdens associated with ESG directives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive...
Apr 22 2025 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
How to Overcome the Fear That is Crippling Sustainability Professionals
The past few years were heady times in ESG, sustainability, climate and DEI. Companies eagerly built up programs, hired staff, spent boldly and made loud pronouncements of support. Today, it is different. Fear – due to tremendous uncertainty in global...
Apr 22 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors
New Green Stock Exchange Approved by SEC – But What is “Green”?
Last week, the SEC voted to approve a new national securities exchange called The Green Impact Exchange (GIX). According to ESG Today, “GIX aims to be the first national securities exchange in the U.S. dedicated to the emerging global green...
Apr 17 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #supply-chain
Early CSRD Reports Struggle to Link Sustainability to Strategy
First-wave CSRD reporting is teaching us valuable lessons about how companies approach reporting obligations. One important facet of the CSRD is its focus on business models and strategy. Companies must report on material topics and sub-topics, as well as explain...
Apr 17 2025 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Exercising Caution in Materiality Determinations
CSRD implementation is challenging for many – if not most – companies. The expansive law has companies thinking about material issues and disclosures in new ways, largely due to its double materiality lens. For the first time, companies are being...
Apr 17 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
New This Week on PracticalESG.com
This week’s notable additions to PracticalESG.com are below. We made minor changes to the website you may have noticed, including the ability to display search results in chronological order. New Q&A: CDP Disclosure Insight Action We added 15 new CSRD...
Apr 16 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
Study: No One Cares About Missed Climate Targets, But Is That True?
I’m preaching to the choir, but companies are investing a tremendous bit of time, effort and cost into gather emissions data to report and track it. Sometimes – such as in the case of new California laws and certainty the...
Apr 16 2025 #diversity, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors
Morningstar on ESG Ratings and the New World of DEI Risk
DEI is certainly facing an turning point in corporate America right now – but how do you put a finger on the pragmatic business risks of keeping or ending DEI programs? Morningstar Sustainalytics recently wrote “These changes have raised concerns...
Apr 16 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
NZBA Loosens Portfolio Alignment Rules
The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) announced drastic changes to its alignment rules for members. NZBA previously required members to adopt Paris-aligned strategies that would limit rising temperatures to 1.5°. However, after an overwhelming majority of members voted to alter...
Apr 15 2025 #esg, #human-rights, #social, #supply-chain
US Backs Away From Fighting Child Labor
First, the new administration went after DEI, then climate. Now, child and forced labor are being targeted. According to The Washington Post: “The Trump administration has plans to immediately end U.S.-backed programs that combat child labor, forced labor and other...
Apr 15 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment
Lululemon Greenwashing Suit Dismissed
Apparel company Lululemon is feeling relief after a federal court in the Southern District of Florida dismissed a punitive class action against the company. The case alleged that Lululemon’s “Be Planet” advertising campaign was false and misleading and sought to...
Apr 15 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #supply-chain
Shipping Industry Approves Draft $100/Ton Carbon Tax
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved new draft fuel standards for ships and a global pricing mechanism for carbon emissions. The draft includes an emissions tax of at least $100/ton CO2 emitted above a decarbonization target. IMO’s announcement clarifies work...
Apr 10 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #supply-chain
More Executive Orders Hit Decarbonization (Part 1)
On April 8, a trio of new Executive Orders was issued aiming to increase coal production and use, while reducing air emissions regulatory burdens for coal-fired power generation. An additional EO prohibits large existing generating stations from shutting down or...
Apr 10 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #supply-chain
More Executive Orders Hit Decarbonization (Part 2)
Following on Part 1 about the new Executive Orders supporting coal use … The EO Regulatory Relief For Certain Stationary Sources To Promote American Energy acts on EPA’s notice that the President was considering regulatory exemptions for companies subject to...
Apr 10 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
New This Week on PracticalESG.com
This week’s notable additions to PracticalESG.com are below. We added 31 new CSRD reports, which can be viewed here. Blog of the Week: US Companies Move Away From Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Frameworks Hot Topics for the Week: “New Executive Order...
Apr 9 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
EU Stops the Clock on CSRD Wave 2 and CSDDD
Previously I wrote about the proposed freeze on CSRD wave 2 and CSDDD reporting under the Omnibus “Stop the Clock” proposal. Last week, the EU Council and Parliament came to an agreement, choosing to freeze compliance while further changes to...
Apr 9 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #human-rights, #social, #supply-chain
EU Commission Orders ESRS Overhaul
When the Omnibus reforms were first announced by the European Commission, I noted that the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) would be revised. While we initially expected these revisions after Omnibus’s initial passage, it appears that the Commission is forging...
Apr 9 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors
German Regulator Punishes DWS for Greenwashing
By now, you’ve probably already heard the big greenwashing enforcement news out of Germany. ESG Today reported “Deutsche Bank’s investment arm DWS has been fined €25 million (USD$27 million) over charges that it misled investors over its sustainable investing credentials,...
Apr 8 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors
US Companies Move Away From Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Frameworks
Interesting findings in a recent analysis from The Conference Board email update: “The slowdown in GRI adoption among large companies likely reflects a shift toward compliance-driven reporting as firms prepare for CSRD, ISSB, and California climate disclosure rules, which demand...
Apr 8 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social
Chinese CSDS to Require Double Materiality Disclosures
Speaking of reporting frameworks… amidst the chaos and ESG backlash in Western society, China’s Ministry of Finance issued its Chinese Sustainability Disclosure Standards (CSDS), marking a major development for ESG. The CSDS constitutes China’s efforts to develop a comparable and...
Apr 8 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors
Come to the Texas Symposium on Climate Change and Energy Transition
This year’s Texas Symposium on Climate Change and Energy Transition on Thursday, April 10th at the Bullock Texas State History Museum located at 1800 Congress Avenue in Austin. I am on a panel (virtually) discussing state climate superfund laws. Find...
Apr 3 2025 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg
ESG Legal Risks Continue to Evolve
ESG has gone through many changes since rising to prominence. The most recent trend, anti-ESG backlash, substantially contributes to ESG-driven legal risks. What were once fringe legal theories pushed by a handful of Attorneys General are gaining traction and manifesting...
Apr 3 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg
Is the USDA Banning Basic Environmental Terminology?
Here is an X post claiming to show a photo of a leaked memo containing a list of environmental and sustainability terms the USDA’s Research Service division is banning in agreements. If real, banned words include “greenhouse gas emissions,” “methane...
Apr 3 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
New This Week on PracticalESG.com
This week’s notable additions to PracticalESG.com are below. We added more new CSRD reports, which can be viewed here. Blog of the Week: It was another close one – between The Most Stunning EPA Action I’ve Ever Seen – And You...
Apr 2 2025 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
ESG Word Games: You Say TomAto, I say TomAHto – Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off
Sustainability professionals just can’t shake our jargon addition. With “ESG”, “DEI” and other terms under attack, companies are grabbing a thesaurus (I still use old hand-me-down paperback versions) to find replacements. Recent examples I’ve seen: Replacing “equity” with “opportunity” Replacing...
Apr 2 2025 #climate, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social
Not Just CEOs: CFO Turnover at Six-Year High
I recently wrote about the record breaking pace of CEO departures and the potential impact on corporate sustainability programs. Turns out, the rate of CFO turnover is not far behind. CFO Dive reports: “Global turnover of S&P 500 CFOs reached...
Apr 2 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors
Another Surprise – A Presidential Pardon
I’ve written in the past about Trevor Milton, the former CEO of EV company Nikola who was found guilty of various fraud charges related to representations he made to investors (and the public) about the sustainability attributes and performance of...
Apr 1 2025 #compliance, #environment, #esg
The Most Stunning EPA Action I’ve Ever Seen – And You Probably Haven’t Heard About It
This year marks the 40th year of my career in environmental management/sustainability. I’ve experienced a tremendous amount of regulatory development and changes in enforcement initiatives. But EPA’s action last week has me completely gobsmacked. This is not an April Fool’s...
Apr 1 2025 #compliance, #esg, #human-rights, #social, #supply-chain
Bumble Bee Foods Faces Forced Labor Lawsuit
Bumble Bee Foods is the target of a new lawsuit brought by individuals alleging they were the victims of forced labor and human trafficking in the company’s supply chain. The individuals initially applied to work as fishermen on longline fishing...
Apr 1 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors
Legal Analysis: Companies Are Legally Bound to Destroy the Climate
Thanks to Meredith for sending this my way. Eric W. Orts – the Guardsmark Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics and professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and visiting professor of law at...
Mar 27 2025 #compliance, #diversity, #equity
Injunction Against Anti-DEI Executive Orders is Stayed
We previously wrote about a Maryland District Court that issued preliminary injunctions barring the enforcement of the Trump administration’s Anti-DEI executive orders. Now a three-judge panel for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted the injunction, staying it while...
Mar 27 2025 #compliance, #diversity, #equity, #esg, #investors
DEI Just Got Very Material, But Not Like You Think
Continuing on the DEI theme … Controversy surrounds the administration’s release of war plans (or “attack plans”) related to the recent Houthi attack, but plans for another attack by the administration haven’t garnered much attention. According to Bloomberg, US Federal...
Mar 27 2025 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #supply-chain
New This Week on PracticalESG.com
This week’s notable additions to PracticalESG.com are below. We added 20 new CSRD reports, which can be viewed here. New Q&A: California SB 261 (climate risk reporting) Blog of the Week: DEI Drives ESG Litigation Risks Hot Topics for the...
Mar 26 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
Sustainability Professionals: Be Cautious When Using the Word “Material”
John Jenkins reposted a thought-provoking article published last week by the American Bar Association Business Law Section. Glenn D. West, a retired Partner of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and a current Adjunct Professor of Law at SMU Dedman School...
Mar 26 2025 #compliance, #environment, #esg, #supply-chain
Danone Settles Plastic Pollution Lawsuit
Last year, Lawrence wrote about a lawsuit filed by three NGOs against Danone alleging that the company’s plastic pollution violated France’s duty of vigilance law. Shortly after the filing, French courts ordered a mediation in the matter – leading to...
Mar 26 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
S&P Global: BlackRock’s Fink Bearish on Decarbonization; Most Companies Assess Climate Risks
Houston recently hosted the annual CERAWeek, a major energy industry conference. S&P Global’s email newsletter about the event included interesting tidbits: “Attendees from across the energy spectrum said they remain focused on sustainability topics like climate and the low-carbon transition,...
Mar 25 2025 #climate, #environment, #esg, #supply-chain
New Mining Executive Order: The End of Federally-Protected Forest Sequestration?
Yet another Executive Order from the Resolute Desk: Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production. Here’s the meat of it: “Sec. 5. Land Use for Mineral Projects. (a) Within 10 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of...
Mar 25 2025 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Record CEO Turnover Continues for 2025 – Is Your Sustainability Program Prepared?
Many CSOs and sustainability staff enjoy support from their company’s C-suites, but it isn’t a good idea to rely too heavily on that. Last month, I wrote that the rapid decline in CEO tenure is a threat to corporate sustainability/ESG...
Mar 25 2025 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg
New Podcast: How To Manage EPA’s Dramatic New Agenda
PracticalESG members can access our latest podcast. Doug Parker, CEO of Ecolumix, and I talk about EPA’s new deregulatory announcement. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called it “the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen.” But how much change will...
Click Here to view all 94+ Subject Areas.
For ease of navigation, we have broken all subject areas into categories: Environmental, , and Governance.
- AI in ESG
- Agricultural Sector
- Air Emissions
- Anti-ESG
- B Corporation
- Biodiversity
- Board Oversight of E&S Issues
- Board Oversight of E&S Issues / M&A Considerations
- Bonded Labor
- CBAM
- CSRD
- Carbon Management
- Chemical Use
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Circular Economy
- Climate
- Climate / Emissions / Offsets
- Climate Bonds
- Clothing/Textiles Sector
- Companies Changing ESG Commitments
- Company ESG Reports
- Compliance / Enforcement / Litigation
- Data Centers
- Deforestation
- Disclosing ESG Performance
- E&S Data Verification, Assurance & Auditors
- E&S Governance
- ESG Business Value
- ESG Disclosures / Reporting
- ESG Financial Impact
- ESG Issues by Industry Sector
- ESG Ratings
- ESG Ratings Agencies
- ESG Staffing Matters
- Electronics / Technology Sector
- Energy Sector
- Enforcement
- Financial Services Sector
- GHGs
- Green Bonds
- Greenwashing
- Healthcare
- International ESG Standard Setting Organizations
- International Trade/Supply Chain/Social Risk
- Investor Perspectives on ESG Performance
- Investor Policies & Trends / Shareholder Activism & Engagement / Shareholder Proposals
- Investor Trends
- Just Transition
- Legal Services Sector
- Litigation
- M&A Considerations
- Materiality in ESG Performance Disclosure
- Offsets
- Plastics
- Private Companies
- Product Labels
- Public Benefit Corporation
- Real Estate Sector
- Retail Sector
- Reuse / Recycling
- Risk Management
- Semiconductors Sector
- Shareholder Activism
- Shareholder Engagement
- Shareholder Proposals
- Singapore
- Social Audits
- Social Risk
- Supply Chain
- Sustainability-linked Bonds
- Sustainable Finance/Bonds
- Trafficking & Slavery
- Transportation Sector
- Waste Management
- Water & Wastewater Issues
- Water Bonds
- Water Issues/Freshwater/ Ocean Health/ Wastewater
Click Here to view all 94+ Subject Areas.
Featured Q&A Members Only
CDP Disclosure Insight Action
We recently received a letter from CDP Disclosure Insight Action requesting that we disclose certain environmental information through their questionnaire. From what I can tell, this is not required and, as we currently disclose sustainability related information in many different places and to many different people, we’re not inclined to voluntarily add another to the list. However, I was curious what other companies who received this letter intend to do. Would appreciate your thoughts here.
04/15/2025, Question #27998
California SB 261 (climate risk reporting)
Is anyone aware of any guidance as to what specific parts/pillars of the TCFD reporting framework will be required to be disclosed in order to comply with SB 261 reporting? The metrics pillar of the TCFD reporting framework requires disclosure of Scopes 1 and 2 emissions and, if appropriate, Scope 3 emissions. It doesn’t really make sense that this information would be required to be included in the SB 261 report, since it is also required by SB 253 (duplicative), not to mention that SB 253 imposes a higher in scope requirement of $1B in revenue versus $500M in revenue for SB 261. Seems like if emission data was required to be included in the SB 261 reports, you would not need SB 253.
03/24/2025, Question #27636
Glass Lewis ESG Profile
In reading my company’s Glass Lewis report from last year, they indicated that my company’s risk profile is “Medium”. Considering this rating didn’t affect GL’s recommendations to our proposals, how else does this affect my company? Is the rating meant to give a reader a second thought on voting by following GL’s (positive) recommendation on our proposals? Is it meant to generally shame us? ESG newbie here.
03/6/2025, Question #27139