This week in ESG news: BlackRock pledges to guide investors through the net zero transition; sustainable bond issuance forecast to soar again in 2022; T-Mobile achieves 100% renewable energy goal; HSBC invests $100 million in Bill Gates’ climate solutions initiative; Ulta Beauty makes $50 million DEI commitment; California moves ahead with law requiring corporate  climate disclosure; EU classifies gas & nuclear as green activities – member states push back; EU regulator launches process to regulate ESG ratings providers; Salesforce & JetBlue partner to reduce climate impact of business travel; Carlyle becomes one of the first PE firms to commit to net zero portfolios, 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

Ulta Beauty Commits $50 Million to DEI Initiatives in 2022

Salesforce, JetBlue Launch Partnership Targeting Sustainable Travel

Coty Launches Fragrances Produced with Carbon-captured Ethanol

BMW Enters Deal with Salzgitter to Source Low Carbon Steel for Car Production

T-Mobile Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity in U.S.

Holcim, Eni Partner to Produce Green Cement from Captured Carbon

Union Pacific Orders Fleet of Zero Exhaust Emissions Battery Electric Locomotives

ESG Reporting & Disclosure

California Senate Passes Bill for First Law in US Requiring Companies to Disclose all GHG Emissions

ESG Services and Tools

EU Markets Regulator Kicks Off Process to Regulate ESG Ratings

ESG Playbook, Carbonfund.org Partner to Deliver ESG Reporting & Carbon Reduction Solutions

Government & Regulators

EU Moves Ahead with Plan to Include Gas, Nuclear Energy in EU Taxonomy

EU Member States Threaten Legal Action Against Inclusion of Gas, Nuclear in Green Investment Taxonomy

ESG Investing

BlackRock Commits to Guide Investors Through Net Zero Transition

HSBC Invests $100 Million in Bill Gates’ Climate Solutions Initiative Breakthrough Energy Catalyst

Carlyle Commits to Net Zero Across its Investment Portfolio by 2050

Activist Investor Engine No. 1 Launches ETF Targeting Companies Creating Value on the Path to Net Zero

Sustainable Investment Group IIGCC Releases Net Zero Alignment Guidance for Private Equity Investors

Lightsmith Raises $186 Million for First Private Equity Fund Focused on Climate Resilience & Adaptation

HSBC Launches Asia Bond Fund Investing in Strong ESG, Low Carbon Intensity Companies

Sustainable Finance

Sustainable Bond Issuance to Surge Past $1.3 Trillion in 2022: Moody’s

EIB Earmarks €3 Billion to Finance Climate Action, Sustainable Transport, Other Projects

Citi Issues $2.5 Billion Bond to Support Affordable Housing

Danske Bank Pledges to Lower Oil & Gas Exposure, Slash Loan Portfolio Emissions

SEB Issues €1 Billion Green Bond Under Expanded Sustainable Finance Framework

Energy Transition

Carbon Capture Startup Verdox Raises $80 Million from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy and Others

Exec Appointments

Oak Hill Advisors Hires SASB’s Jeffrey Cohen as New Head of ESG

Tikehau Announces Leadership Appointments for North America Private Equity Climate Strategy

Dow Appoints Andre Argenton as New Chief Sustainability Officer

Bain Appoints François Faelli as Global Managing Partner of ESG

Moody’s Appoints Tobias Lindbergh to Head Sustainable Finance SPO Business in EMEA & APAC