ESG Today: Week in Review
This week in ESG news: Biden admin invests $6 billion in industrial decarbonization projects; Microsoft signs one of largest-ever biochar carbon removal deals; Mississippi orders BlackRock to ‘cease and desist’ from ESG investing; Walmart invests in 1 GW of new clean energy projects; Vanguard found guilty of misleading green investing claims in Australia; Persefoni launches free emissions tracking and reporting tool; Starbucks certifies more than 6,000 “greener stores”; EU’s Nature Restoration Rule in jeopardy after failing to gain member states’ approval; LEGO signs carbon removal deal with Climeworks; BlackRock CEO says “I’ve never seen more demand for energy infrastructure”; capital raises for sustainable packaging, clean hydrogen, energy storage, green cement solutions, 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
Microsoft Signs 400 MW Renewable Energy Purchase Deals from New Texas Solar Projects
JDE Peet’s Launches New Series of Climate and Deforestation Goals
SLB Acquires Majority Stake in Aker Carbon Capture for $380 Million
Walmart Invests in Nearly 1 GW of New Clean Energy Projects Across the U.S.
Starbucks Certifies Over 6,000 Locations as Greener Stores
LEGO Group Signs 9-Year Carbon Removal Deal with DAC Provider Climeworks
Microsoft Signs 95,000 Ton Biochar Carbon Removal Deal with Climate Solutions Startup The Next 150
Government & Regulators
Australia Court Finds Vanguard Guilty in Greenwashing Suit
UK Fashion Retailers ASOS, Boohoo and Asda to Change Green Claims after Regulator Investigation
EU Council Fails to Approve Landmark Nature Restoration Law
Biden Administration Invests $6 Billion in Industrial Decarbonization Projects
ESG Services and Tools
Persefoni Launches Free Emissions Measurement and Reporting Solution
Sustainability Advisory Firm Anthesis Acquires Purpose-focused Consultancy Given
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Heat Pump Tech Startup Evari Raises $7.5 Million
Clean Fuel Startup WASE Raises Over $10 Million to Scale Waste-to-Energy Solution
Watttron Raises $13 Million for Sustainable Packaging Solutions
Cleantech Startup EVOLOH Raises $20 Million for Low Cost Clean Hydrogen Technology
Sustainable Materials Sourcing Platform Circular Raises $10.5 Million
Green Cement Startup Cemvision Raises €10 Million
ESG Investing
Mississippi Seeks Multimillion Dollar Penalty Against BlackRock Over ESG Investing
Exec Moves
Growth Investor Verdane Expands Decarbonization Team with New Senior Hires