This week in ESG news: Microsoft signs one of largest-ever nature-based carbon removal deal; EU reaches deal on sustainable product rule; Nestlé shifts half of global shipping to green fuels; Deloitte launches sustainability upskilling program; SEC chief warns of consequences of not having a corporate climate reporting rule; BlackRock CEO snaps back at Republicans over ‘woke agenda’ claims; EU lawmakers agree on rules to decarbonize buildings; Singapore launches code of conduct for ESG data and ratings providers; Volvo commits to slash emissions per car by 75%, 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 One of the Largest-Ever Nature-Based Deals to Remove 1.5 Million Tons of Carbon

Nestlé Shifts Half of its Global Shipping to Green Fuels

Lufthansa Joins Airbus Carbon Removal Program with 40,000 Ton Carbon Credit Purchase

Amazon Cuts Shipping Emissions with 50% Increase in Rail and Sea Transport in Europe

Thermo Fisher Commits to 80% Renewable Electricity Globally

Exxon Ramps Low Emissions Opportunities Spend to $20 Billion

Volvo Targets 75% Emissions Reduction per Car by 2030

Government & Regulators

EU Lawmakers Agree on New Rules to Decarbonize Buildings

Biden Administration Announces Rules to Cut Methane Emissions for Oil and Gas Sector

EU Regulators Propose New Social, Climate Targets Disclosures for Financial Products

EU Lawmakers Reach Deal on Sustainable Product Rules

Singapore Launches Taxonomy to Define Green and Transition Activities Across Key Sectors

ESG Reporting & Disclosure

SEC Chair Warns Lack of Climate Rule Exposes Thousands of U.S. Companies to EU Climate Reporting Requirements

ESG Services and Tools

MAS Releases Finalized Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Providers

Deloitte Launches Sustainability Upskilling Programs for its Professionals with MIT, NYU, ASU

Stripe Launches Platform Enabling Businesses to Pre-order Carbon Removal

Sustainable Finance

FAB Sets $135 Billion Sustainable Finance Goal

Abu Dhabi, BlackRock, HSBC, others Launch Climate Finance Think Tank at COP28

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Cleantech Startup UP Catalyst Raises €4 Million to Produce Battery Materials from CO2

Startup AM Batteries Raises $30 Million for Green EV Battery Technology

ESG Investing

BlackRock CEO Fink Pushes Back Against “Ideological Agenda” Claims at Republican Debate

Amundi Launches Agriculture-Focused Impact Investing Strategy

Bloomberg Launches Green Bond-Tilted Versions of its Flagship Fixed Income Indices

Dutch Central Bank to Align Equity and Corporate Bond Portfolios with Paris Agreement Goals

Mirova Launches $350 Million Sustainable Land Fund

CIP Launches $3 Billion Clean Energy Growth Markets Fund

Exec Moves

Ahold Delhaize Appoints Alex Holt as Chief Sustainability Officer