This week in ESG news: COP28 ends with first-ever agreement to transition away from fossil fuels; BlackRock identifies the low carbon transition as a 2024 investment “mega force”; BCG signs 15-year deal to capture carbon from atmosphere; EU lawmakers reach landmark deal on law to address human rights & environmental impact in corporate value chains; Australia publishes anti-greenwashing guidance for companies; Ara Partners raises $3 billion for industrial decarbonization investments; capital raises for CO2 utilization, green building solutions, thermal energy startups; Credit Agricole ends financing for new oil & gas projects 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

COP28 Ends with Agreement to Transition Away from Fossil Fuels

Microsoft Signs One of Largest To-date Biochar Carbon Removal Deals

Chipotle Invests in Green Fertilizer, Robotic Regenerative Farming Startups

BCG Signs 15-Year, 80,000 Ton DAC Carbon Removal Deal

TotalEnergies Announces a Series of Startup Acquisitions to Boost Electricity Business

Microsoft Signs Carbon Removal Deal with Startup Inherit Carbon Solutions

Government & Regulators

EU Lawmakers Reach Deal on New Environmental, Human Rights Sustainability Due Diligence Law

UK Eliminates Cap on Penalties on Polluting Companies

Australia Releases Anti-Greenwashing Guidance for Companies

UK Regulator Launches Investigation into Unilever over Green Claims

EU Agrees on New Regulation to Decarbonize Gas and Grow Hydrogen Market

ESG Services and Tools

Terrascope Launches Solution to Measure and Manage Forest, Land & Agriculture Emissions

Sustainable Finance

Crédit Agricole Ends Financing for New Oil and Gas Projects

HSBC Backs Apparel Impact Institute’s Fashion Supply Chain Decarbonization Fund

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Ara Partners Raises $3 Billion to Invest in Industrial Decarbonization

Ecoworks Raises €40 Million for Climate Neutral Building Renovation Solution

Cleantech Startup Dimensional Energy Raises $20 Million to Advance Carbon Utilization Tech

Thermal Energy Storage Tech Startup Fourth Power Raises $19 Million

Apollo Launches Clean Transition Fund for Wealth Investors

KKR Acquires Energy Infrastructure Provider Smart Metering for $1.7 Billion

ESG Investing

BNP Paribas Launches New Climate Impact Infrastructure Debt Fund

BlackRock Predicts Low Carbon Transition “Mega Force” will Drive Major Investment Opportunities in 2024

Dow Jones Sustainability Indices Annual Rebalance Adds Philip Morris, Tencent to Flagship ESG Benchmark

Exec Moves

Sustainable Infrastructure-Focused Generate Capital Appoints William Sonneborn as New President