This week in ESG news: EU lawmakers agree to delay sustainability reporting standards for specific sectors, non-EU companies; HSBC launches net zero transition plan; BlackRock invests $500 million in clean energy infrastructure developer; GRI launches biodiversity reporting standard; Capgemini survey finds most business leaders plan to increase sustainability investments; EFRAG releases proposed sustainability reporting standard for SMEs; ECB says 90% of banks’ loan books not aligned with climate transition; capital raises for green steel, circular economy solutions, carbon capture, EV batteries; ING faces lawsuit over financed emissions; Deloitte partners to help businesses with circularity 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

Rio Tinto Signs 25-Year Deal to Buy all Power from Australia’s First Gigawatt-scale Solar Farm

TotalEnergies Acquires Battery Storage Developer Kyon Energy

ADNOC Commits $23 Billion to Decarbonization, Lower Carbon Solutions

Bloomberg Signs 15-Year Renewable Energy Deal with Ørsted

H2 Green Steel Raises Over $5 Billion in Financing for New Decarbonized Steel Plant

ING Faces Climate Lawsuit from Group that Won Case Against Shell

Government & Regulators

EU Lawmakers Approve 2 Year Delay of Sustainability Reporting Standards for Specific Sectors and non-EU Companies

ECB: A “Staggering 90%” of Banks’ Portfolios Misaligned with Climate Transition

U.S. Invests Over $100 Million in Projects to Decarbonize Federal Buildings

ESG Reporting

GRI Launches New Biodiversity Reporting Standard

EFRAG Releases Proposed EU Sustainability Reporting Standards for Small Companies

Guest Post – Financial and Sustainability Reporting: Connectivity Matters

ESG Services and Tools

bp Invests in Aviation Decarbonization Solutions Provider CHOOOSE

Deloitte, Circle Economy Consulting Partner to Help Businesses Tap Circular Economy Opportunities

SIX Launches Climate Data Sets to Support Climate-related Reporting, Investing

Sustainable Finance

HSBC Launches Net Zero Transition Plan

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Circularity Startup CheckSammy Raises $45 Million to Scale Waste Diversion & Sustainability Solutions

Nextgen EV Battery Developer Sion Power Raises $75 Million

EV Charging Platform Monta Raises $87 Million

ArcTern Raises $335 Million for Decarbonization Tech Venture Fund

Ocean-based Carbon Capture Startup Captura Raises $21.5 Million

Sumitomo Invests in Carbon Removal Startup Inherit Carbon Solutions

BlackRock Invests $500 Million in Clean Energy Developer Recurrent Energy

ESG Investing

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Sets Expectation for Climate Competency on Company Boards

Reports, Studies & Surveys

Majority of Business Leaders Plan to Increase Sustainability Investments this Year: Capgemini Survey