This week in ESG news: SBTi backtracks on allowing use of carbon credits in corporate net zero plans; JPMorgan appoints new global head of ESG investment banking; CBRE acquires Singapore-based sustainability advisory firm; Air New Zealand drops 2030 climate goal; GRI, TNFD launch guide to help companies reporting on nature impact using both standards; Veolia becomes first company with net zero targets validated by both SBTi and Moody’s; Deutsche Bank, BASF launch sustainability-linked financing for suppliers; Goldman Sachs invests $440 million in renewables platform; JetBlue brings SAF to New York’s JFK Airport; capital raises for ESG reporting software, clean fashion tech, carbon removal; Google sources wood waste-based energy to power data center, 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

SBTi Appears to Backtrack on Use of Carbon Credits in Corporate Net Zero Targets

JetBlue Purchases Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Use at New York’s JFK Airport

Masdar, TotalEnergies Explore New Green Methanol & SAF Plant to Decarbonize Hard-to-Abate Industries

Microsoft Purchases 80,000 Tons of Carbon Removals from U.S. Forest Management Project

Google Sources Renewable Energy from Waste Wood to Power Singapore Data Center

Air New Zealand Removes 2030 Emissions Reduction Goal, Drops Out of SBTi

British Airways Parent IAG Buys 28,000 Tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Repsol

Veolia Becomes First Company with Net Zero Goals Validated by Both SBTi and Moody’s

ESG Reporting

IASB Publishes Proposed Guidance to Help Companies Report on Climate Risk

GRI, TNFD Release Guide to Help Companies Report on Nature Impact Using Both Standards

Government & Regulators

Australia Court Fines Mercer $7.4 Million for Misleading Sustainable Investment Claims

UK Sets Largest-Ever £1.5 Billion Budget for Renewable Energy Auction, Largely Targeting Offshore Wind

ESG Services and Tools

Accenture Acquires Engineering and Consulting Firm Boslan to Target Net Zero Infrastructure Opportunities

CBRE Acquires Singapore-Based Sustainability Advisory Firm Paia Consulting

ISS ESG Launches Tool to Help Banks Estimate Portfolio Emissions to Meet Sustainability Reporting Requirements

Sustainable Finance

Sustainable Bond Issuance Could Grow to $1 Trillion in 2024 Despite Sharp Q2 Slowdown: Moody’s

Renewables Developer Avantus Secures $522 Million to Accelerate Solar and Storage Projects

Deutsche Bank, BASF Launch Finance Program Tying Rates for Suppliers to Sustainability Performance

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Goldman Sachs Invests $440 Million in Renewables Platform BrightNight

ArcLight Launches North America-Focused Renewables Investment Platform with $500 Million Commitment

Fashion-Tech unspun Raises $32 Million to Scale Zero-Waste, Emissions-Reducing Apparel Solution

ESG Reporting Solutions Provider osapiens Raises $120 Million

Cleantech Startup Graphyte Raises $30 Million to Scale Carbon Removal Solution

Exec Moves

L Catterton Appoints Ralph Lauren Sustainability Chief Devon Leahy as Global Head of Sustainability

JPMorgan Promotes Chuka Umunna to Co-lead Global ESG Investment Banking

Reports, Studies & Surveys

Slightly More than Half of Execs Believe AI Will Be Net Positive to Sustainability Progress: Salesforce Survey