This week in ESG news: Green bond issuance hits new record in Q2 2026; 16 U.S, states warn Big 4 accounting firms over “pushing” climate-related reporting; UN report says goal limiting climate change to 1.5°C out of reach; U.S. judge blocks New York’s $75 billion plan to charge oil companies for climate change costs; California releases guidance for companies about to begin mandatory climate-related reporting; Maersk pilots new wind-powered sail to cut shipping emissions; JPMorgan rebrands $11 billion forestry asset management unit to reflect broader nature-based assets focus; Fervo signs record geothermal energy deal with Google, 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
Goal to Limit Climate Change to 1.5°C Out of Reach: UN Report
Cypress Creek Reveals Microsoft as Long-term Offtaker for New $180 Million Washington Solar Project
Mars Impact Fund Invests $13 Million in Farming Communities, Scientists, Animal Well-Being
Microsoft Pilots New Maritime Sustainable Fuel Book & Claim Purchase with Norden
Maersk Pilots Wind Sail to Cut Container Ship Fuel and Emissions
Google Signs Record Geothermal Power Deal with Fervo
SLB Acquires Data Center Cooling Solutions Provider Kelvion from Apollo for $4 Billion
Amazon Signs New Series of Clean Energy Deals in Sweden
Government & Regulators
UK Loans Over $500 Million to Tropical Forest Preservation Fund
Singapore Delays Sustainable Aviation Fuel Surcharge for Cargo Flights to 2028
Court Blocks New York Law Charging Oil Companies $75 Billion to Pay for Climate Change Costs
EU Approves $5.6 Billion Greek Clean Transition Plan
Sustainability Reporting
California Confirms Series of Reliefs to Ease First Year of Climate Reporting for Companies
Europe’s Sustainability Reset: Simplification is Not a Reason to Slow Down
16 States Warn Big 4 Accounting Firms Over “Pushing Climate-Related Disclosures”
ESG Services and Tools
Sustainable Finance
RBC Launches New Program to Support Community Solar Deployment
JetZero Secures $100 Million to Advance Ultra-Efficient Blended-Wing Aircraft
Green Bond Issuance Hits New Record in Q2 2026: Moody’s
Sustainable Investing
JPMorgan Rebrands Forest Asset Management Unit to Reflect Broader Nature-Based Assets Focus
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Gridsight Raises $26 Million to Help Utilities Unlock Grid Capacity with AI
Aligned Climate Capital Launches $500 Million Distributed Solar and Storage Fund
Auxxo Raises Over €33 Million to Back Female-led Startups
CIP Acquires Wind and Battery Project in Australia
Exec Moves
Revaia Hires Marc-Etienne Mercadier to Co-Lead New Energy Transition Fund
HSBC Appoints Nneka Chike-Obi as Head of Sustainability for Global Investment Research
