Tag: environmental
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New York replaces 2030 emissions goal with 2040 target
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced a proposed $268 billion budget on May 7, 2026, that would change emissions reduction targets and regulatory deadlines under the state's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Hochul said, “an agreement has been reached with legislative leaders on key priorities.” Under the proposed budget, lawmakers will…
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European Commission unveils $711 billion clean energy investment plan
The European Commission released AccelerateEU on April 21, 2026, a policy package designed to accelerate the European Union's shift to clean energy while providing relief to households and industry facing volatile fossil fuel markets. The Commission estimates the plan requires €660 billion ($775 billion) in annual investment through 2030 to meet energy transition goals. Commission…
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ESG shareholder proposals drop 47% in 2026 proxy season
According to As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy nonprofit, in its 2026 Proxy Preview report, shareholders filed 184 ESG proposals at U.S. shareholder meetings as of March 17, 2026. That is down 47% from 355 proposals filed at the same point in 2025. Shareholders use proxy proposals to ask companies to adopt specific policies or…
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Ninth Circuit halts California climate-disclosure rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an order on Nov. 18 temporarily blocking enforcement of California’s climate-risk disclosure law, SB 261. The statute requires companies with more than $500 million in annual revenue to report climate-related financial risks starting Jan. 1, 2026. The court granted the request after the U.S. Chamber…
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Exxon sues California over new climate disclosure laws
The European Parliament voted on Oct. 22, 2025, to reject a proposal that would have simplified the European Union’s (EU) sustainability reporting and due diligence rules. The bill sought to narrow company-size thresholds and reduce specific disclosure requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Opponents of the…
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Oregon governor signs ESG investing law
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed the Climate Resilience Investment Act on June 26, directing the state’s $96 billion Public Employees Retirement System to study the effects of its investments on climate change and to “pursue the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of the fund.” The law is among the first to directly require…
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Arizona voters to decide on constitutional amendment prohibiting taxes on vehicle miles traveled and related limits in Nov. 2026
Arizona voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit taxes on miles traveled in a motor vehicle and prevent state and local governments from limiting miles traveled by any individual in a motor vehicle. The amendment will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3, 2026. A vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax, sometimes called…
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Rhode Island Senate approves environmental rights amendment; three states have similar constitutional provisions
The Rhode Island State Senate passed a constitutional amendment to establish a right to clean air, clean water, healthy soil, a life-supporting climate, and preservation of the environment. Senate Resolution 327 (S. 327), introduced by State Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-37), passed the Senate in a vote of 32-4 on June 3. The constitutional amendment…
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SEC ends defense of climate reporting rules
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced last week that it voted to end its defense of the Biden-era corporate emissions reporting rules. The decision indicates the majority of current SEC commissioners do not support the implementation of the rules. Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda said the commission wanted to end its “defense of the…