ESG News Week In Review: 12 October – 19 October

In this week’s ESG News Week In Review, policymakers and markets sent mixed signals on climate action. The Federal Reserve and FDIC withdrew proposed climate risk rules for large banks, while California delayed rulemaking for its landmark disclosure laws. In Europe, lawmakers scaled back corporate sustainability reporting thresholds as South Korea set 2027 for mandatory sustainable aviation fuel. Meanwhile, Indonesia reopened international carbon trading under a new transparency decree and Mexico advanced a climate-aligned legal framework. On the finance front, Brookfield and Bloom Energy launched a $5B partnership to power next-generation AI factories, Malaysia’s pension fund KWAP rolled out a $475M climate fund, and Climate Fund Managers closed $1B for adaptation in emerging markets. Across sectors, Apple, Siemens, and Airbus announced major renewable expansions, and India unveiled a $77B hydropower plan to offset China’s upstream dominance. GOVERNMENT, POLICY & REGULATION Federal Reserve, FDIC Withdraw Climate Risk Rules for Large Banks California Delays Rulemaking for Climate Disclosure Laws SB 253 and SB 261, Releases Draft Emissions Template EU Lawmakers Scale Back Sustainability Rules, Raising Thresholds for Corporate Reporting and Due Diligence South Korea Sets 2027 Start for Mandatory SAF on International Flights China Reports $30.5 Billion in Economic Losses from 2025 Natural Disasters Indonesia Resumes International Carbon Trade Under New Transparency Decree US Pushes Back Against EU Plan to Cut Global Shipping Emissions US Delays Wyoming Coal Lease Auction Following Weak Industry Interest in Montana Mexico Adopts 17 Climate-Aligned Legal Clauses to Advance Sustainable Law Frameworks JPMorgan Chase, Carbon Direct Launch Framework to Link Biodiversity with Carbon Markets Indonesia Resumes International Carbon Trade Under New Transparency Decree Greenly Launches AI-Powered EcoPilot for Corporate Carbon Accounting, Scope 3 Decarbonization CLIMATE & ENERGY TRANSITION Federal Reserve, FDIC Withdraw Climate Risk Rules for Large Banks Siemens, Airbus Partner to Decarbonize Three UK Manufacturing Sites by 2030 Apple Expands Renewable Energy Portfolio Across Europe Schroders Achieves 100% Renewable Electricity Across Global Operations One Year Ahead of Schedule Mexico Adopts 17 Climate-Aligned Legal Clauses to Advance Sustainable Law Frameworks India Plans $77B Hydropower Expansion as Strategic Buffer to China’s Upstream Dams McKinsey’s Global Energy Perspective 2025 Warns of Slower Transition Despite Renewables Growth Malaysia’s Rubber Industry Moves to Implement Net Zero Transition Framework Engie, Masdar Secure 1.5 GW Solar Project to Boost Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Capacity Mercedes F1 Nears Net Zero Goal with 99% Biofuel Logistics Coverage Across Europe EXECS ON THE MOVE EQT’s Arcwood Environmental Appoints Carol Roos as Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer Marex Appoints Jennifer Argote to Lead Renewable Energy Expansion SUSTAINABLE/ CLIMATE FINANCE Malaysian Pension Fund KWAP Launches $475M Climate Investment Fund to Accelerate Low-Carbon Transition Climate Fund Managers Closes $1B Climate Adaptation Fund for Emerging Markets Moeve Joins Avelia as First External SAF Supplier SHS Group Secures $1.8B Financing for Power4Steel, Advancing Germany’s Green Steel Transition Brookfield, Bloom Energy Launch $5B Partnership to Power Next-Generation AI Factories Climate Fund Managers Closes $1B Climate Adaptation Fund for Emerging Markets Google to Invest $5B in Belgium to Expand AI and Carbon-Free Infrastructure by 2027 Swedish Green Steel Firm Stegra Launches $1B Round to Finish Hydrogen Steel Plant ESG INVESTING & FUNDS Malaysian Pension Fund KWAP Launches $475M Climate Investment Fund to Accelerate Low-Carbon Transition Morgan Stanley Backs Corvus Energy with $60M to Accelerate Maritime Decarbonization ENVIRONMENT, NATURE & BIODIVERSITY JPMorgan Chase, Carbon Direct Launch Framework to Link Biodiversity with Carbon Markets Amazon Tests Next-Gen Decarbonization Strategies at New Indiana Facility EU Launches $6.1M Initiative to Scale Sustainable Algae Farming and Blue Innovation Hubs ESG & SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING California Delays Rulemaking for Climate Disclosure Laws SB 253 and SB 261, Releases Draft Emissions Template EU Lawmakers Scale Back Sustainability Rules, Raising Thresholds for Corporate Reporting and Due Diligence Harvard Accelerates Campus Decarbonization with 32% Emissions Cut INC Introduces First Global Sustainability Certification for Nut and Dried Fruit Industry TOOLS & SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY Greenly Launches AI-Powered EcoPilot for Corporate Carbon Accounting, Scope 3 Decarbonization INC Introduces First Global Sustainability Certification for Nut and Dried Fruit Industry 📬 Subscribe to ESG News Daily Brief to stay informed with trusted sustainability news every morning. Follow ESG News on LinkedIn!