Posts by Broc Romanek
The debate over carbon offsets gets heated
Here’s a note from Mark Trexler: When 80 NGOs, including very credible and thoughtful groups, recently called for an end to the use of carbon offsets in corporate climate strategies, friends and colleagues fired back. I’m putting together an analysis of the NGO letter and of pushback to the letter which I’ll be able to…
Read MoreThe ESG party is just starting
Here’s a note from Nawar Alsaadi: Yesterday, the FT put a short documentary called “Who Killed the ESG Party?” The documentary includes interviews with many of the usual suspects, who’s arguments I have disputed and debunked many times in the past. But, one has to wonder, did anyone within the anti-ESG bubble bothered to check…
Read MoreFirst “double materiality” disclosures made under the CSRD
Here’s a note from this note from Tom Carr: A really timely new paper released on the state of CSRD and double materiality disclosures by the early reporters – and what good looks like. A few things stood out for me: 1. Most companies are finding most topics material 7 of the 10 ESRS topics…
Read More80% of companies say sustainability can drive revenue
Here’s a teaser from this article by “ESG Today”: The vast majority of companies view sustainability as a value creation opportunity, with more than three quarters anticipating potential benefits ranging from higher revenues and profitability to lower cost of capital, although many also expect increased sustainability-related costs and a need for significant investment, according to…
Read MoreAI use cases for sustainability
Here’s a note from Nawar Alsaadi: This radar infographic from Gartner is good conceptual framework for the different corporate applications of AI in a sustainability context. First, Gartner divides AI applications in two broad categories: – Everyday AI is focused on helping organizations drive environmental sustainability more efficiently. Technology for this type of AI can…
Read More13 take-aways for the EU’s Due Diligence Directive
Here’s a note from Michael Littenberg: It’s official. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive has been signed and published and the countdown to compliance now begins. This landmark legislation will require larger companies organized or doing business in the EU to assess and address actual and potential adverse human rights and environmental impacts in…
Read MoreWhy don’t “climate concern” intentions translate into behavior change?
Here’s a note from Andreas Rasche: New research looking into why people support climate action but then do not act. Main finding: While people in principle support a low-carbon lifestyle, entrenched public discussions of climate delay are limiting peoples’ beliefs that a low-carbon future is possible. The study identifies four ‘entrenched’ public narratives of climate…
Read MoreThe latest climate litigation trends
Here’s a note from Andreas Rasche: In 2023, over 230 new climate cases against corporations or governments were filed in courts, according to new research by LSE’s Grantham Institute. Biggest sub-category: 47 cases alone relate to ‘climate washing’ (70% of these cases being ruled in favour of the claimants). Talk is not cheap anymore… The…
Read More5 take-aways from ESMA’s “CSRD Implementation” statement
Here’s a note from Heike Schmitz: For all companies caught by the first wave of EU sustainability reporting under CSRD, the European securities regulator ESMA has recently voiced its “expectations” in a Public Statement issued on July 5th. Nothing entirely surprising, but a few items that are likely to add to the complexity of CSRD…
Read MoreCalifornia proposes 2-year delay for its climate disclosure rules
Here’s a blog by John Jenkins: According to this Arnold & Porter memo, the Newsom administration recently released proposed amendments to California’s climate disclosure legislation that would, among other things, delay implementation of the state’s climate disclosure regime for two years. This excerpt indicates that the problem is that finalizing implementing regulations by the original…
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