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A new Ceres report shows that data centers in seven major U.S. states indirectly consume approximately 3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater due to electricity use, making electricity their largest source of water consumption. The report projects that by 2030, indirect water use by data centers could rise to between 4.1 trillion and 7.6 trillion gallons, and recommends that companies incorporate water use in power procurement into risk assessments.
The latest report shows that the number of Black CFOs in major U.S. companies has dropped 25% from its 2021 peak, indicating a stagnation in diversification efforts. Although the number of Asian and Hispanic CFOs has increased, the overall share of non-white executives has declined, reflecting a reversal in corporate DEI policies under the influence of Supreme Court rulings and executive orders.
Led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, 20 Democratic state attorneys general sent a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, rebutting Republican state attorneys general's investigation into credit rating agencies' ESG risk factors, noting that their conclusions are based on factual inaccuracies and distortions.
Deloitte reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, agreeing to pay $21.5 million to resolve allegations that its DEI programs involved discriminatory practices based on race and gender in hiring, promotion, and staffing, in violation of the False Claims Act. The DOJ stated that the settlement is another achievement under its 'Civil Rights Fraud Initiative.' Deloitte denies the allegations and has not admitted liability.
Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's announced on Wednesday the appointment of three new independent directors to restructure its governance committee and strengthen its social mission. This move follows a prolonged governance dispute with parent company Unilever and the spun-off Magnum Ice Cream. New directors Nora Benavidez, Michael McAfee, and Eva Schulte bring decades of experience in environmental and social justice, civil rights, economic equity, and free speech, and will jointly drive the company's goals of balancing product quality, financial growth, and social impact.
A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) shows that the Trump administration's energy policies, including repealing Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, imposing tariffs, and buying back offshore wind leases, could lead to a loss of 390 to 540 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage capacity in the US over the next decade. The report notes that these losses will not be fully offset by other new power sources, with only an estimated 9 GW of natural gas capacity added. Meanwhile, electricity costs will rise, with household electricity prices potentially increasing by an additional 4.2% to 5.5%.
Meta Platforms has proposed a settlement of up to $18 billion in a landmark case involving children's privacy. The case was jointly brought by attorneys general from 52 U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia. In addition to the substantial compensation, Meta has agreed to implement default time limits and night mode for underage users, and has called on TikTok and YouTube to take similar measures.
Target Corporation apologized on Monday (a day in August) for a children's Halloween onesie from its private label Hyde & Eek Boutique, which was criticized for containing racist imagery reminiscent of historical blackface performances, triggering a strong online backlash over the weekend. The company has removed the item from shelves and pledged to thoroughly investigate the process to prevent similar issues from recurring.
Despite the spread of 'climate silence,' experts such as Ceres CEO Mindy Lubber point out that companies are still advancing sustainability goals, only avoiding public statements due to the political environment. Based on a Climate Week NYC panel discussion on September 22, 2025, this article analyzes the communication strategies of companies and financial institutions under regulatory and reputational pressure, and cites data from RepRisk reports, revealing the rising trend of greenwashing allegations.
Microsoft and Qcells announced an expanded partnership to explore new models for adding power generation capacity to support AI data center expansion. Microsoft will fund the electricity needed for its data center operations, while Qcells will develop and build new capacity and supply power to Microsoft or utility companies. The two parties also plan to integrate residential and commercial battery resources through virtual power plants to reduce peak demand and customer electricity bills.