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The World Bank Group announced that it raised $4 billion through a newly issued seven-year sustainable development bond, issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which saw strong market demand with total orders exceeding $11 billion. The bond will mature in August 2033, carries a coupon rate of 4.50%, and will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
In a report released on August 14, University of California, Berkeley public policy scholar Jacob Grumbach noted that S&P 500 companies that maintained diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments amid political pressure performed comparably to or better than peers that withdrew them. Based on two metrics—corporate revenue and abnormal stock returns—the report found that companies maintaining DEI were not penalized by the market for sticking with such programs. This conclusion contrasts with the prevailing corporate logic that DEI carries legal risks under the current administration.
In its latest sustainability report, Citigroup disclosed cumulative sustainable finance commitments of $647.2 billion since 2020, with $91.3 billion added in 2025. The bank has achieved 75% of its 2025 operational sustainability goals and, based on a 2025 baseline, has set new 2030 targets to reduce energy consumption and operational emissions.
The Canadian Competition Bureau believes that B&G Foods' sale of its Canadian Green Giant and Le Sueur operations to Nortera Foods could harm competition and has requested the Competition Tribunal to block it. B&G Foods responded that the transaction is in the interests of all parties and is evaluating various response options.
Tesla proposes to build a $10.1 billion solar cell manufacturing facility in Fort Bend County, Texas, to expand domestic solar capacity in the United States. The project is expected to create 9,712 full-time jobs and seeks state tax incentives. If an agreement is reached, construction could begin as early as this year, with production starting in the first quarter of 2029.
During the 2026 proxy season (Jan. 1–June 30), governance-related shareholder proposals at Russell 3000 companies increased 19% year-over-year, even as overall filings fell by more than 19%. Environmental, social, and human capital proposals saw steep declines, according to a report from The Conference Board, written with ESGAUGE and the Rutgers Law School Center for Corporate Law and Governance. The report highlights the SEC's reduced role in the no-action process as a key factor shaping the season.
McCarthy Building Cos.新任水业务总裁Jaren Murphy在凤凰城接受专访，指出美国水项目市场过去五年经历“不可思议”增长，如今几乎所有大型市政机构都拥有十亿美元级资本改善计划。他分析西部受科罗拉多河干旱驱动聚焦水回用，东部和中西部则因老化基础设施和风暴应对需求增长。McCarthy水业务约占公司总建设量5%，公司偏好早期介入的协作交付模式。展望未来，他预测西南部先进水厂建设需求将持续10至20年，中西部老化基础设施升级刚刚开始，得州因产业资金涌入保持强劲势头。
Microsoft has signed an offtake agreement with Crew Carbon, a climate tech startup, to acquire up to 23,602 verified carbon removal units from its wastewater-based technology. The deal, announced earlier this month, supports Crew's approach of enhancing alkalinity in wastewater treatment to permanently capture biogenic CO2. This follows Crew's previous agreements with corporate buyers including JPMorgan Chase, Google, Stripe, and Autodesk, and comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Microsoft's carbon removal commitments.
Walmart's fiscal year 2026 ESG report reveals a significant reduction in supplier standard violations, with total opened cases down 35% from the prior year. Unauthorized production allegations saw the steepest decline, while third-party audits indicate improved compliance levels.
The U.S. government has formally requested that the European Union make additional adjustments to its corporate sustainability laws, arguing that current reforms fail to address key concerns affecting American businesses. Ambassador Andrew Puzder's letter highlights issues with the directives' scope, double materiality standards, and extraterritorial application, and warns of potential actions if no solution is found.