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Keeping tabs on the state of ESG in 2026
In 2026, sustainability leaders and executives are navigating an increasingly polarized political environment, with ESG issues under greater scrutiny. The Trump administration has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, suspended wind power development, frozen Biden-era climate funding, and signed executive orders targeting state-level climate policies. Companies are downplaying decarbonization goals on one hand while facing growing climate disclosure requirements domestically and internationally on the other. ESG Dive has gathered expert insights to outline key trends for the year.
Developments driving the ESG, sustainability industry in 2025
The beginning of 2025 is full of uncertainties: the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, suspension of offshore wind development, and freezing of Inflation Reduction Act funds, alongside several major banks and asset managers exiting climate alliances, while AI data center energy consumption surges, intensifying reliance on fossil fuels. These events collectively pose major challenges and uncertainties for the ESG industry.
The ESG industry outlook on 2024: Climate disclosure rules, proxy voting and more
2024 is a formative year for ESG. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure rules are expected to be issued in April, but uncertainty remains over Scope 3 emission requirements; on the investment side, ESG proposals face declining shareholder support, with BlackRock and Vanguard reducing support rates and an increase in anti-ESG proposals.