Green Top 10 – March 2025

1- Current Climate: Companies Stick To Sustainability Targets

Despite recent environmental policy rollbacks by the Trump Administration, companies are largely maintaining their sustainability commitments. According to PwC’s State of Decarbonization report, businesses continue to aim for carbon emissions reductions and sustainable practices. The public messaging may have quieted, but the action remains strong. Notably, over 4,000 companies disclosed their sustainability plans in 2024, marking a nine-fold increase over five years. This trend signals growing corporate momentum in climate responsibility, independent of government policy shifts.

Source: Forbes

2- Biodiversity Loss in All Species and Every Ecosystem Linked to Humans

A sweeping analysis of over 2,000 global studies confirms that human activity is causing widespread biodiversity loss across all species and ecosystems. The study, led by Swiss and Zurich researchers and published in Nature, analyzed nearly 100,000 sites and found that human pressures—such as habitat change, pollution, climate change, resource exploitation, and invasive species—have reduced local species richness by nearly 20%. Particularly affected are reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, with agriculture and pollution identified as key drivers. The research reveals not just species loss, but also significant shifts in community composition, with specialized species being replaced by more generalist ones. Experts say this study sets a vital benchmark for future conservation efforts and highlights the urgent need to address human-induced biodiversity change.

Source: The Guardian

3- Growth in Global Energy Demand Surged in 2024 to Almost Twice Its Recent Average

Global energy demand rose by 2.2% in 2024, nearly doubling its average annual growth rate over the past decade, largely due to surging electricity consumption driven by extreme heat, industrial activity, transport electrification, and AI-powered data centers. Renewables and nuclear accounted for 80% of the increase in global electricity generation, with renewables alone hitting a record 700 GW in new capacity. While natural gas saw the highest rise among fossil fuels, oil demand growth slowed, and its share in the global energy mix dropped below 30% for the first time. Despite the rise in energy use, emissions from advanced economies declined, thanks to clean energy adoption, while emissions from emerging economies grew, especially outside China. Overall, the decoupling of emissions from economic growth is gaining momentum, supported by rapid clean technology deployment.

Source: IEA

4- Major Global Banks Downgrade Sustainability Roles Amid Evolving ESG Strategies

Several major banks, including HSBC, Standard Chartered, Barclays, and Wells Fargo, are scaling back dedicated sustainability roles, cutting ESG team sizes, and removing climate targets from executive incentives. For example, Standard Chartered reduced its sustainability team by over one-third, while Barclays and Wells Fargo opted not to replace outgoing chief sustainability officers. These shifts come amid political and economic pressures, with some U.S. banks exiting industry standards like the Equator Principles and the Net Zero Banking Alliance. Although banks like HSBC claim continued commitment—highlighting nearly $394 billion in sustainable finance—they have also delayed key climate goals. The trend reflects a broader reevaluation of ESG strategies, raising concerns about the long-term prioritization of climate and sustainability within the financial sector.

Source: CSR Reporters

5- Donald Trump Wants to Delete ‘Climate’ from Federal Websites

The Trump administration has begun removing climate-related terms and content from federal websites, prompting concerns over transparency and public access to environmental information. In response, the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI) has relaunched the Federal Environmental Web Tracker, an online tool documenting more than 200 changes to federal webpages—ranging from subtle language edits to the complete deletion of content on climate, equity, and public health. FEMA, for instance, deleted the term “climate” just weeks into Trump’s term, and other agencies like the EPA have quietly rebranded pages to evade scrutiny. The tracker, updated weekly, aims to preserve public access through archived pages and highlights how marginalized communities are being further obscured in federal narratives. Legal challenges are already underway, with groups like organic farmers and doctors suing to restore essential information removed under the new administration.

Source: The Verge

6- Renewables Accounted for More Than 90 Percent of New Power Globally Last Year

In 2024, renewables made up 92% of all new power capacity added worldwide, setting a new global record, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. Solar led this surge, accounting for 77% of the growth, with wind contributing 19%. Despite this progress, the world remains off track to meet its target of tripling renewable capacity by 2030. China alone installed more renewable power than the rest of the world combined, reinforcing its dominance in the clean energy sector. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for a faster and fairer transition to ensure all nations benefit from affordable, clean energy.

Source: Yale

7- Trade-offs of the Green Transition: Is Mining Critical Minerals Better Than Extracting Fossil Fuels?

As the world accelerates its shift to renewable energy, the environmental and social costs of mining critical minerals—such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium—are under scrutiny, with concerns ranging from rainforest destruction to human rights abuses. Despite these challenges, experts argue that fossil fuel extraction causes far greater, ongoing ecological harm and emissions, while renewable infrastructure requires a one-time mineral investment that supports decades of clean energy. A study by Dutch scientists found that, even with a sixfold increase in metal demand, overall mining would decrease by a third due to the reduction in coal use under a net-zero scenario. Innovations like recycling EV batteries, using less harmful materials (e.g., iron-phosphate batteries), and tapping into mine waste or alternative sources could significantly reduce the need for new mineral extraction. Ultimately, a responsible, circular approach focused on reducing consumption and maximizing reuse is key to ensuring the green transition is both effective and ethical.

Source: Grist

8- World Bank May Drop Ban on Funding Nuclear Power

World Bank President Ajay Banga has proposed lifting the institution’s longstanding ban on financing nuclear power projects, highlighting the potential of small nuclear reactors to provide green energy solutions for developing nations. Banga stated that the board is open to discussions, with expectations to include this change in a comprehensive energy policy proposal by June 2026. The World Bank currently funds fossil fuel and renewable energy projects but excludes nuclear power from its portfolio. Banga emphasized the need for an inclusive energy strategy that considers various affordable and accessible sources, including natural gas, nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower. ​

Source: The Economic Times

9- ING Becomes First Global Bank with SBTi-Approved Financed Emissions Reduction Targets

ING has become the first global systemically important bank to have its financed emissions reduction targets officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. The validation, under SBTi’s updated Financial Institutions Near-term Criteria, recognizes ING’s sector-specific and cross-portfolio fossil fuel targets, including a complete halt to financing for new oil, gas, and coal projects. This move comes as other major banks, such as HSBC and Wells Fargo, scale back or abandon their climate commitments and exit key alliances like the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. ING’s targets cover high-emission sectors like power generation, steel, cement, and aviation—representing 67% of its financed emissions. ING emphasizes that it will continue to support clients in reducing emissions and financing sustainable technologies to drive a fair and inclusive transition.

Source: ESG Today

10- EPA Deregulation Challenges Fashion Industry’s Sustainability Goals

Recent rollbacks of environmental regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration are posing significant challenges to the fashion industry’s sustainability initiatives. The relaxation of emissions, air quality, and water pollution standards could lead to increased pollution from textile mills and apparel factories, undermining brands’ commitments to sustainable practices. Weakened oversight may discourage investment in cleaner production technologies and result in more harmful runoff and air pollution in key production areas. Without strong federal mandates, voluntary frameworks like the Higg Index become crucial for accountability, though U.S. brands may face compliance issues with stricter international environmental standards, such as those enforced by the European Union. Industry experts emphasize the need for sustainable practices to be integrated into profitability models to maintain momentum in environmental responsibility. ​

Source: Vogue Business