November 2025: EU lowers due diligence and sustainability reporting standards, COP30 updates, big tech and ESG compliance, phasing out PFAs, and more

Key highlights from November 2025 in the sustainability space.

1- European Parliament proposal lowers due diligence and sustainability reporting standards 
On November 13, the European Parliament adopted its negotiation position on the Omnibus Directive amending corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence rules. The proposal raises reporting thresholds to companies with more than 1,750 employees and €450 million in annual turnover, and limits due diligence obligations to firms with over 5,000 employees and €1.5 billion in turnover. 

Among the simplification measures, the revised rules would allow companies to prioritize which risks to assess based on the severity and likelihood of adverse impacts, while also relieving them of the obligation to obtain information directly from business partners across their value chains, permitting reliance on publicly available information. In addition, certain provisions of Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on climate transition would be deferred until 2028 while the Commission develops new due diligence guidelines. 

Negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission began on 18 November 2025, with the objective of adopting a final text by the end of the year. On the same day, in the spirit of simplification and increasing business competitiveness, expansion and investment, the Parliament also adopted a resolution supporting the BEFIT initiative to harmonise corporate tax rules, citing competitiveness, legal certainty and reduced compliance costs.

The move towards deregulation comes on the heels of trade negotiations with the Trump Administration who has pushed to reduce the burden of the CSRD and CSDDD on U.S. firms. Together, these measures signal a shift towards regulatory simplification and competitiveness, potentially at the cost of sustainability and ESG standards.

2- Federal appeals court enjoins Senate Bill 261 
On November 18, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction pending appeal of California's Senate Bill 261, requiring certain companies to disclose climate risks, while staying Senate Bill 253, requiring companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions.

The plaintiffs, who challenged the legislation on grounds of First Amendment, extraterritoriality and federal preemption, included the U.S. and California Chambers of Commerce. Yet the Ninth Circuit did not limit injunction to members of the plaintiff organisations, effectively suspending enforcement for all covered companies until the appeal is heard in January 2026. 

Meanwhile, delays in the developing regulations for SB 253, particularly those clarifying revenue thresholds and disclosure requirements, have added to regulatory uncertainty for affected companies. This injunction and pending appeals against both statutes risk undermining California's efforts to counterbalance the deregulatory momentum and rollback of climate policies pursued by the Trump administration.

3- COP30 concludes on renewed pledges but no consensus 
From 17 to 22 November, over 60,000 delegates convened in Belém for the COP30 to assess progress on climate mitigation, adaptation and finance. The final decision calls on public and private actors to increase climate finance to at least 1.3 trillion USD annually by 2035, particularly with respect to mitigation and adaptation for developing countries. 

While no consensus was reached on energy transition, several EU countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain signed the Declaration on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, and will participate in the first international conference dedicated to fossil fuels in April 2026. Negotiations also focused on contention related to the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms and the Deforestation Regulation, signaling potential changes in the regulatory landscape and carbon pricing mechanisms. 

With few binding commitments and no new technical guidance, COP30 confirms a trend of uneven climate transition, led by coalitions of willing states rather than a unified global framework. Fragmented global governance further underscores the relevance of private finance and market-based instruments in driving climate action. 

4- U.S. Attorney Generals warn big tech against ESG compliance 
A coalition of sixteen U.S. state attorneys general has issued formal warnings to Microsoft, Google, and Meta, cautioning against compliance with EU sustainability reporting and due diligence rules on the grounds that adherence could violate domestic legal standards.

The letters accuse the EU of attempting to impose compliance with the Paris Agreement and specifically criticize existing DEI or sustainability initiatives, including Meta’s and Google’s ESG disclosure programs. 

This development underscores the growing compliance dilemma facing multinationals based in the US, which must balance adherence to international sustainability standards against the risk of domestic legal and political backlash, while also managing potential scrutiny from EU regulators in cases of curtailed reporting. 

5- Child rights advocates call for stronger safeguards in African trade integration
Following the release of a  multinational study  on child rights mainstreaming in Africa, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) urged governments to address child labour and harmful industrial practices as negotiations around the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) advance. 

The statement highlights the ongoing lead-poisoning crisis in Kabwe, Zambia, which has affected over 95% of children living and working near former mines, a crisis reflecting not only unsafe environmental practices, but a critical lack of governmental oversight. With the informal sector accounting for over 80% of employment in certain countries, the lack of compliance oversight as well as low entry barriers render youth particularly vulnerable to exploitative practices. Advocates warn that without a robust, enforceable mechanism for child rights at the continental level, deregulated cross-border trade would leave women and children further exposed to exploitation, trafficking and harassment. 

6- Chemical companies move to eliminate PFAS 
BASF, the world's largest chemicals group, has pledged to phase out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 2028, joining a list of major companies renouncing highly persistent "forever chemicals." Citing the need to maintain high safety and environmental standards, the German conglomerate will phase out products formulated with PFAS and substitute with safer alternatives.

This move responds to growing concern among investors concerned about regulatory tightening, compliance obligations and potential litigation exposure, in addition to the impact on ecosystems and public health. According to the ChemSec press release, one third of the world's top 40 chemical companies have indicated they are willing to phase out, reduce or avoid persistent chemicals. 

- Content prepared with the help of Amanda Alden.

October 2025: EU delays CSRD reporting for non-EU companies, French court delivers greenwashing judgment against TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil sues California over climate disclosure laws, and More

Key highlights from October 2025 in the sustainability space.

1- EU Delays CSRD Reporting for Non-EU Companies

On October 6, The European Commission postponed sustainability reporting standards for non-EU companies under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) until at least October 2027, as part of its broader simplification agenda to ease regulatory burdens. This is part of a larger move deprioritising over 100 “non-essential” regulatory and implementing standards, including standards for listed SMEs (which will fall outside the scope of CSRD under the Omnibus I proposal) or non-EU companies (to be adopted by June 2026 with reporting starting in 2029), and a triennial review of the first non-sector-specific ESRS.

While offering short-term relief to companies, the delay prolongs uncertainty around existing and upcoming sustainability standards. 

2- French Court Finds TotalEnergies Misled Consumers on Climate Claims

In a landmark decision on October 23, a Paris civil court held that TotalEnergies misled consumers with claims about its role in the energy transition. The court found that the company’s claims of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and being “a major actor in the energy transition” amounted to misleading commercial practices. 

Other claims, relating to TotalEnergies communications about biofuels and gas being cleaner than other fossil fuels, were dismissed on the grounds that they were not linked to the promotion, sale or provision of energy to consumers. The penalty was relatively modest, with the court ordering TotalEnergies to cease using the contested language, publish the judgment on its website for six months, and pay compensation to the claimants. 

Brought by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth France, and Notre Affaire à Tous, the case marks the first successful greenwashing action against a major oil company in France. Activists hailed the ruling as a turning point for climate accountability, reinforcing the idea that corporate communications must reflect scientific reality rather than marketing narratives. While the company noted that most of the plaintiffs’ demands were dismissed, the decision signals growing judicial scrutiny of ESG-related claims across Europe.

3- Updates on Net-Zero Financial Alliances 

On October 3, the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) ceased operations following the wave of high-profile exits on both sides of the Atlantic. Members voted to transition from a membership-based coalition to a guidance framework for climate target setting, citing growing legal and political challenges in the U.S. The banks have stated they will continue assessing climate risks on an individual basis, and the NZBA’s guidance is still available to banks. 

On the other hand, on October 29, the Net-Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative announced its return after a temporary suspension, unveiling a revised commitment structure that removes references to its previous 2050 net zero target. The suspension had followed several member withdrawals amid scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers mirroring the pressures that led to NZBA’s dissolution. 

The divergent approaches reflect a strategic divide in the financial sector’s efforts to uphold climate ambitions amid intensifying opposition to ESG.

4- California delays climate disclosure regulations 

On October 15, the California Air Resources Board announced a delay in the rulemaking process for its climate disclosure laws, SB 253 and SB 261, moving the expected date for the presentation of implementing regulations to early 2026. We had previously reported here that these had been expected to be finalised before the end of 2025. 

The postponement follows extensive public feedback and challenges in defining covered entities, though reporting timelines remain unchanged. The first climate risk report under SB 261 is due January 1, 2026, while the first GHG emissions report for Scopes 1 and 2 under SB 253 is due in June 2026. 

5- ExxonMobil sues California over climate disclosure laws

On October 24, ExxonMobil filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block California’s climate disclosure laws on the basis of its First Amendment rights. Exxon is urging the court to grant an injunction to prevent the laws from coming into force in 2026 as mentioned above. 

Exxon claims the rules compel ideological speech by forcing companies to adopt frameworks such as the GHG Protocol and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, which it says misrepresent emissions and require speculation on climate risks. While the laws have already survived an injunction request under the First Amendment in August 2025, that case is now proceeding to trial. The resilience of the laws are thus being tested on multiple fronts. Their fate will provide an indication of the future of climate disclosure laws in the US. 

- Content prepared with the help of Defne Fresko Tasci.

September 2025: EU Court rules on nuclear and gas, EU Parliament revises waste framework, Chine unveils emissions reduction goal, and more

Key highlights from September 2025 in the sustainability space.

1- EU court rules nuclear and gas can be included in EU Taxonomy

On September 10, the EU’s General Court rejected Austria’s challenge to the European Commission’s decision to classify nuclear energy and fossil gas as potentially sustainable under the EU Taxonomy. The Court found that the Commission was “entitled to take the view” that both could, under specific conditions, contribute substantially to climate mitigation and adaptation objectives. It credited the argument that nuclear power produces near-zero greenhouse gas emissions and that low-carbon alternatives of comparable scale remain limited.

The ruling confirms the EU’s pragmatic stance on transition finance, recognizing the need for a gradual reduction in emissions while maintaining energy security. However, it has renewed debate over the taxonomy’s credibility, with critics warning that including fossil fuels and nuclear power could dilute its environmental integrity. An appeal may still be filed.

2- EU Parliament adopts waste framework revision

The European Parliament approved a revision of the EU Waste Framework Directive that creates new obligations for textile and food producers in the EU. The September 9 revision requires textile producers in the EU, including fashion brands and online retailers, to fund the collection, sorting and recycling of their products. The updated directive also introduces the EU’s first binding food waste reduction targets, requiring a 10% cut in food manufacturing and processing waste and a 30% reduction in waste from households, retail and hospitality by 2030.

The reform, initially introduced in 2023, is aimed at reducing the EU’s textile and food waste. Member states have 30 months to establish Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, with microenterprises granted an extra year after their implementation to comply with the rules. The directive is now deemed adopted as the position was already agreed by Council this summer. 

3- China unveils first absolute emissions reduction goal 

On September 24, the Chinese government committed for the first time to an absolute emissions reduction target. China has thus undertaken to cut economy-wide emissions 7–10% from peak levels by 2035. President Xi Jinping announced the goal during a UN Climate Summit that marked the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Accordingly, the world’s biggest emitter will expand wind and solar capacity to 3,600 gigawatts and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to more than 30% in less than 10 years. The move signals Beijing’s intent to lead on climate diplomacy as the U.S. steps back from some environmental commitments, marking a notable milestone in global climate governance.

4- European pension fund pulls €14bn from Blackrock over ESG policy 

On September 3, PFZW, one of Europe’s largest pension funds, stopped investing in stock funds managed by BlackRock citing sustainability concerns. The withdrawn investment amounts to €14bn, and points to the widening gap between European asset managers and US counterparts on issues of sustainability strategy. 

BlackRock’s withdrawal from the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative and lower support for ESG resolutions have frustrated European clients, prompting funds like PFZW to seek managers better aligned with their sustainability priorities. While asset managers face a fragmented regulatory landscape on climate risk, the broader trajectory is clear: climate costs are mounting, and the energy transition is now part of the market’s foundation.

- Content prepared with the help of Defne Fresko Tasci.

August 2025: California climate disclosure rules on track for enforcement, South African court blocks offshore drilling, FTC ends antitrust probe, and more

Key highlights from August 2025 in the sustainability space.

1- California’s Climate Disclosure Laws Clear Major Hurdle

On August 13, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups lost their bid to pause enforcement of California’s landmark climate disclosure laws (SB 253 and SB 261). A federal judge ruled the plaintiffs had not shown their First Amendment challenge was likely to succeed. 

The ruling clears the way for mandatory reporting to begin in 2026, with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on track to finalize regulations by the end of 2025. SB 253 will compel companies with over $1 billion in revenue to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, while SB 261 will require firms generating at least $500 million to report on climate-related financial risks. Although appeals are expected, businesses cannot afford to wait. CARB has signalled initial enforcement may be measured, but California is decisively setting the pace on corporate climate accountability.  

2- German Court Calls Out Apple for “CO2-Neutral” Claims 

On August 26, a Frankfurt court ruled that Apple cannot market its Apple Watch as “CO2 neutral” in Germany. The judges found that Apple’s reliance on carbon offsets—leasing eucalyptus plantations in Paraguay until 2029—fell short of what consumers reasonably expect: climate neutrality lasting through at least 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. The ruling frames Apple’s claim as greenwashing and raises broader doubts about the credibility of offset-based neutrality pledges.

The case mirrors a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. and comes as regulators in Europe prepare to tighten scrutiny through the revised Green Claims Directive, due in 2026.  Environmental groups, including Umwelthilfe, hailed the decision as a win against greenwashing. Yet, Apple’s approach in this case broadly aligns with prevailing carbon offset practices in the tech sector, raising a deeper question: whether dismantling offset strategies ultimately advances or undermines the path to long-term decarbonization.

3- South African court blocks offshore drilling over environmental risks

On August 14, South Africa’s Western Cape High Court overturned an environmental authorization that had been granted to TotalEnergies and Shell for offshore oil exploration along the country’s Cape coast. The court sided with civil society groups, finding that the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment had failed to address crucial risks, including the socio-economic fallout of potential oil spills on small-scale fishers and coastal communities, as well as the omission of climate change impacts, coastal protection requirements, and cross-border harms. The judges also criticized the lack of transparency, noting that emergency spill response plans had been withheld from public scrutiny.

TotalEnergies must now submit new studies, release contingency plans, and engage in additional consultation before drilling can even be reconsidered. For many observers, the judgment represents a major victory for communities whose livelihoods depend on the region’s marine resources, and it adds momentum to a broader movement resisting offshore oil and gas exploration in South African waters. By placing environmental justice and community voices at the center of the decision, the court strengthened the case for aligning energy development with both ecological protection and long-term climate goals.

4- FTC ends antitrust probe as truckmakers sue California

On August 12, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the closure of its investigation into Volvo, Daimler, International Motors and PACCAR over their 2023 “Clean Truck Partnership” with California’s Air Resources Board (CARB).

Regulators had raised concerns that the agreement to phase out internal combustion engines and accelerate the rollout of zero-emissions trucks could amount to collusion, restricting output and limiting competition. To resolve those concerns, the companies and their trade association pledged not to enforce the agreement against one another, committed to acting independently in the future, and accepted ongoing disclosure obligations to the FTC.

Yet, the resolution of the antitrust probe quickly  gave way to a new legal clash. The truckmakers have filed suit against CARB and Governor Gavin Newsom, arguing that California’s requirements place them in an impossible position by forcing compliance with state-level standards that may conflict with federal law. The case underscores the way litigation has become a central weapon in America’s climate and ESG battles: regulators view aggressive state rules as necessary to drive industry transformation, while companies increasingly turn to the courts to contest what they see as inconsistent or unlawful mandates.

- Content prepared with the help of Defne Fresko Tasci.

July 2025: ICJ rules on climate change, EU publishes voluntary sustainability reporting standard for SMEs, White House unveils AI Action plan, and more

Key highlights from July 2025 in the sustainability space.

1- International Court of Justice rules on countries’ climate change obligations

On July 23, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion on the obligations of states regarding climate change, following a 2023 request by the UN General Assembly.

According to the opinion, all states have binding obligations under climate treaties, customary international law, other environmental conventions, and human rights law to prevent significant harm to the climate system. This includes duties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cooperate internationally, regulate private sector activities, and provide adaptation support. Even subsidising fossil fuel production could be considered in breach of these obligations, which are considered owed to the international community as a whole.

As such, countries can be held legally accountable for climate harms, potentially including historic emissions and fossil fuel subsidies. While this decision is purely advisory, it is expected to strengthen the legal foundation for climate accountability claims, leading to more climate-vulnerable nations pursuing compensation for climate-related damages from high emitting countries. 

2- EU Commission publishes voluntary sustainability reporting standard for SMEs

On July 30, the European Commission unveiled a voluntary sustainability reporting standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), designed to ease their compliance burdens and improve their access to sustainable finance. The Voluntary SME Standard (VSME) is an interim measure that has been introduced ahead of a formal delegated act that will form part of the Omnibus I simplification package. 

Developed by EFRAG, the VSME is intended to help smaller companies respond to growing sustainability information requests from large corporates and financial institutions, while also supporting their own monitoring of sustainability performance and competitiveness. The Commission is encouraging larger entities to base their data requests on this framework wherever possible.

3- White House unveils AI Action Plan 

On July 23, the White House unveiled Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan in line with President Trump’s January 2025 executive order on Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI.

The plan sets out more than 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating AI innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security. The plan underscores an urgency to scale infrastructure, expand skilled AI-related trades, and set global standards that keep American technology at the forefront of the AI race.

In addition to its structural pillars, the AI Action Plan is said to be guided by the principles of “empowering American workers, ensuring ideological neutrality and protection against misuse.” Ensuring ideological neutrality in this context is intended to guarantee that only "unbiased" large language models considered free from "ideological dogmas such as DEI" and other "partisan or ideological judgments" are eligible for government use.

4- EFRAG launches live portal tracking ESRS implementation 

On July 23, EFRAG launched its “State of Play 2025” portal, providing the first comprehensive snapshot of early compliance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). 

Drawing on 656 sustainability statements issued between 1 January and 20 April 2025, the platform offers an interactive statistics dashboard, a full repository of reports, and an accompanying analysis of key trends. It finds that only 10% of companies identified all ten topical ESRS standards as material, with climate change, workforce, and governance being most frequently reported. 

5- PRI publishes framework on Sustainability Value Creation in private markets

On July 23, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) published a guide aimed at helping investors use sustainability to drive financial outcomes in private markets. The guide is the result of a collaboration with Bain & Company and NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, which will continue beyond this initial publication through its second phase aimed at quantifying financial impact from sustainability initiatives for specific industries. 

The guide, which was developed with input from more than 400 investment organisations globally, underscores the opportunities for financial value creation through sustainability both at the investment firm and portfolio company levels. It provides practical approaches to sustainability integration, from key activities in strategy and fundraising to organisational enablers. This approach is instructive as it positions sustainability not just as a compliance exercise but as a course of competitive advantage in private markets. 

- Content prepared with the help of Defne Fresko Tasci.