A MSCI study shows that fewer than 40% of publicly listed companies worldwide have emissions trajectories that align with limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, with only 12% aligned with the 1.5-degree target. The study also shows that companies are increasingly setting and improving climate targets, with 19% having targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, up from 9% in 2023.

Returns offer retailers an effective and underused opportunity to advance sustainability goals without long-term overhauls. Since returned products have already been manufactured and still possess value, rerouting them from waste streams can quickly yield measurable environmental benefits. By integrating returns management into ESG frameworks, companies can deliver immediate impact, enhance brand credibility with eco-conscious consumers and address a key blind spot in sustainability reporting.

A series of federal court rulings, including the recent decision for Sunrise Wind, have overturned the Trump administration's work-stop orders on five major offshore wind projects. The Interior Department's justification citing national security risks was rejected by multiple judges, who found the explanations insufficient. These legal challenges highlight the tension between administrative actions and judicial oversight in the offshore wind sector, with courts generally siding with project developers to prevent costly delays and cancellations.

California has unveiled details of a proposed $200 million electric vehicle incentive program aimed at first-time EV buyers. The program applies to new and used vehicles and offers incentives at the point of sale to reduce upfront costs.

A project by Wilder Humber aiming to restore seagrass meadows in the Humber estuary has reached a milestone, with expert Dr. Andy van der Schatte Olivier noting the positive results of trial plantings that tested three techniques. Seagrass, which captures carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests and protects coastlines from erosion, has declined from 1,100 acres to about 12 acres due to pollution and disease. The project, supported by Orsted, aims to restore these vital habitats for wildlife and climate resilience.

Senators from Nevada and Utah have introduced an extension to a $450 million grant for water recycling in Western states, pushing the end to 2032. The 2021 Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Grant Program has allocated about $308 million to projects in Colorado River states, but could leave almost $150 million unspent if the grant expires Sept. 30.