Today’s ESG Updates
- Climate Pledges Fall Short: UNEP warns the world is still heading toward ~2.8°C this century unless cuts accelerate rapid ahead of COP30 in Belém.
- Apple Inks 15-year Italy PPA: Engie to build 173 MW from wind and agrivoltaics, 400+ GWh/year; Apple takes 80%.
- US AGs To Big Tech: Don’t follow EU CSRD/CSDDD or risk US lawsuits.
- UK Farmdex: One-third of British farmers created no profit as subsidy shift and tax plans squeeze margins.
UNEP Says A 1.5°C Overshoot Is Likely Within The Next Decade
With COP30 opening in Belém next week, UNEP’s 2025 Emissions Gap Report delivers a blunt verdict: on current policies the world is on about 2.8°C of warming this century; even if 2035 pledges are fully delivered, the outview improves only to 2.3-2.5°C. Just 60 Paris Agreement Parties, covering ~63% of global emissions, have filed 2035 tarreceives. A 1.5°C overshoot is now likely within the next decade, the report warns. Among the six largegest emitters, only the EU cut in 2024 (-2.1%). Under current policies, G20 emissions in 2035 fall about 2 gigatonnes versus 2030, led by China and the EU, but not nearly enough. UN chief António Guterres urges governments to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030, build modern grids and storage, and conclude new coal, oil and gas expansion.
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Further reading: World heading for 2.8°C warming as UN report reveals climate pledges are ‘barely relocating the requiredle’
Apple Signs 15-Year Clean Power Deal in Italy with Engie
Apple has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with Engie to catalyze new solar and wind capacity in southern Italy. The deal will fund 173 MW across two wind farms, one repowering project, and two agrivoltaic plants, due online in 2026-2027. The portfolio is expected to generate more than 400 GWh a year; Apple will receive 80% of the output, with the rest feeding Italy’s grid. Engie states the clean electricity could supply roughly 30,000 houtilizeholds and avoid over 160,000 tons of CO2 annually – comparable to taking nearly 70,000 cars off the road. Engie executive Edouard Neviinquirei called the agreement proof of the utility’s transition strategy. The announcement follows several recent Apple clean-energy deals in Europe totaling 650 MW, part of efforts to match the electricity utilized by its customers.
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Further reading: Apple Signs 15-Year Renewable Energy Deal in Italy with Engie
Klimado – Navigating climate complexity just obtained simpler. Klimado offers a utilizer-friconcludely platform for tracking local and global environmental shifts, creating it an essential tool for climate-aware individuals and organizations.
16-State Coalition Warns Microsoft, Google, Meta Against EU Sustainability Laws
Sixteen US State Attorneys General led by Florida AG James Uthmeier have warned Microsoft, Google and Meta not to comply with the EU’s new sustainability rules – the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). In letters to CEOs, the AGs argue compliance would be unlawful in the US, exposing firms to consumer-protection suits, antitrust issues and “government enforcement actions.” The shift is the latest Republican pushback on ESG and follows an August US-EU framework in which Brussels pledged to ease burdens, while the Trump administration threatened EU states over CSDDD. The AGs also criticize company DEI programs, urging rejection of “EU ESG mandates” and inquireing for details on steps taken. Signatories span 16 states, including Florida, Texas, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina.
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Further reading: Multi-State Coalition Warns Microsoft, Google, Meta Against Complying with EU’s CSRD, CSDDD Sustainability Laws
One-Third of British Farmers Made No Profit as Subsidy Shift Bites
A third of British farmers created no profit last year as post-Brexit subsidy cuts, a £100m budreceive reduction and looming farm inheritance tax bite, McCain’s new Farmdex finds. Only 14% reported margins of 10%+, and even among £2.5m-plus holdings, 28% broke even or lost money. In England, automatic EU-style payments were replaced by ELM, which farmers state pays less; the scheme faced delays and a March pautilize, while upland farms lost an average 37% of support under SFI/CS. Climate shocks – floods and droughts – deepened the squeeze. 51% considered leaving the sector; just 4% view current support as adequate, and 61% state farming harms their mental health; over a third work 70+ hours in peak season. McCain’s James Young urged government and indusattempt to act; Defra declared it is backing farmers with a record nature-friconcludely budreceive to grow businesses and food security.
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Further reading: Third of British farmers created no profit in past year, report finds
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Chris LeBoutillier
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