Welcome to this week’s edition of #ElevatingNews, where we cut through the noise and spotlight the ESG stories that matter.
This week, the focus was on flexibility, finance, and frontier technologies. Policymakers made pragmatic concessions. Investors showed growing appetite for transition capital. And companies moved to anchor ESG into sectors ranging from insurance to hydrogen to hospitality.
Let’s unpack it.
🌍 Policy & Regulation
- EU Council Finalizes Flexibility Rules for Carmakers on CO₂ Targets
The Council of the EU gave final approval to a regulation that introduces limited flexibilities for carmakers in meeting 2030 CO₂ emission targets. It allows pooled credits for low- and zero-emission vehicles and adjusts calculation rules, designed to help industry navigate the shift without derailing climate ambition. Read more→ - EPA Finalizes Power Plant Emissions Rules in the U.S.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized rules requiring existing coal and new gas-fired power plants to cut or capture nearly all CO₂ emissions by 2038. It’s one of the most aggressive decarbonization mandates for the U.S. power sector to date and a pivotal move toward aligning domestic energy systems with net-zero targets. Read more→ - EU Nearing 2030 Climate Goals, But Gaps Remain
According to a new EU progress report, the bloc is “almost on track” to meet its 2030 climate targets, including emissions reductions, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. However, Member State-level implementation remains uneven, and transport emissions continue to pose a structural challenge. Read more→
⚙️ Corporate Action & Innovation
- Hitachi Energy Powers First Hydrogen-Based Energy System
Hitachi Energy announced the deployment of a complete power supply solution for a green hydrogen energy project, integrating renewables, electrolyzers, and smart grid management. It’s a milestone for operationalizing hydrogen systems beyond pilot scale. Read more→ - Tokio Marine Launches Green Insurance Division, Targets $1B by 2030
Japan’s Tokio Marine launched a dedicated green insurance unit aimed at supporting climate-aligned infrastructure and clean energy projects. The company expects the unit to generate $1 billion in revenue by 2030. Read more→ - Accor Debuts Global Sustainability Certification for Hotels
Hospitality giant Accor announced a new internal ESG rating and certification scheme for its global hotel portfolio. The standard will apply to over 5,500 hotels by 2026, covering energy, waste, water, and sourcing. Read more→
📈 Sustainable Finance & Metrics
- La Banque Postale Launches ESG Investment Tiers for Retail Clients
French bank La Banque Postale introduced a tiered ESG labelling system for its retail investment products. Clients can now choose funds by impact level, from basic exclusions to full alignment with EU sustainable taxonomy. It’s a retail-facing response to growing demand for transparency and climate stewardship in personal finance. Read more→
- Mirova Leads Investment in SOLVEO for Clean Energy Scale-Up
Impact investor Mirova led a new funding round for French renewable energy developer SOLVEO Energies, aimed at accelerating solar and wind projects across Europe. The deal underscores continued investor appetite for mid-market climate infrastructure. Read more→
- Snam Issues $2B in Multi-Tranche Sustainability-Linked Bonds in USD
Italian energy infrastructure firm Snam raised $2 billion via a sustainability-linked bond issuance tied to decarbonization KPIs. The multi-tranche USD deal marks Snam’s debut in U.S. green capital markets and demonstrates continued demand for credible sustainability-linked debt. Read more→
That’s a wrap on this week’s #ElevatingNews!
From energy policy recalibration to new green finance tools and hydrogen breakthroughs, the transition is evolving, step by step. But one thing is clear: climate strategy is no longer theoretical. It’s showing up in permits, products, capital markets, and infrastructure blueprints.
Which of these stories caught your attention?
Let’s keep the conversation going 👇
