Today, October 24th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized stricter standards for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in homes and childcare facilities built before 1978. Announced during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, this measure is part of President Biden’s broader strategy to reduce lead exposure, especially for children, who are most vulnerable…

GRI has partnered with Climate & Company, a global non-profit think-tank focused on sustainable finance, to advance the adoption of international sustainability reporting standards across the value chain. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to enhance informed decision-making for companies, investors, and other stakeholders. Climate & Company bridges policy-making, the financial sector,…

The preservation of the Amazon rainforest is vital to addressing global warming, with carbon credits forming a crucial element of this strategy. However, concerns have been raised due to insufficient consultation with Indigenous communities, who play an essential role in forest conservation and must be included in the distribution of benefits from carbon credit agreements.…

Deforestation associated with soy production in Brazil remains a persistent issue. While deforestation has slowed in parts of the Amazon—one of the country's critical biomes—extensive areas of the Cerrado continue to be cleared and cultivated. In September, the report Land Grabbing and Ecocide examined the ongoing deforestation caused by U.S. businesses with interests in Brazil. Gaurav…

Mining associations, representing nearly 100 companies, have launched a 60-day public consultation on the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative, aimed at creating a unified ESG standard for the sector. Led by the Copper Mark, the Mining Association of Canada, and the International Council on Mining and Metals, the initiative seeks to simplify and broaden ESG standards…

Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union will jointly develop a practical guide to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for smallholders by November, according to the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC). This intergovernmental body, which includes major palm oil producers such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Honduras, announced that the collaboration aims to support smallholders…

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is reviewing new rules on naming sustainable investment funds after concerns were raised that they may limit funding for polluters seeking to decarbonize. The rules, effective Nov. 21, restrict funds labeled as "green" or "sustainable" from investing in high-pollution sectors like oil, gas, and coal. Fund managers may need…

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released the 2024 EU Carbon Markets Report, detailing the performance of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Key Findings: Prices: EU ETS prices have dropped in 2023 due to lower demand, falling gas prices, and increased supply for the REPowerEU plan. Auctions: 10 participants bought…