March 2025 Newsletter

1 Apr

Here are the top five ESG articles for March, including our own important announcement.

Danesmead ESG Becomes Danesmead Advisory

As the responsible investment landscape evolves, and to better reflect the wider range of services we provide, Danesmead ESG is now Danesmead Advisory. While ESG remains a core part of our offering, we have expanded our services to encompass broader advisory solutions that go beyond ESG alone. From sustainable finance and impact investing to regulatory and sustainability reporting, our work now spans a wider spectrum, and our new name reflects this. We are excited about this new chapter and look forward to continuing to serve our clients with an even greater range of expertise

US Companies Prepare for SB 253 and SB 261 Reporting

California Senate Bills SB 253 and SB 261 have survived judicial challenge and private and public companies have begun preparing for reporting in 2026. The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (Senate Bill 253) requires large businesses operating in California to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions, and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (Senate Bill 261) mandates that companies disclose the threats they face as a result of climate change. Read our explainers here and here, and if you would like to know more about this regulation and whether Danesmead Advisory can help, please get in touch.

Corporate Commitments to Climate Disclosure Remain Strong

Despite political uncertainty and proposed regulatory changes, corporate support for climate disclosures remains strong. A recent Workiva study found that 85% of companies plan to continue reporting on climate risks, with 97% of executives expecting sustainability reporting to deliver a business advantage within two years. Similarly, PwC’s latest Decarbonization Report shows 84% of public companies are maintaining or accelerating their climate targets, with only 16% scaling back. In particular, smaller companies are increasingly setting new emissions goals, contributing to a 14% increase in emissions reduction commitments in 2024. These findings suggest continued momentum on corporate climate action despite regulatory shifts.

PSF Proposes Voluntary Sustainability Standard for SMEs

The EU Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF) has recommended a voluntary SME Sustainable Finance Standard to improve access to sustainable financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs, which produce over half of the EU's GDP and account for over 63% of enterprise emissions, often face challenges securing sustainable finance due to complicated regulatory requirements and high compliance costs. The proposed framework is designed to streamline sustainability reporting and make it easier for SMEs to share key environmental information. While initially focusing on climate sustainability, the standard is expected to expand to cover broader environmental objectives in the future.

IRENA Reports Record Year for Renewable Energy

According to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewables accounted for 92.5% of global power expansion in 2024. A record 585 GW of renewable capacity was added last year, marking a 15.1% increase - bringing total global capacity to 4,448 GW. Solar and wind dominated, accounting for 97% of the growth. Despite this progress, IRENA warns that the current pace is insufficient to meet the global goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030. To meet this objective, IRENA urges governments to set clear renewable goals in Nationally Determined Contributions and support the Global South.

If you’d like to know more or discuss any of these topics please get in touch.