Today’s ESG Updates
- Countries Sign Information Integrity Declaration: 12 countries committed to combating climate misinformation at COP30 in Brazil.
- U.S. Companies Struggle With Trump’s Tariff Volatility: Constant tariff changes are taking focus from innovation and leading to increased costs.
- Chinese Brands Drive South America’s EV Expansion: Affordable Chinese electric vehicles and a new megaport in Peru are increasing EV sales across the region.
- Indigenous Groups Lead Climate March at COP30: Thousands of activists marched for urgent climate action outside the UN’s climate summit.
Twelve countries sign a declaration to combat climate misinformation
On Wednesday at COP30 in Brazil, 12 countries signed the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change. The goal is to combat climate misinformation and disinformation while promoting accurate, evidence-based information. The Declaration calls on governments worldwide to ensure public access to data and create policies that promote transparency, guaranteeing the safety of scientists, journalists, and other defenders of the environment. It also calls on the private sector, civil society, and funders to establish transparent advertising, promote best practices, and support climate change projects. The Declaration is backed by UNESCO and other UN agencies. Guilherme Canela, UNESCO’s Director of the Division of Digital Inclusion, Policies and Digital Transformation, said, “The protection of freedom of expression and access to public information cannot be compromised.”
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Further reading: COP30 Launches Global Declaration to Combat Climate Misinformation, Fake News
Trump’s frequent tariff changes affecting businesses across the U.S.
President Trump had to roll back tariffs on food products on Friday, excluding products that cannot be produced or grown domestically. This move is one of Trump’s many changes to an already complex tariff system. Companies across the United States are struggling with higher costs and heavy compliance burdens, and CEOs are spending more time navigating these frequent changes, neglecting research and innovation. A KPMG survey found that 89% of CEOs expect tariffs to affect their businesses. Of the CEOs surveyed, 86% said that they will increase prices for goods as needed to offset tariffs. For many companies, the time and money spent on changing tariffs have largely negated the benefits of corporate tax cuts put in place by the Trump administration.
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Further reading: Trump’s tariffs are costing companies. Keeping up with them may cost even more.
Klimado – Navigating climate complexity just got easier. Klimado offers a user-friendly platform for tracking local and global environmental shifts, making it an essential tool for climate-aware individuals and organizations.
Electric vehicle sales increase in South America
Chinese automakers are expanding sales across South America. Brands like BYD, Geely, Chery, and GWM have entered the region with affordable electric vehicles, increasing sales across Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay. In Peru, sales of hybrid and electric vehicles are up 44% year on year, with 7,256 units sold in the first nine months of 2025. With increased sales, China has built a megaport in Chancay, Peru, a coastal city north of Lima. The megaport serves as a South American distribution hub, while halving shipping times across the Pacific. This has contributed to the boom, with 3,057 cars arriving at the port in July alone. While the EV market continues to grow, Chinese companies still face hurdles, including underdeveloped infrastructure and barrier tariffs.
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Further reading: Electric vehicle sales are booming in South America — without Tesla
Indigenous protesters march for climate action outside COP30
Climate activists marched alongside Indigenous people outside COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on Saturday. Thousands of people took part in the march, which organizers called the “Great People’s March.” Earlier this month, the UN warned that the world would surpass the 1.5 °C (2.7°F) target outlined in the Paris Agreement. Benedito Huni Kuin, a member of Brazil’s Huni Kuin Indigenous group, said, “Today we are witnessing a massacre as our forest is being destroyed. We want to make our voices heard from the Amazon and demand results.” As billions of people around the world, especially Indigenous communities, are threatened by climate change and expanding fossil fuel projects, climate action is growing increasingly important.
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Further reading: Thousands march for climate action outside COP30 summit in Brazil
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Guilherme Canela speaks at the Declaration signing event. Cover Photo Credit: Cop30 Brasil Amazônia
