Today’s ESG Updates
- Gasunie’s €12B Green Investment: €12B in hydrogen and CCS to drive Netherlands’ energy transition.
- Finland Shuts Last Coal Plant: Reduces emissions by 2% and cuts district heating costs.
- Volvo Reappoints Håkan Samuelsson: CEO returns amid tariff threats and weak EV demand.
- EU Set to Delay Reporting Deadlines: Parliament to vote on extending sustainability reporting deadlines to 2028.
Gasunie’s €12B push to lead Europe’s green revolution
Gasunie is investing €12 billion in hydrogen and CCS by 2030 to drive the energy transition in the Netherlands. Despite workforce growth, challenges like high costs, slow permitting, and declining European competitiveness persist. The company is prioritizing hydrogen infrastructure, biomethane, and CCS projects, including the Porthos CCS and WarmtelinQ. CEO Willemien Terpstra warns of sustainability’s impact on industry and jobs. Explore ESG providers for carbon solutions on our ESG Marketplace. Leveraging €12B in Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Investments with ESG tools to Overcome Regulatory Hurdles, Drive Sustainability, and Strengthen Europe’s Industrial Future.
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Further reading: Gasunie to Invest €12B in CCS and Hydrogen Infrastructure
Finland closes last coal plant, paving the way for a clean energy future
Finland’s last coal-fired power plant shuts down, marking a major step in its clean energy transition. Helen CEO Olli Sirkka highlights the shift to electricity, waste heat, and heat pumps, aiming to end all burning by 2040. The closure cuts Finland’s emissions by nearly 2%, while district heating costs are set to drop. Despite challenges, Finland now has Europe’s third-cheapest electricity, reinforcing its commitment to a sustainable future.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Further reading: Finland’s last active coal-fired power and heat plant shuts down
Volvo reappoints Hakan Samuelsson as CEO amid industry challenges and tariff threats
Volvo Cars reappoints Håkan Samuelsson as CEO, replacing Jim Rowan amid industry challenges. Samuelsson, who led Volvo from 2012 to 2022, returns as the company faces U.S. tariff threats, weak EV demand, and restructuring by owner Geely. Investors see this as Volvo returning to its roots. Despite operational success, Volvo’s stock has underperformed. Samuelsson’s appointment buys time for a long-term replacement while navigating production shifts and evolving market conditions.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Further Reading: Volvo goes back to car industry basics with surprise CEO switch
EU Parliament set to vote on delaying Corporate Sustainability Reporting deadlines
The European Parliament is set to vote on April 1 to approve a “stop the clock” measure, delaying reporting deadlines for the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). This follows the European Council’s approval to push deadlines to 2028. The proposal also includes simplifying sustainability reporting requirements, removing 80% of companies from CSRD’s scope. If approved, companies will have additional time to comply with the new regulations.. Companies can follow ESG guidelines more easily by using ESG tools.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Further reading: European Council adopts proposal to delay sustainability reporting
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
