Today’s ESG Updates
- Google Faces $804M in Fines for Global Privacy Breaches: A U.S. jury and France’s data regulator fined Google nearly $804 million for unauthorized user data collection and cookie violations.
- U.S. House Approves Controversial Alaskan Mining Road: The House passed a bill approving a 211-mile mining road through protected Alaskan wilderness, raising concerns over ecosystem damage.
- Malaysia’s Proton Launches EV Production Plant: Malaysian automaker Proton opened its first EV facility, supporting the country’s push to become an electric vehicle hub.
- Vale to Invest $12B in Sustainable Mining in Brazil: Mining giant Vale announced a $12.36 billion investment to reopen a major iron ore mine and expand operations in Minas Gerais.
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.
Google faces almost $804 million in fines from the U.S. and France
A San Francisco federal jury ruled that Google must pay $425 million (approximately €364.7 million) in fines for collecting data on users after switching off the tracking setting in their Google accounts. The users were initially seeking $31 billion in damages for eight years of violating privacy laws. The jury found Google liable of two of the three claims of privacy violations, yet the company plans to appeal. In France, the National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL) fined Google €325 million (about $378.7 million) over breaching cookie laws. In a statement released Wednesday evening, the CNIL issued two fines “for displaying advertisements between Gmail users’ emails without their consent and for placing cookies when creating Google accounts, without valid consent of French users.” A fine of €200 million was imposed on Google LLC in the U.S., and Google Ireland faces an additional €125 million. Companies focused on proper governance should look to ESG solutions for guidance.
***
Further reading: Google must pay $425 million in class action over privacy, jury rules
French regulator issues huge Google fine over cookie breaches, risking Trump’s ire
U.S. House approves Alaskan mining road
The United States House of Representatives approved a 211-mile (339.5km) mining road in Alaska with a 215-210 vote late Wednesday. The road would cut through miles of untouched wilderness, with 26 (41.8km) of those miles cutting through Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The project, known as the Ambler Access Project, was suspended last year under the Biden administration, citing threats to vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems. Supporters claim that the road is necessary to reach a copper deposit potentially worth $7.5 billion. Construction of the road could increase the melting of permafrost in the region, releasing warming carbon dioxide and methane gases into the atmosphere. The fate of the project now moves to the United States Senate, where it is expected to pass within a few weeks.
***
Further reading: House Votes to Advance a Mining Road Through the Alaskan Wilderness
Automaker Proton to begin EV production in Malaysia
Malaysian automaker Proton has begun operations in its first EV plant. This comes as the Malaysian government aims to position the country as an electric vehicle hub. The government hopes that hybrids and EVs will make up 20% of new car sales by 2030. The new plant, located in Malaysia’s Automotive High-Tech Valley, has a current production capacity of 20,000 cars per year. The company expects to scale this to 45,000 in the near future. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed at the facility’s launch that this new plant highlights a close collaboration between Malaysia and China, with 49.9% of the company held by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Companies focused on sustainable shifts, from electric vehicles to solar panels, can track their progress with ESG tools.
***
Further reading: Malaysian carmaker Proton launches first EV plant
Brazil’s mining giant Vale invests $12 billion in Minas Gerais state
Brazilian mining company Vale will invest 67 billion reais ($12.36 billion) in reopening its Capanema iron ore mine and expanding mining operations in the Minas Gerais region by 2030. The company’s Chief Executive Gustavo Pimenta said, “Capanema exemplifies the new phase of mining in Minas Gerais and reinforces our commitment to a more responsible production process.” The mine is expected to produce 15 million metric tons of iron ore per year, adding to Vale’s total annual goal of 340 million and 360 million tons. The company also aims to reduce its use of dams, following the collapse of two dams in 2015 and 2019, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and irreparable environmental damage.
***
Further reading: Brazil’s Vale reopens key mine, plans to invest $12 billion in Minas Gerais
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Google Park View, Seattle, United States Cover Photo Credit: Adarsh Chauhan
