Today’s ESG Updates
- EU Proposes Major ETS Overhaul: Reforms would soften ETS requirements while increasing financial support for low-carbon industrial investment.
- EU Launches Legal Action Over Delayed Building Rules: All 27 member states missed the deadline to implement the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
- Delta and Shell Expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership: The five-year deal will increase SAF supply at five US airports and strengthen fuel diversification across Delta’s network.
- ADM Joins Walmart-General Mills Sustainability Partnership: The initiative aims to improve soil health, reduce emissions, and strengthen wheat supply resilience across the U.S. Midwest.
European Commission unveils sweeping carbon market reforms
The European Commission has proposed major reforms to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), easing the pace of emissions cuts while increasing financial support for industrial decarbonization.
The proposals would slow the annual decline in carbon permits, extend free allowances for heavy industry until 2038, and allow international carbon credits to meet 2% of ETS emissions reductions from 2036.
The Commission also proposed a €30 billion clean technology investment fund backed by 400 million carbon permits, alongside access to a further €70 billion in allowances from 2031. Governments would be required to spend at least 50% of future ETS revenues on domestic industry.
The reforms would expand the ETS to cover more flights, smaller ships, and waste incineration. The proposals now move to negotiations with EU member states and the European Parliament.
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Further reading: The Commission calls on EU countries to transpose the reinforced rules on the energy performance of buildings, 15 July
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All 27 EU states face infringement proceedings over delays in implementing revised Building Directive
The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against all 27 EU member states for failing to fully implement the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive by the May 29, 2026 deadline.
The directive requires all new buildings to be zero-emission by 2030, with publicly owned buildings meeting the standard from 2028. It also sets a 2040 target to phase out fossil fuel boilers and requires member states to develop national renovation plans.
The Commission said buildings are the “single largest energy consumer in Europe”. It stressed that implementing the EPBD is essential to boosting the annual renovation rate, cutting the EU’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and achieving a fully decarbonized building stock by 2050.
Governments have two months to respond before the Commission can escalate the cases and seek financial penalties through the EU Court of Justice.
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Further reading: The Commission calls on EU countries to transpose the reinforced rules on the energy performance of buildings
Related Articles
Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:
Delta and Shell expand sustainable aviation fuel partnership
Delta Air Lines has signed a five-year agreement with Shell Aviation to expand sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply and infrastructure across five major U.S. airports.
Under the new agreement, Shell will support SAF deliveries at Los Angeles, Portland, New York JFK, Boston, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The companies will also build out the logistics and infrastructure needed for wider SAF use in routine airline operations, while exploring next-generation fuels such as alcohol-to-jet and power-to-liquid technologies.
Delta aims for SAF to account for 10% of its fuel use by 2030 as part of its goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
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Further reading: Delta expands SAF access through multi-airport collaboration with Shell Aviation
Walmart, General Mills, and ADM expand regenerative agriculture partnership
Walmart, General Mills, and ADM have launched a collaboration to expand regenerative agriculture across 40,000 wheat acres in the U.S. Midwest. The program aims to improve soil health, water quality, and carbon sequestration.
The initiative will support farmers in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri by providing technical assistance and financial incentives to help them adopt regenerative farming practices. ADM will lead implementation, building on its management of nearly 5 million regenerative acres globally.
The partnership expands a 2023 Walmart-General Mills program targeting 600,000 acres by 2030. The companies said more than 560,000 wheat acres are already involved in regenerative agriculture projects.
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Further reading: General Mills, ADM, Walmart Partner to Accelerate Regenerative Agriculture Across 40,000 Midwest Wheat Acres
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: The Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission, in Brussels, Belgium. Cover Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
