Today’s ESG Updates
- Meta Fined $567 Million in Child Safety Lawsuit: New Mexico court finds the social media giant harmed children and orders five years of tighter youth protections.
- Norway Targets Faster Renewable Power Development: Government will simplify approval processes and reduce bureaucratic delays to accelerate wind and grid expansion.
- New Jersey Wins $2.5bn PFAS Settlement from DuPont and 3M: The manufacturing giants will fund decades of contamination cleanup, water infrastructure upgrades, and natural-resource restoration.
- Google’s $15bn India Data Center Draws Legal Challenges: Environmental groups are raising concerns over pressure on water supplies, noise pollution and the site’s proximity to a wildlife sanctuary.
Meta ordered to pay $567 million over child safety failures
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and impose new safeguards for young users after finding its platforms created a public nuisance and harmed children’s wellbeing.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid ordered five years of measures including monthly limits on teen use, restrictions on notifications, tighter controls on adult contact with minors and safeguards for AI chatbots.
The ruling follows a $375 million jury award in March over Meta’s alleged misrepresentation of platform safety. More than 40 states and 1,300 school districts have filed similar public nuisance lawsuits.
Meta said it will appeal, maintaining that it has a strong record of protecting teens online.
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Norway targets faster onshore wind and grid development
Norway’s government has proposed measures to halve the time needed to develop electricity grids and speed up approvals for onshore wind farms, citing concerns that slow infrastructure growth could constrain the economy.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, “Faster development of more renewable power and electricity grids is crucial for cutting emissions, boost employment and protect existing jobs and companies.” The government aims to achieve this by simplifying application processes and removing bureaucratic obstacles.
Norway’s electricity system is largely powered by renewables, led by decades-old hydropower plants and a rapid expansion of onshore wind between 2015 and 2021. Since then, however, onshore wind capacity has grown by only around 1,000 MW, or 2.5%, largely due to opposition from local communities and Sami groups.
Related Articles
Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:
New Jersey Wins Record $2.5bn Settlement Over PFAS Pollution
New Jersey has secured approximately $2.5 billion from DuPont and 3M to address contamination from PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which pose long-term dangers to human health and the environment.
The DuPont agreement, worth more than $2 billion, is the largest environmental settlement ever secured by a single U.S. state. The settlements will be paid over 25 years, with up to $795 million allocated to PFAS cleanup and water-quality projects. At least $150 million will be allocated to upgrades to drinking water and wastewater systems.
A further $365 million will fund natural-resource restoration, while DuPont will provide up to $1.2 billion for remediation at four industrial sites. New Jersey says total recoveries from pollution lawsuits since 2019 now exceed $3 billion.
Google’s $15bn India data center faces environmental opposition
Google’s planned $15 billion data center hub in India is facing opposition over potential pressure on water supplies and nearby wildlife.
The project, Google’s largest investment in the country, is being developed with Adani Group in Andhra Pradesh. The largest city in the state, Visakhapatnam, already receives 410 million liters of water a day, below its estimated requirement of 480 million liters. Rationing of supplies is common. Activists argue the data centers could worsen shortages, while the state says no residential or rural water will be diverted.
The project is also facing legal challenges over its proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, just 860 meters away, and potential noise pollution. Google says it will use advanced air-cooling and sound-dampening measures and comply with Indian regulations.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Bastian Riccardi
