Today’s ESG Updates
- Britain Sets 87% Emissions Reduction Target by 2040: The legally binding goal follows the Climate Change Committee’s advice and will require faster rollout of clean technologies across transport, industry, and buildings.
- Brazil Reverses Mandatory ESG Reporting Rules: Companies will no longer be required to publish ISSB-based sustainability disclosures, but must publicly explain their decision to opt out.
- Ring Sued Over Unlawful Facial Recognition Data Use: The class action lawsuit alleges its “Familiar Faces” feature collected and stored facial data without consent.
- Paramount Seeks EU Approval for Warner Bros Acquisition: The European Commission will decide by July 7 whether to clear the deal, impose remedies, or launch a full investigation into competition concerns.
Britain unveils 87% emissions reduction target by 2040
Britain will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 87% from 1990 levels by 2040 under a new legally binding climate target.
The target, announced on Tuesday, covers the 2038–2042 carbon budget period and follows recommendations from the independent Climate Change Committee. It marks a key step towards the UK’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and will be put before parliament for approval.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said expanding domestic clean energy would reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets and strengthen energy security. The government has pointed to energy price shocks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East as evidence of the risks of fossil fuel dependence.
UK emissions have already fallen by around 54% since 1990. Meeting the new target will require faster deployment of clean technologies, including electric vehicles and heat pumps, alongside deeper emissions cuts across industry, transport, and buildings. A detailed plan has yet to be published.
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Further reading: Britain sets 87% emissions reduction target by 2040
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Brazil ends mandatory sustainability disclosure requirement for listed companies
Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) has moved from mandatory to voluntary ISSB-aligned sustainability reporting for public companies, instead introducing a “comply-or-explain” disclosure requirement for firms that opt out.
The regulator had previously required listed companies to publish annual climate and sustainability disclosures under standards based on the IFRS Foundation’s ISSB framework, with mandatory reporting due to begin in 2026 on financial year data. Under the revised rules, companies that choose not to report must publicly announce their decision and provide reasons alongside their 2027 annual financial statements. Firms that do report must follow ISSB-based CBPS standards and continue doing so for at least three consecutive years, with any decision to stop also subject to prior disclosure.
The CVM said the changes preserve transparency and comparability while restoring companies’ discretion to weigh costs and benefits in their reporting decisions.
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Further reading: Brazil Shifts from Mandatory to Voluntary Sustainability Reporting
Related Articles
Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:
Amazon’s Ring faces privacy lawsuit over facial recognition data use
Amazon’s Ring has been sued in a proposed class action alleging its “Familiar Faces” feature unlawfully collected and stored facial data without consent.
The lawsuit, filed by Virginia resident Charles Sigwalt in federal court in Seattle, claims Ring doorbell cameras captured and retained images of passersby and visitors using facial recognition technology embedded in its home security devices. Sigwalt is seeking at least $5 million in damages on behalf of the class.
The complaint focuses on Ring’s use of AI to identify individuals who appear at users’ doors, arguing the system processed biometric data without proper consent and violated privacy laws. The plaintiff says millions of people may have been unknowingly scanned as they walked past or visited properties with Ring cameras.
The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of Amazon’s home security division, which has previously faced criticism over data access practices and law enforcement partnerships.
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Further reading: Amazon’s Ring sued over facial recognition feature, latest privacy concern for doorbell maker
Paramount seeks EU approval for $110bn Warner Bros acquisition
Paramount Skydance Corp has sought EU antitrust approval for its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a European Commission filing, marking a key regulatory step in one of the entertainment industry’s largest-ever mergers.
The European Commission, which serves as the EU’s competition watchdog, will decide by July 7 whether to clear the deal outright, approve it with remedies, or launch a full-scale investigation if it raises serious concerns. If approved, the acquisition would combine two of the industry’s largest studios, increasing scrutiny of Hollywood consolidation and its potential effects on pricing, licensing, and content availability.
Paramount has indicated it could divest smaller assets, including children’s channels, to address potential competition issues. The deal has also advanced in the U.S., where antitrust regulators are reportedly leaning towards approval following talks with the Justice Department.
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Further reading: Paramount seeks EU approval to buy Warner Bros; decision due July 7
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Aerial view of a wind turbine next to an industrial facility in Bedfordshire, UK. Cover Photo Credit: Altaf Shah
