Today’s ESG Updates
- US EPA Repeals Power Plant Carbon Limits: The agency has scrapped Biden-era rules and proposed blocking future federal greenhouse gas regulations for the power sector.
- US Speaker Opposes AI Development Pause: Mike Johnson says pausing AI development would weaken the country’s competitive position against China and create national security risks.
- Zero-Emission Trucks Remain Far Below EU Target: Just 2.4% of new heavy-duty vehicles are currently zero-emission, compared with the level needed to meet the EU’s 2030 emissions target.
- EU Parliament Votes to Tighten Carbon Border Levy: Lawmakers voted to remove the option to suspend the carbon border levy if import prices rise sharply, putting them at odds with EU member states.
Trump administration rolls back power plant carbon limits
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has repealed Biden-era limits on carbon emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, while proposing to remove remaining greenhouse gas requirements and prevent future federal climate regulations targeting the sector.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the changes would reduce regulatory barriers and enable new power infrastructure to meet surging electricity demand, including from AI. The electricity sector accounts for nearly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, while power-sector emissions rose 4% last year.
The Biden rules were expected to cut 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2047 by requiring certain plants to install carbon-capture equipment. Zeldin said repealing the rules would save the industry $370 million in compliance costs.
Environmental and public health groups criticized the move, warning of increased health and environmental damage. Biden’s EPA had estimated the rules would generate $370 billion in net benefits, including from reduced climate and pollution-related harms.
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US House Speaker rejects calls for AI development moratorium
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has rejected calls for a moratorium on artificial intelligence development, saying it would undermine the country’s competitive position against China and create national security risks.
“We cannot have a moratorium on the development of AI,” Johnson told reporters, arguing that AI companies should be allowed to regulate themselves rather than face government-imposed limits. He said AI would likely be a topic in President Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Johnson said Trump and the White House are also preparing to meet executives from major AI companies within the next week. He backed safeguards including independent auditors and greater transparency from developers, while rejecting a transnational AI regulator.
Johnson’s comments come after rival AI leaders Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), and Elon Musk (founder of xAI) all publicly called to deliberately slow the pace of frontier AI model development.
Related Articles
Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:
Europe’s truckmakers urge EU to delay 2030 emissions target
Europe’s seven leading truck and bus manufacturers have called on the EU to delay its 2030 CO2 reduction target for heavy-duty vehicles by three years, citing inadequate charging infrastructure and high energy costs.
Under current rules, manufacturers must cut emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles by 43% by 2030 from 2025 levels, rising to 64% by 2035 and 90% by 2040. Manufacturers face fines for missing the targets.
Only 2.4% of new heavy-duty vehicles are currently zero-emission, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), well below the level needed to meet the 2030 target.
The manufacturers called for faster deployment of charging stations, quicker grid connections and greater use of CO2-based road tolls to support the transition.
EU Parliament votes to scrap carbon border levy’s emergency brake
The European Parliament has voted to remove an emergency clause from the EU’s carbon border levy that would allow the bloc to suspend the fee if import prices rise sharply due to “serious and unforeseen circumstances.”
Instead, lawmakers proposed using revenue from the levy to compensate industries if the scheme pushes up prices. The decision sets up a clash with EU countries that want to retain the suspension option, including when a product’s price rises by more than 50% over six months.
Parliament also backed tighter rules for aluminum imports, lowering the exemption threshold from 50 to five metric tonnes and bringing post-consumer aluminum scrap under the levy.
European Aluminium warned: “Our companies will get absolutely eaten alive if these problems aren’t solved.”
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: American Public Power Association
