Key Impact Points: McDonald’s Shifts Focus to Inclusion McDonald’s has announced a significant shift in its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, emphasizing “inclusion” while phasing out the terms “diversity” and “equity.” The company’s updated approach is outlined in a letter from CEO Chris Kempczinski, who stated, “We are immensely
Big Banks Exiting the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Will the Solution Follow the Pattern of the NZIA With a Hail Mary Style Rescue From the UN? Key Impact Points: The NZBA’s Membership Exodus The Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), launched to align financial institutions with global climate goals, is facing a major
Key Impact Points Climate Change: A Pivotal Issue The impacts of climate change are no longer distant—they’re here and worsening. From rising sea levels to extreme weather, the ripple effects touch every corner of life on Earth. “The world experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, with CO₂ levels
Key Impact Points: Policy Shifts Under the Trump Administration Executive Orders and Regulatory Changes President-elect Trump has signaled plans to pause pending rules, delay effective dates of new regulations, and work with Congress to repeal recently finalized rules. Key areas of focus include power, mining, oil and gas, water quality,
Key Impact Points: U.S. Electricity Demand Forecast Electricity demand in the U.S. is set to increase significantly, with Grid Strategies projecting a 15.8% rise—128 GW—by 2029. This represents a 456% surge in load growth forecasts over two years, driven by booming data centers and manufacturing industries. “We are now looking
Key Impact Points A Bold Climate Vision President Biden announced an updated U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, targeting a 61-66% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from 2005 levels. This target builds on the Administration’s previous 2030 goal of a 50-52% reduction and aims to
Key Impact Points: Data centers are increasingly defining the future of electricity use, with plans emerging for gas, renewables, and innovative infrastructure to handle skyrocketing demand. The energy mix powering artificial intelligence will shape CO2 emissions in the power sector. Fossil Fuels Adapt to AI Demand Exxon is advancing designs
Key Impact Points Secondhand Gifting Gains Momentum Merle Brown, a 53-year-old writer from Scotland, buys most of her gifts secondhand. “I love the thrill of finding something unique and special that I can’t get anywhere else,” she says. Her Christmas list includes vintage glassware, puzzles, and holiday cards — unique
Key Impact Points The Coral Triangle’s Growing Fossil Fuel Threat The Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot spanning seven countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, faces escalating risks as fossil fuel operations expand. A new report titled “Coral Triangle at Risk: Fossil Fuel Threats and Impacts” highlights how oil and
Key Impact Points: CARB’s Grace Period Explained The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued an Enforcement Notice under the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253). This law mandates annual public disclosures of scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by U.S.-organized companies operating in California with annual
