ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 07-10-2025
- Eloise Bell
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
Global momentum toward decarbonisation accelerated this week as major corporations and governments advanced ambitious climate initiatives. Microsoft and Amazon deepened their clean-energy commitments with large-scale renewable deals in Japan and the U.S., while Barclays backed innovative carbon-removal technology through enhanced weathering. In Europe, Germany unveiled a €7 billion plan to cut industrial emissions, underscoring the region’s drive toward net zero. Meanwhile, ESG data firm Diginex expanded its analytical reach with the acquisition of Matter, signalling growing demand for transparent, tech-driven sustainability reporting.
Microsoft Powers Japan with 20-Year Renewable Energy Deals.
Microsoft has signed two major renewable power purchase agreements in Japan — one of the country’s largest corporate clean-energy commitments to date. Partnering with Japan Renewable Energy Corporation and Northland Power, the deals will deliver more than 300 MW of renewable electricity to offset the energy use of data centres and AI operations. As Japan’s energy market opens up to corporate PPAs, Microsoft is demonstrating how global tech leaders can drive systemic decarbonisation in markets still heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.
Amazon Expands US Solar Portfolio to Power Data Centres.
Amazon has announced a new solar energy agreement with AES Corporation to supply renewable power to its rapidly expanding data-centre network across the United States. The project will feed electricity directly to AWS facilities and nearby grids, advancing Amazon’s goal to power all global operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.
Barclays Invests in Carbon Removal Through Rocks & Soil.
Barclays has become one of the first global banks to back large-scale carbon removal using enhanced weathering — a process that captures CO₂ in crushed rock and soil. The partnership with UK-based climate-tech startup UNDO will permanently remove around 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ over the next decade. By supporting early-stage carbon-capture innovation, Barclays aims to diversify its climate strategy beyond emissions avoidance and offsets.
Germany Launches €7 Billion Industrial Decarbonisation Plan.
Germany has unveiled a €7 billion programme to cut industrial emissions by integrating carbon capture and storage (CCS) and low-carbon hydrogen into heavy industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals. Funding will support infrastructure, transport pipelines, and large-scale CCS deployment projects. The initiative forms part of Germany’s wider Climate Protection Program 2030 and is designed to help the EU’s biggest economy meet stricter 2040 targets.
Diginex Acquires Matter to Boost ESG Data Intelligence.
ESG technology platform Diginex has acquired Danish impact-data firm Matter to strengthen its sustainability reporting and analytics capabilities. The move enhances Diginex’s ability to merge financial, social, and environmental data for investors and corporates adapting to evolving disclosure requirements such as CSRD and SFDR.
