ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 09-12-2025
- Eloise Bell
- Dec 9, 2025
- 2 min read
This week’s review brings together the latest market movements alongside key developments in policy, sustainability and global economics. From shifts in central-bank communication to new ESG regulations and major corporate initiatives in climate and clean-technology investment, the update provides a concise overview of the forces shaping investor sentiment as we approach year-end.
Bank of England sets tougher climate-risk rules for banks and insurers.
The Bank of England has announced a significantly strengthened set of climate-risk requirements, directing banks and insurers to improve modelling, governance and capital-planning for climate-related financial risks. The framework pushes institutions to integrate physical- and transition-risk analysis into core risk-management processes, with supervisors set to conduct more intrusive reviews. The Bank noted that while firms have progressed since the first climate stress tests, most still underestimate long-term exposures, especially in mortgage, corporate-lending and underwriting portfolios.
UK advertising regulator bans Nike & Lacoste sustainability claims.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has banned sustainability-related ads from Nike and Lacoste, ruling that both campaigns overstated environmental benefits and failed to substantiate claims around recycled materials and circularity. The cases highlight rising regulatory scrutiny over “green” marketing across consumer brands — with the ASA signalling that companies must provide clear, specific, and verifiable evidence for any environmental assertions. The moves reinforce ongoing efforts to tighten green-claim oversight and reduce consumer-facing greenwashing.
Green economy now worth over $5 trillion annually, BCG–WEF report finds.
A new joint report from Boston Consulting Group and the World Economic Forum estimates the global green economy is generating more than $5 trillion each year, with growth outpacing the broader global economy. Key drivers include rapid acceleration in clean energy, electrification, low-carbon materials and nature-based solutions. The analysis suggests that as climate risks intensify, demand for resilience and transition technologies will continue to expand — creating one of the most significant economic transformations of the coming decade.
Meta expands cleantech investments as AI energy demand surges.
Meta is ramping up its cleantech strategy to counter rising energy consumption from AI expansion, directing new capital toward grid-scale renewables, long-duration energy storage and advanced cooling for data centres. The company is also increasing support for next-generation technologies such as carbon-free energy procurement models and early-stage climate startups. As AI-related electricity use grows, Meta says investment in clean energy and efficiency is becoming central to maintaining its net-zero ambitions and securing long-term operational resilience.
Microsoft backs Pantheon to scale peatland restoration for high-integrity carbon removal.
Microsoft has invested in nature-based carbon-removal company Pantheon to accelerate large-scale peatland restoration projects aimed at delivering durable, high-integrity carbon sequestration. The partnership will fund restoration in regions with the highest climate-mitigation potential, supporting measurable carbon benefits alongside biodiversity and water-quality improvements. The move aligns with Microsoft’s carbon-negative strategy, reinforcing its focus on high-quality removals that demonstrate strong verification, permanence and ecological co-benefits.
