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Clever.

Clever.

Clever.

ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 28-07-2026

  • Jul 28
  • 2 min read

This week’s ESG in 5 covers new approaches to reducing transport emissions, the growing role of AI in sustainability reporting and further investment activity across renewable energy and cleaner aviation. We also look at how the European Central Bank is strengthening its approach to climate-related financial risk.



DHL backs cleaner transport credits.


DHL has welcomed new Science Based Targets initiative rules recognising book-and-claim as a credible way to reduce transport emissions. The system allows the environmental benefits of low-carbon fuels used within a shared transport network to be allocated to customers, even when their specific shipment does not physically use those fuels.


DHL said the approach supports its GoGreen Plus services and could help businesses address Scope 3 transport emissions where further direct reductions are not currently possible.



Gravity launches sustainability AI agent.


Gravity has launched an AI agent designed to support sustainability and energy teams with emissions measurement, reporting and decarbonisation projects.


The agent includes more than 85 specialist skills, covering tasks such as migrating historical emissions data, identifying energy-saving opportunities and drafting regulatory disclosures. Early users reportedly reduced the time spent on some tasks by at least 70%. All changes require human approval, while actions are recorded to keep data audit-ready and emissions calculations reproducible.



Shell sells Indian renewables platform.


Shell has agreed to sell its Indian renewable energy business, Sprng Energy, to Aditya Birla Renewables for $1.8 billion.


Sprng Energy’s portfolio includes 5 GW of solar and wind capacity, comprising 3.3 GW of operating assets and 1.7 GW of contracted projects. Shell said the sale forms part of its strategy to streamline its power portfolio and redirect capital towards higher-return areas. The transaction is expected to complete by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.



ECB widens climate risk rules.


The European Central Bank will extend climate risk adjustments within its collateral framework to eligible loans made to non-financial companies.


The value assigned to loans used as collateral by banks will be reduced according to the borrower’s exposure to climate-transition risks. Assessments will consider the company’s sector, its individual risk exposure and the remaining loan term, with a maximum additional reduction of 5%. The measure is expected to take effect no earlier than the end of 2027.



Virgin secures $410m fleet finance.


Virgin Australia has secured a US$410 million sustainability-linked facility to finance nine fuel-efficient Boeing 737-8 aircraft.


Four aircraft have already been delivered, with the remaining deliveries expected by September. The newer models are designed to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by approximately 20% compared with the aircraft they replace. The financing terms are linked to predefined carbon-reduction targets benchmarked against the Transition Pathway Initiative’s below-two-degrees pathway.



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