Bringing you the latest sustainability news from around the globe
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As June begins, the sustainability landscape is shifting fast. This month’s highlights include major International legal actions, an Australian greenwashing claim, energy milestones, and bold moves from companies leading the change. Dive in to see how today’s decisions are shaping a more sustainable future.
Interesting news
With Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday approaching, Ocean, he has said, is the greatest message he has ever told.
In his latest documentary, Sir David Attenborough highlights the alarming rate at which species are disappearing, urging immediate action to safeguard our planet's biodiversity. He emphasizes that without concerted global efforts, many species may vanish before we even have a chance to study them. This serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance of our ecosystems and the pressing need for conservation.
Let us know, have you watched this poignant documentary yet?
Legal action
Peruvian farmer’s lawsuit sets precedent in climate litigation
In a landmark case, Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya sued German energy giant RWE, claiming its greenhouse gas emissions contributed to glacial melting near his hometown, raising flood risks. While the court dismissed the case due to a lack of immediate threat, it recognised that major emitters could be held liable for climate damage across borders, a precedent that could shape future climate litigation against big polluters.
ClientEarth is supporting legal action against Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Danone, accusing them of exaggerating their plastic recycling efforts and misleading the public about their environmental impact. The case reflects rising demand for corporate accountability and could set an important precedent for how green claims are scrutinised and regulated.
UK citizens take climate case to European Human Rights Court
Two Britons, Doug Paulley and Kevin Jordan, are taking the UK government to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming its weak climate adaptation policies violate their fundamental rights. One faces health risks from heatwaves; the other lost his seaside home to climate-related storms. The case builds on a 2024 ruling against Switzerland and marks a growing trend: using human rights law to hold governments accountable for climate inaction.
A new report shows UK banks have poured £75 billion into fossil fuel projects known as ‘carbon bombs’ massive developments that could blow global climate goals off course. Despite public net-zero promises, these investments expose a major disconnect between climate commitments and actual financing. Campaigners say it’s time for banks to back up their words with action, urging greater transparency and a serious rethink of where capital is flowing.
Parents for Climate, Australia, settle landmark greenwashing case
In Australia, Parents for Climate settled a major case with EnergyAustralia over misleading claims about its 'Go Neutral' carbon offset program. The group argued the company gave customers a false sense of impact by suggesting offsets erased fossil fuel emissions. The case reflects a wider surge in climate litigation as scrutiny of greenwashing intensifies.
EU Court upholds ban on bottom trawling in protected waters
In a major win for ocean conservation, the EU Court has upheld the ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), confirming that member states can legally restrict destructive fishing to safeguard fragile ecosystems. The case, brought by a German fishing group, challenged a 2022 North Sea regulation but the court’s decision strengthens the EU’s stance on science-led marine protection, just ahead of the European Oceans Pact.
ASIC raises the bar: New guidance sets clear expectations for sustainability reporting
Australia’s financial watchdog, ASIC, has just raised the bar for climate reporting. Under new guidelines (RG 280), companies must treat sustainability disclosures with the same precision as financial statements or risk legal consequences. Directors can be held liable for misleading climate claims. From 2026, reporting will need to cover emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, climate risk strategy, and scenario modelling for both 1.5°C and >2°C futures. With enforcement on the horizon, ASIC is urging businesses to prepare now, because vague won’t cut it anymore.
EU Ombudsman investigates 'Omnibus' Sustainability Law Rollback
The EU Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s handling of the controversial ‘Omnibus’ proposal, following complaints from civil society groups that it could dilute vital environmental and corporate accountability laws, including the CSDDD. The probe questions the lack of transparency and absence of a climate impact assessment, signalling mounting pressure over how EU climate policy is shaped, and whose interests it ultimately serves.
Why Regional Accuracy Matters in Carbon Accounting
In finance, accuracy is everything. Every cent counts. But in carbon accounting? “Close enough” often passes. Using generic emissions data is like mixing up euros and dollars in your accounts, it skews the numbers and leads to poor decisions.
Regional greenhouse gas (GHG) factors aren’t one-size-fits-all. Different areas have different emission profiles, shaped by their industries, energy sources, transport systems, and local policies. Ignore those differences, and you risk inaccurate reporting, and unnecessary costs.
We’ve been digging into regional data for Australia, and the contrast is clear: where you measure really matters.
If you're buying carbon credits or paying emissions penalties, precision isn’t just nice to have, it's essential.
@eco-shaper lets you choose your region, just like you’d select a currency in your financial system. Because carbon data should be just as accurate as your P&L.
New TNFD guide urges boards to take nature risks seriously
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has published a new guide to help board directors navigate nature-related risks and impacts. It urges boards to evaluate how their organisation depends on and affects nature and how these links influence long-term performance. As pressure from regulators and investors grows, the TNFD calls for nature risks to be treated with the same rigour as financial and climate risks, encouraging a shift from passive reporting to active oversight.
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s largest pension fund, has launched its first formal impact investment policy, aiming to deliver strong financial returns while supporting measurable social and environmental outcomes. This move reflects a broader shift among institutional investors to embed sustainability into core strategy, responding to growing pressure from regulators, beneficiaries, and society, and setting a new standard for aligning capital with global climate and development goals.
China’s CO₂ emissions fell by 1.6% year-on-year in early 2025, a rare drop driven by rapid growth in wind, solar, and nuclear energy rather than economic slowdown. Power sector emissions declined by 5.8%, even as electricity demand increased, marking a structural shift towards cleaner energy. While emissions remain near peak levels, the trend suggests meaningful progress, with experts stressing the need for continued policy action to meet China’s climate targets of peaking emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.
Global green economy reaches $7.9 trillion valuation
The global green economy has reached a valuation of $7.9 trillion, up from $7.2 trillion at the start of 2024, according to the London Stock Exchange. With a 15% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, it now ranks as the world’s second-fastest-growing sector after technology, highlighting the rising influence of sustainable industries in shaping global economic development.
