The Trump administration is "actively attempt[ing] to slow down the pace of the energy transition in every way that they can," including by "bullying" countries into abandoning climate policies by tying them to trade deals, says former Vice President Al Gore. The situation is fueling greenhushing, but President Donald Trump's tactics probably won't work for long because most countries will press ahead with climate action regardless, says Gore. "The market forces that have been unleashed, especially in the last 10 years since the Paris agreement, are the most powerful agents of change."

Nearly 200 shipping companies have urged International Maritime Organization members to support regulations, including a global fee on greenhouse gases, when they meet in London in October. The Getting to Zero Coalition and the International Chamber of Shipping back the fee to provide certainty for investment in cleaner technologies, but the Trump administration has opposed it, viewing it as a carbon tax that would raise costs.

Multinational companies with exposure to Europe must be aware of ESG compliance obligations or risk reputational damage, fines and other adverse outcomes, write Ruth Guerra and Weronika Zurawska of KPMG. Effective compliance will require "deep traceability and data systems," they note, discussing measures including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and EU Deforestation Regulation.

Biopharmaceutical companies are adopting sustainable practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and align with the United Nations' net-zero goals by 2050. Initiatives include Thermo Fisher Scientific's zero-waste manufacturing sites, AustinPx's solvent-free drug manufacturing technology and SK pharmteco's use of renewable energy. Despite progress in reducing direct emissions, addressing supply chain emissions remains a challenge for the industry.

A Conservative Energy Network survey indicates that most Americans support expanding the power grid and adding transmission lines for clean energy and reliability. The poll shows that nearly 90% of respondents are concerned about rising energy costs, driven by increased power demand from data centers and electrification. However, the Trump administration's actions, such as canceling a loan guarantee for the Grain Belt Express transmission project, have hindered grid expansion.

Volkswagen's new "unified" battery cell is set to debut in VW's Electric Urban Car Family in 2026, with plans for wide-scale adoption across up to 80% of its EV models by 2030. The prismatic cell is designed for flexibility, accommodating multiple chemistries and form factors, and will be integrated directly into battery packs using cell-to-pack technology.

Stellantis has partnered with Avathor and Italdesign, part of Volkswagen Group, to repurpose end-of-life electric vehicle batteries for the Avathor One, a compact electric vehicle for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. The batteries are reconfigured to offer a range of 31 miles (50 km) between charges. The Avathor One is set to launch in Italy this year, with plans to expand to Spain and other markets.

Per capita carbon emissions from energy consumption declined in every US state from 2005 to 2023, according to the Energy Information Administration. The EIA attributes the 30% decrease in per capita emissions to a shift from coal to natural gas and renewables for electricity generation and noted that Maryland had the largest decline at 49%, achieving the lowest per capita CO2 emissions of any state in 2023.