ESG

Extreme weather is no longer an abstract headline, it’s becoming a lived experience for much of the world. Deloitte’s latest Sustainability Signals survey shows that more than half of people globally have faced events like intense summer heat, flooding, or powerful storms in the past few years, with these encounters strongly shaping attitudes, spending habits, and workplace expectations.

The Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) gathered for its 15th meeting recently, with more voices at the table and a clear determination to accelerate Malaysia’s climate agenda. Co-chaired by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia, the committee welcomed nine new members, bringing a broader and more diverse representation of the financial sector into the conversation.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued a no-action letter signaling a temporary pause on enforcement of important ESG disclosure requirements. The decision comes as financial institutions across Europe brace for yet another wave of sustainability reporting reforms, and the regulators themselves admit things are in flux.

In July 2025, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) released a dramatically slimmed-down version of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), part of a broader rethink of how the EU balances transparency with practicality. At the heart of the update is fewer datapoints, more usability, and a clearer nod to the real-world pressures companies are facing.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw issued a strongly worded statement on July 23 criticizing the agency’s response to a federal court order in ongoing litigation over its climate-related disclosure rules.

A growing number of global companies continue to see sustainability as a pathway to long-term value, not just risk mitigation, according to the 2025 Sustainable Signals: Corporates report from the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing.

Even in the face of shifting regulations, mounting data demands, and a murky compliance landscape, companies aren’t backing down from their ESG reporting commitments. That’s the central message from KPMG’s 2025 ESG Assurance Maturity Index, which paints a nuanced picture of steady, if uneven, progress, and a growing divide between those leading the charge and those still trying to find their footing.