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Mighty Earth highlights a new palm oil policy from BNP Paribas that requires financed companies to protect forests, indigenous people, and adhere to human rights and labor standards. The author argues that this shift reflects a growing trend where deforestation is becoming a business liability, citing the $4 billion value decline of IOI following its suspension by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. The document calls for other financial institutions to adopt similar policies and urges BNP Paribas and HSBC to apply these standards to POSCO Daewoo, which has cleared 99 square kilometers of forest in Papua, Indonesia, between September 2015 and April 2017.

Mighty Earth's May 2017 update uses satellite monitoring to demonstrate that deforestation continues at soy farms supplying major traders Cargill and Bunge in Brazil and Bolivia. Despite public commitments and pressure from consumer companies, the report identifies 60 square kilometers of new clearing and 120 square kilometers of planned clearing across visited sites. The document highlights a disconnect between the corporate image of traders and the reality on the ground, while detailing the varying levels of support and action from global consumer brands regarding the expansion of deforestation-free soy commitments across South America.

The report argues that Olam, a Singapore-based agribusiness, operates a 'black box' in its palm oil supply chain by concealing the identity of its suppliers, which allows the company to source oil from producers engaged in deforestation. In Gabon, the report alleges that Olam has cleared approximately 20,000 hectares of forest since 2012, violating FSC standards. In Southeast Asia, Olam's lack of transparency is linked to the 'haze' crisis caused by peatland and forest fires. The document calls for Olam to adopt a 'zero deforestation' policy, publish its supplier list, and restore destroyed habitats.

Mighty Earth and an international coalition of civil society organizations have called on wind energy companies—including Siemens, Nordex, Suzlon, Iberdrola, and Gamesa—to stop sourcing wind towers from Korindo's subsidiary, KOUSA. The organization argues that the climate benefits of the wind energy generated by these towers are negated by the environmental damage caused by Korindo's deforestation and burning practices. In response, Gamesa, Siemens, and Nordex stated they are investigating the matter, while Clipper and Vestas confirmed they are not customers of Korindo.

The Climate Accountability Scorecard evaluates the climate-related actions and disclosures of several major fossil fuel companies, including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Arch Coal, CONSOL Energy, and Peabody Energy. The report assigns scores based on criteria such as support for the Paris Agreement, the use of internal carbon pricing, and the transparency of greenhouse gas emissions reporting. Findings indicate a widespread lack of company-wide emissions reduction plans and varying levels of transparency regarding low-carbon research and development investments.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found that none of the 13 evaluated consumer goods companies can guarantee their beef is deforestation-free. While some companies like Mars, McDonald's, and Walmart show more progress, most lack comprehensive policies, transparency, and traceability for indirect supplying ranches. The report highlights that beef production is the primary driver of tropical deforestation in South America, contributing significantly to global carbon emissions and biodiversity loss.

The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that the American Chemistry Council (ACC) systematically obstructs science-based chemical regulations to protect industry profits. The report details the ACC's use of 'revolving door' lobbyists, political donations to key congressional committees, and the promotion of flawed industry-funded studies to delay regulations on substances like BPA, flame retardants, and formaldehyde. It further examines the ACC's efforts to weaken the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), limit public access to chemical facility risk data, and influence international trade agreements like the TTIP to prevent the regulation of endocrine disruptors.

The document contrasts ConocoPhillips' claims of uncertainty regarding climate change's effects on public health with findings from the IPCC and the U.S. National Climate Assessment. It further highlights contradictions between the company's public acknowledgments of human-induced warming and its support for climate-denying trade groups and opposition to U.S. climate legislation.

The report denounces Anglo American for using its privileged access to governments and the UNFCCC to undermine genuine climate action in favor of 'false solutions' like carbon markets and carbon capture. It highlights the severe social and environmental impacts of the El Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia, including water scarcity and the displacement of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. The document argues that corporate capture of international climate negotiations prevents the addressing of systemic causes of climate change and calls for the complete removal of corporate influence from climate policy-making.

The letter warns BHP Billiton's leadership that funding climate denial and obstructing climate action may lead to personal civil or criminal litigation and impact Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance coverage.

A group of international organisations is calling on EDF Trading to clarify its relationship with CDM project 2716 ("Grid connected energy efficient power generation") in India. While the company issued a correction in Enerpresse stating it is no longer contractually associated with the supercritical coal plant project and has never purchased its credits, the signatories note that this information is missing from the company's website. The letter highlights concerns over the project's compliance with national legislation and sustainable development criteria, as well as impacts on local communities, and asks for details on when and how EDF Trading ended its involvement.

Wilmar International, a major global palm oil producer, is accused of systemic environmental and human rights violations despite its stated CSR strategy. The document details specific land-grabbing and deforestation cases in Indonesia, Nigeria, and Uganda, and lists the major banks and pension funds providing financial support. It highlights the gap between the ESG policies of these financiers and the reported actions of Wilmar, noting that the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global divested from the company in 2012 due to sustainability concerns.

The report evaluates 14 U.S. trade and business associations across three metrics: acceptance of climate science, support for climate action, and endorsement of specific policy proposals. The findings categorize these groups into three tiers: those that misrepresent science and offer limited policy support, those that accept science but offer limited support, and those that accept science and provide significant policy support. The authors argue that some associations use scientific misinformation and vague qualifiers to block meaningful climate policy, and they urge member companies to pressure their associations to adopt science-based positions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists explains its analysis of 28 S&P 500 companies, finding that half misrepresented climate science in public communications despite expressing general concern about climate change. The document highlights the contradiction between corporate public images and their indirect actions, such as funding anti-climate science members of Congress or trade groups. It argues that current disclosure requirements are insufficient to hold corporations accountable for their influence on national and state-level climate policy, including efforts to undercut wind energy and roll back renewable energy laws.

The document examines Vale's dual strategy of expanding global coal and mining operations while lobbying for lenient carbon offsetting regulations and implementing 'green' projects that the authors claim exacerbate the climate crisis. It highlights specific negative impacts in Mozambique and Brazil, and describes how Vale influences national and international climate policy to benefit its business interests.

The document examines how Vale leverages its relationship with the Brazilian government to lobby for lenient climate regulations and financial incentives for carbon offsets. It highlights the contradiction between Vale's corporate sustainability claims and its actual operations, specifically citing the Moatize coal project in Mozambique and the TKCSA steel plant in Brazil. The report characterizes these market-based mechanisms, including the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and REDD, as 'false solutions' that facilitate corporate profit while causing social displacement and environmental degradation.

The report criticizes the Copenhagen Accord for promoting private finance and market mechanisms over binding public commitments. It highlights how investment banks like Barclays and Santander, and companies like Shell and Lafarge, use carbon trading and REDD projects to generate profit or 'greenwash' their images. The authors advocate for a transition to climate justice, proposing a 'Robin Hood Tax' on financial transactions and the replacement of REDD with UN-wide negotiations to stop deforestation.

The document criticizes the 'Copenhagen Accord' for shifting the burden of climate action to developing nations and promoting private finance over public obligations. It highlights how global banks like Barclays and Santander, and corporations like Shell and Lafarge, use carbon markets and REDD projects for 'greenwashing' and profit. The report concludes that climate finance should be mandatory, public, and managed by the UN to ensure it serves the most vulnerable populations rather than corporate interests.

The report finds that IOI Corporation is failing to meet its sustainability commitments in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. Evidence shows the company developed plantations without approved Environmental Impact Assessments, made fraudulent statements about physical activity on the ground, and encroached on permanent forests and peat lands. Additionally, the report notes a significant increase in fire hotspots in newly cleared areas and potential for land rights conflicts with local villagers.

Friends of the Earth criticizes Chrysler for scrapping its plans to produce large volumes of electric vehicles after receiving $15.3 billion in government bailout funds. The organization notes that Chrysler's revised sales targets for 2014 are significantly lower than the 500,000 vehicles promised by 2013, potentially leading to over one million extra tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions starting in 2014.