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Veerless’ 2025 ESG Rewind: A Year of Recalibration 

For sustainability professionals, January marked both the start of the new year and the one year mark of a new administration with outsized impact on the sustainability space as well. As we walk into the second month of 2026, the Veerless team took some time to look back at 2025 and the shifts in sustainability we all felt this past year.  

It’s no secret that political pressure in the U.S. affected sentiment around ESG for companies both stateside and around the world. But as strong as that influence was, it certainly wasn’t the only global trend affecting our field. Evolving global rules, shifts in expectations around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and other social topics, and louder conversations about the role of business in today’s global environment forced many organizations to retreat and recalibrate. “Wait and see” became a common adage for internal leaders and consulting leaders alike.  

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Your 2026 ESG, Sustainability, and Corporate Responsibility Reading List

Some years are about learning new tools. Some years are about sharpening arguments. And some years are about survival. For many sustainability professionals, 2025 was the third option. So it won’t surprise you that many of my reads last year and recommendations are about learning how to live inside uncertainty without losing our moral footing.

If the early years of ESG were about proving relevance, and the middle years were about scaling systems, 2025 was the year many of us quietly asked: What actually holds when the noise gets louder, the timelines get shorter, and the answers stay maddeningly incomplete?

My hope as you put these on your 2026 reading list is that you find them steadying. They grapple with climate, capitalism, ethics, connection, and catastrophe — not to scare us senseless, but to help us stay human, grounded, and courageous in the work. You won’t find easy optimism here. You also won’t find despair. What you will find is perspective — ancient and modern, fictional and analytical — on how to keep going when clarity is partial and stakes are high.

Let’s dive in.

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Tall wooden bookshelf with vintage books and ladder

Friday 5 Faves — “CliFi” Novels, a New Genre of Climate Change Related Fiction

Most of my network knows I’m a prolific reader. Every  year, I publish my annual list of sustainability, ESG, and CR-related books on LinkedIn in January and I’m grateful it’s become a “must read” for most of you. But I have been hiding a deep, dark secret about my reading for years – I’m a binge reader. I love to read more than anything, but I’ve had trouble doing it daily since I was a child. Instead, I go on reading binges during vacations, long weekends, Audibles on car rides, etc. But this year, I vowed to make a change. Instead of saving up 10+ books to read on vacation, I set a New Year’s resolution to read “25 minutes per day in 2025” and I’ve done it. Legit, I’m at 198 days in a streak. And I’ve read 67 books so far this year. I’m not even humble bragging, friends, I’m excited about it.  

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High voltage transmission towers standing in a field at sunset with a city skyline in the distance.

Power Surge – Thoughts From Aspen Ideas Week

After decades of stability, the U.S. power grid is at an inflection point. Driven by data centers, transportation electrification, and industrial growth, energy demand is expected to rise sharply by 25% by the year 2030 and 78% by 2050.  This rise isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a turning point for how we think about energy, infrastructure, and climate resilience.

This shift from stability to strain is already emerging in places like New York State, where the rapid adoption of EVs is pressuring local utilities to upgrade aging distribution systems. Many neighborhoods weren’t designed for the concentrated demand of multiple EVs charging at once, raising the risk of voltage drops, brownouts, or even outages. Without urgent investment, some areas may soon be unable to support these new loads.

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European Union flag flying outdoors against a cloudy sky, symbolizing unity and European identity.

Summer 2025 FAQ: The EU’s ESG Omnibus – What Just Happened, and Why It Matters

In early 2025, the European Commission introduced the “Omnibus” package—a sweeping two-part reform aimed at recalibrating the EU’s sprawling ESG rulebook. Dubbed by some as an ESG reality check, the package streamlines major sustainability frameworks like the CSRD, CSDDD, CBAM, and EU Taxonomy. The core idea? Refocus ESG requirements where they truly matter—targeting high-impact emitters, cutting bureaucratic noise, and giving companies more breathing room to invest in tangible decarbonization efforts. It’s not deregulation; it’s precision engineering for a more effective, less burdensome sustainability regime.

For companies navigating this shift, the implications are big. Many small and mid-sized firms are now out of scope, thresholds have risen, and compliance timelines have been pushed back. While some lament the reduced pressure on the value chain, others welcome the strategic clarity. The Omnibus may shrink the regulatory net, but it sharpens its teeth—zeroing in on the largest players who drive the bulk of emissions. For multinationals juggling EU, U.S., and California mandates, the message is clear: ESG compliance is no longer one-size-fits-all. It’s time for modular, adaptive strategies that prioritize impact over paperwork.

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Lush green mountain landscape with a woman sitting and enjoying the scenic view, wearing a hat and backpack.

Friday 5 Faves – Sustainable Travel Products 

As spring and summer travel plans start to take shape, we’re shining a light on five standout companies that are making sustainability part of the journey. Embracing eco-friendly habits doesn’t mean sacrificing adventure. In fact, these brands prove it can enhance the experience. From responsibly sourced and recycled materials to energy-efficient manufacturing and ethical labor practices, their approach to travel gear is as thoughtful as it is practical. 

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Connected smart city digital infrastructure with data transfer lines over urban landscape.

AI and Sustainability in Smart Cities

Cities are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to meet the growing demands of climate adaptation and sustainability. From real-time monitoring to predictive insights, AI is helping local governments act faster, plan smarter, and respond with greater precision. As climate impacts accelerate, the role of AI in urban systems is becoming less experimental and more essential. How cities choose to harness that technology now will shape their ability to remain livable and resilient in the decades ahead. This post concludes our series on how AI is accelerating sustainability efforts across sectors—closing with a look at its transformative impact on the future of urban life.

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Serene fjord landscape with mountains, lush greenery, and cozy cabins in Norway.

Sustainability on the Move: Lessons from Scandinavian Travel

When you work in sustainability, it’s hard to turn off your “green radar”—especially when you travel. Every transportation choice, every hotel stay, every meal is an opportunity to observe how the world is changing (or not) when it comes to sustainability. Recently, we at Veerless had the opportunity to travel through Scandinavia—Marcy to Norway and Kristen to Finland. While our trips had different purposes, we returned inspired by the same thing: a clear, thoughtful commitment to sustainability woven into the fabric of daily life and travel in this part of the world. 

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Lush tropical rainforest with a cascading river flowing through the valley on a misty day. Dense green foliage covers the hills, creating a serene and natural landscape.

AI for Biodiversity: How AI is Transforming Conservation and Protecting Our Planet 

The urgency to protect Earth’s biodiversity has never been greater. With ecosystems under constant threat from climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution, the need for innovative, data-driven solutions is clear. AI isn’t just an emerging tool—it’s a game-changer, revolutionizing conservation with cutting-edge analysis, predictive power, and real-time action to protect species and habitats. 

This isn’t just another tech trend. It’s a bold shift in how we approach biodiversity conservation, where intelligence meets strategy, and ambition fuels action. As the World Council for Sustainable Business Development notes, “if biodiversity loss is bad for humans, it’s also bad for business.” The world needs more action on biodiversity protection. In this third installment of our AI and Sustainability series, we explore how AI is shaking up traditional conservation methods. 

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