CSR News – November 14, 2025: COP30, Greenwashing and Climate

Climate Disinformation: Ten States Sign an International Declaration

• At COP30 in Belém, climate disinformation was recognized for the first time as a major obstacle, with ten states, including France, signing an international declaration to protect the integrity of environmental information.
• This initiative highlighted the importance of protecting journalists and scientists, as well as promoting legal and educational frameworks to counter the spread of false information.
• The process took place amid debates over the effectiveness of climate solutions and increased mobilization of Indigenous peoples in the negotiations.

Source: Vert le Média – “At COP30, France and Nine Other States Sign the First Declaration Against Climate Disinformation”

Growth in Renewables Still Insufficient to Meet Energy Demand

• The International Energy Agency presented its annual report at COP30, indicating that despite strong growth in renewable energy infrastructures and new global consumption records, demand for oil and natural gas will continue to rise until 2050 in the baseline scenario.
• This trend has kept global greenhouse gas emissions stable, while significant reductions would be needed to limit global warming.
• Only strict implementation of national commitments and increased management of energy consumption would trigger a transformation aligned with international climate objectives.

Source: Vert le Média – “Renewable Growth Will Not Be Enough to Reduce GHG Emissions in a ‘World Thirsty for Energy’”

European Parliament Weakens Green Deal Standards

• In the European Parliament, an alliance between right-wing and far-right parties enabled the adoption of a sweeping legislative text rolling back sustainability standards applied to companies, directly targeting the CSRD and the CS3D.
• The vote represented a major setback for the social and environmental ambitions of the European Green Deal.
• The decision, seen as a historical rupture, marked a profound shift in the regulatory direction of the European project.

Source: Novethic – “Omnibus: The European Parliament Votes an Unprecedented Dismantling of the Green Deal”

EU Forces Airlines to Drop Misleading Environmental Claims

• The European Commission has reached an agreement with more than 20 airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa and KLM, to amend environmentally misleading claims following an EU investigation into greenwashing.
• The measure aims to strengthen transparency for consumers by prohibiting claims that CO2 emissions from flights can be neutralized through financial contributions or the use of alternative fuels.
• Consumer protection authorities will monitor compliance with these commitments and may take action in cases of non-compliance to prevent systemic greenwashing in the aviation sector.

Source: ESG Today – “Airlines Commit to Change Environmental Claims After EU Greenwashing Investigation”

France’s Highest Administrative Court Confirms Fine Against CNews for Climate Skepticism

• In November 2025, the French Council of State confirmed the sanction imposed by Arcom against CNews for broadcasting climate-skeptic statements without rebuttal in the August 2023 episode of “Punchline Été.”
• The decision highlighted the responsibility of audiovisual channels in tackling climate disinformation and the regulator’s role in addressing this issue.
• It is the first official sanction in France for this reason, setting a legal precedent and imposing financial and legal consequences on broadcasters.

Source: Vert le Média – “The Council of State Confirms CNews Conviction for Climate Disinformation: A First in France”

Doctors’ Ability to Prescribe Remote Work Sparks Health Concerns

• Two amendments adopted on October 31, 2025, as part of the Social Security Financing Bill, proposed allowing general practitioners to prescribe remote work as a full or partial alternative to sick leave, under strict conditions.
• The measure, supported by MPs Stéphane Viry and Nicolas Turquois, aims to prevent professional exclusion and reduce both the cost and frequency of sick leave, while maintaining the connection between employees and employers.
• However, concerns have been raised about general practitioners’ ability to assess a patient’s suitability for remote work and the potential health risks, while the decree detailing implementation is still pending final adoption.

Source: Novethic – “Remote Work on Prescription: An Alternative to Sick Leave That Could Be Counterproductive”

Political Pressure on OFB and ADEME in the 2026 Budget

• Right-wing and far-right MPs proposed eliminating the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), ADEME, and the National Public Debate Commission as part of the 2026 budget, citing arguments of rationalization and cost-cutting.
• The initiative raised concerns about consequences for citizen participation and the implementation of public policies on ecological and energy transition.
• These amendments were examined on November 12, 2025, in the National Assembly and could significantly reshape France’s environmental governance.

Source: Reporterre – “Budget: The Right and Far Right Want to Scrap OFB and ADEME”

Exploitation of Undocumented Workers in Recycling Revealed

• Undocumented workers, mostly Moroccan, were exploited by subcontractor NTI in waste-sorting centers in the Paris region, working without contracts or protection for major companies such as Veolia, Suez and Paprec.
• Worker collectives, supported by the CGT union, led a significant legal and union battle, resulting in hirings, residency regularizations, and the liquidation of NTI entities after abuses were exposed.
• The Paris labor court is set to rule on the legal responsibility of NTI and its clients, while a human-trafficking complaint seeks to transform the subcontracting chain in the sector.

Source: Reporterre – “We Worked Like Slaves: Undocumented Recycling Workers Forced Suez and Veolia to Back Down”

SBTi Updates Corporate Net-Zero Standard in Response to Climate Challenges

• SBTi published a new provisional version of its Corporate Net-Zero Standard, updating criteria for defining, assessing and tracking corporate decarbonization commitments toward carbon neutrality.
• The draft introduces diversified target-setting options, stricter rules on the use of environmental attribute certificates, and reinforced requirements for large companies, notably regarding transition plans and treatment of residual emissions.
• This update aims to improve accessibility, clarify procedures for companies and harmonize commitments with global climate goals for 2050.

Source: ESG Today – “SBTi Increases Climate Target Flexibility in New Proposed Corporate Net Zero Standard”

Businesses and Ecological Transition: Narratives in Crisis

• Businesses have been urged to deeply transform their storytelling to support the ecological transition by creating new imaginaries and implementing tangible changes in their economic models and behaviors.
• Faced with resource depletion and climate disruption, stakeholder engagement and credible, embodied narratives have become essential to avoid “narrative washing.”
• This dynamic seeks to promote a lasting collective shift in which corporate value is measured by concrete contributions to ecological solutions.

Source: Novethic – “Companies at the Time of New Narratives”