The ESG Insider newsletter compiles news and insights on environmental, social and governance developments driving change in business and investment decisions. Subscribe to our ESG Insider newsletter, and listen to the latest ESG Insider podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify or iTunes.
Climate change concerns are pushing some prominent companies to cut ties with coal, but an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis of U.S. regulatory data found many insurers hold significant investments in companies that depend on the fuel for revenue.
Our Chart of the Week ranks the top 20 insurance companies by their exposure to coal through their investments. This week's newsletter also features our latest ESG Insider podcast, about a green classification system to help investors and companies identify and make environmentally friendly decision. And we dig into the increasing risks that U.S. technology giants face from states' biometric privacy protections.
Chart of the Week

Top Stories
Amid climate change pressure, insurers hold billions in coal-exposed investments
A review of filings showed that the 20 insurers with the most coal exposure held, as of 2018, a cumulative $39.22 billion in investments in companies that mine coal or power producers that generated more than 30% of their electricity from the fuel in 2017.
States' biometric privacy push could threaten big tech in U.S.
Technology giants could soon find themselves in a "very confusing world," if states pursue biometric privacy measures similar to the one in Illinois, legal experts said. There, private citizens have the right to sue companies if they violated the law, putting them on the line for what could be billions.
Podcast: New E.U. taxonomy helps investors, companies identify green investments
The latest ESG Insider podcast explores the European Union's ongoing efforts to promote sustainable investing, including through a new taxonomy system that is designed to help investors and companies understand what is actually a green investment.
Environmental
Scientists find U.S. water infrastructure unprepared for extreme rain events
Corporate renewable demand could reach 85 GW by 2030, but challenges loom
Under economic pressure, Brazil enlists military to fight Amazon fires
Social
Multinationals come together to combat social, environmental challenges at G-7
Google removes 210 YouTube channels for behaving in 'coordinated manner'
Governance
Top Wall Street regulator rolls out new guidance on proxy advisory firms
Zillow Group discloses new ESG metrics
ESG Indexes

Upcoming Events
ESG and Sustainability Symposium 2019
UBS
Sept. 2
London
PRI in Person
Principles for Responsible Investment
Sept. 10-12
Paris
Banking on ESG: How will the banking sector adapt in an era of global volatility
Responsible Investor
Sept. 16
Impact Investor Forum
Global Impact Investing Network
Oct. 2-3
Amsterdam
ESG Integration Summit
Skytop Strategies
Oct. 17
Stockholm
Annual Forum on Green Finance and Investment
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Oct. 29-30
Paris
SRI30
The SRI Conference and Community
Nov. 11-15
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Questions or suggestions? Contact S&P Global Market Intelligence's ESG News team at ESGNews@spglobal.com.
