In March 2025, the United States officially distanced itself from the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The decision, announced by the U.S. Mission to the UN, marks a break from the country’s international commitment to key issues such as combating climate change, reducing inequalities, and promoting sustainable development.
This sharp reversal comes after months of gradual disengagement by major U.S. corporations from ESG principles and diversity & inclusion policies. Notable examples include the downsizing of Meta’s D&I initiatives and BlackRock’s withdrawal from the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative.
From the United States to Europe
In the U.S., the so-called ESG backlash has led several Republican-led states to introduce measures discouraging investments based on environmental and social criteria, arguing that such strategies disadvantage traditional industries and promote an ideological agenda.
In Europe, this phenomenon is translating into a push to simplify ESG regulations, with the stated aim of enhancing competitiveness. However, this trend, backed by certain political and industrial representatives, is raising concerns among sector experts.
Easing restrictions on these principles—embracing this “reversal in the spirit of the times”—risks, according to Mario Calderini, professor at the School of Management at Politecnico di Milano and spokesperson for Torino Social Impact, causing Europe to lose its identity and global positioning. These principles have been the foundation of its development, and undermining them could significantly diminish its international relevance.
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