Welcome back: Sales of electric vehicles in the U.S. fell last month, while the broader car market grew. EV dealers cited several factors for the drop, from cooling customer interest to fewer promotions and discounts that juiced sales in the past. One said charging-related concerns were a reason why some of his customers left his showroom with a gas-powered car.

Charging-related concerns are about to trouble the Trump administration, which is being taken to court over its decision earlier this year to halt federal funding for new EV charging stations. The lawsuit from Democratic states including California, Colorado and Washington maintains that the cut in funding deprives the states of money they were promised, and hamstrings their ability to fight climate change and reduce pollution.

Meanwhile, rare-earth elements—those commodities vital for the EV-battery industry and others—will be the hot topic in Switzerland this weekend when the world’s two largest economies meet to discuss trade issues. Analysts expect Beijing to leverage its dominance and export control over critical minerals as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S.

But first, Coca-Cola recently said it may have to become even more reliant on plastic following President Trump’s tariffs on aluminum. In annual meetings over the past two weeks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz all stressed that they’re working to lessen plastic pollution. But regulatory and economic constraints, including tariffs, are complicating their efforts.

Read on for more on these stories and other sustainability news.

Environmentally focused shareholder activists have expressed skepticism over claims by beverage and snack companies that they are making progress on sustainable packaging, and are pushing for more details on the companies' plans to cut their use of plastic, WSJ Pro Sustainable Business's Clara Hudson writes.

In annual meetings over the past two weeks, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Kraft Heinz stressed that they’re still working to lessen plastic pollution.

Pressure has grown on Coca-Cola since December, when it walked back some of its environmental goals. Critics say the company is quietly unwinding a commitment to make 25% of its products in reusable packaging by 2030. Another pledge, made several years ago, to use at least 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030, was watered down to 35% to 40% of recycled material by 2035. 

Speaking at the company’s annual meeting on April 30, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said refillables, including glass bottles, remained a key part of the company's strategy, despite the changes.

Some activist investors say lowering sustainable packaging targets is a worrisome sign that beverage giants are backing off efforts needed to keep worldwide plastic waste from tripling by 2060.

• The Trump Tariffs Are Tilting the Scales in the Coke vs. Pepsi Battle

California and 16 other Democratic-led states are suing the Trump administration over its decision to end billions of dollars in funding meant for the expansion of electric-vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide.

The lawsuit, brought by states including Colorado and Washington on Wednesday, challenges the Trump administration’s move in February instructing states to halt plans for about $5 billion that was intended to build EV fast chargers at highway exits. The charger construction project was proposed in part to calm U.S. drivers’ fears of their batteries running down, Clara Hudson reports.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said President Trump’s “illegal action withholding funds for electric vehicle infrastructure is yet another Trump gift to China—ceding American innovation and killing thousands of jobs.”

The move follows a separate lawsuit earlier this week in which a group of Democratic state attorneys general, led by Letitia James of New York, sued the Trump administration over its decision to end wind-energy development. The lawsuit argued that the move would cripple the wind industry and clean energy efforts.

• EV Sales Streak Grinds to a Sudden Halt

China has announced a crackdown on the smuggling of critical minerals, coming just one day before trade talks with the U.S., in which rare earth restrictions could be on the table, the WSJ reports.

Chinese authorities–including ministries of commerce, public security and state security and customs–convened a meeting in the southern port city of Shenzhen on Friday. According to an official readout, the agencies pledged to step up the enforcement of export controls on strategic mineral resources.

Officials at the meeting said that since China implemented export controls on critical minerals such as gallium, germanium, antimony, tungsten and medium and heavy rare earths, some overseas entities have colluded with domestic actors and constantly updated their smuggling methods in an effort to evade enforcement. They did not specify which countries were involved.

China currently dominates global supply of many critical minerals and holds a near monopoly on the rare-earths industry, serving as the world’s leading miner, refiner and producer of rare earth magnets–essential components in a range of military and civilian technologies, including electric vehicles.

• How China Beat U.S. to Become Top Player in Rare-Earths Refining

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Early opponents of corporate influence in healthcare are spotting parallels in another trusted profession where private equity is making a push: accounting.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we search online and advertisers are falling behind.

IBM has used AI to replace the work of a couple hundred human resources workers. As a result, it has hired more programmers and salespeople, and it promises higher total employment.

WeightWatchers, whose dieting and wellness programs were once a central part of U.S. fitness culture, has filed for bankruptcy to adjust to the increasing use of drugs for weight loss.

• Google signs deals to eliminate potent GHG emissions. (ESG Today)
   
• U.S. carbon removal industry in turmoil. (Trellis)
   
• Woodside staves off investor climate concerns at fiery AGM. (Guardian)
   
• How CSOs can use AI for sustainability. (ESG Dive)
   
• Europe’s wind industry faces uncertainty over Trump’s policies. (NYT)
   
• AI is draining water from the areas that need it most. (Bloomberg)

WSJ Pro Sustainable Business gives you an inside look at how companies are tackling sustainability. Send comments to bureau chief Perry Cleveland-Peck at perry.cleveland-peck@wsj.com and reporters Clara Hudson at clara.hudson@wsj.com and Yusuf Khan at yusuf.khan@wsj.com. Follow us on LinkedIn at wsjperry, clara-hudson and yusuf_khan.