SEC to vote on contentious climate disclosure rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will vote this week on whether to adopt a contentious rule that would require publicly traded companies to disclose climate change-related information to investors — though the rule could be significantly scaled back compared with what the agency proposed in 2022.
Supporters of the rule say that it would give investors important information about where their money is going, including how much the businesses they could invest in are contributing to climate change.
Opponents argue that the rule’s disclosure requirements go beyond the SEC’s duty to help investors make informed decisions. Some critics have gone even farther and accused the agency of pursuing a backdoor climate regulation meant to actually cut emissions.
Two years ago, the SEC proposed to require companies to disclose both the risks climate change poses to their businesses and how much they emit.
The proposed rule would also require some companies to share not only the amount of emissions coming from their operations, but also what is emitted through use of their products by consumers. (Requiring disclosure of such product-use emissions has been described as a way to, for example, differentiate the emissions coming from a traditional car company and an electric car company.)
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
The Biden administration announced its support on Tuesday for a consensus-based, short-term proposal that will promote significant water conservation efforts across the Colorado River basin.
A package of six bills that needs to pass by Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown is drawing intense fire from conservatives in both chambers who are zeroing in on more than 6,000 earmarks buried in the package.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission announced Monday it authorized the state to pursue land swap negotiations with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, despite meeting widespread criticism.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Landmark deal offers Upper Basin tribes a long-awaited foothold in Colorado River discussions (The Colorado Sun)
New push to cut short-lived climate pollutant emissions (Axios)
Death Valley’s ‘Lake Manly’ is shrinking, will no longer take any boats, Park Service says (USA Today)
On Tap
Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:
The Securities and Exchange Commissionwill voteWednesday on whether to adopt a rulerequiring companies to disclose climate-related information
The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on a newly unveiled GOP wildlife conservation bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing titled “ExaminingExtended Producer Responsibility Policies for Consumer Packaging.”The Chairman and CEO of S. C. Johnson & Son is slated to testify.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and a group of Colorado Republicans threatened Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) with a recall effort after the Supreme Court shut down the state’s attempt to bar former President Trump from the primary ballot. Read more
Former President Trump demanded he receive a new trial after a jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million in advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s defamation lawsuit. Read more
Opinions in The Hill
Op-ed related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: