It is time to Mandate Climate Disclosures

87% of Americans want U.S. companies to be transparent about their impact on people and the planet, according to a recent poll. (ceres.org) Bluesphere Partners is committed to helping organizations positively impact the people and plant through disclosure, transparency and future-minded sustainability planning and strategies. Although this has been our approach as sustainability practitioners, the speed and scale of which companies need to accelerate is not reaching the mark to avert climate catastrophe. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has just proposed new rule changes that require certain mandatory climate-risk disclosures from all U.S. public companies, including greenhouse gas emissions. The new rules are outlined as Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors. For those of us who have been advocating for climate disclosure, this is a moment to celebrate. This announcement represents an opportunity to shape the responses of U.S. financial markets to climate change and protect investors from climate risk. The role of the SEC is protecting investors, maintaining fair and orderly functioning of the securities markets, and facilitating capital formation. The proposed mandatory climate disclosure rule will give investors clear, consistent and comparable reporting from companies to produce useful investment insights and ensure financial markets can properly price and act on the physical and transitional risks and opportunities of climate change.