As companies prepare for their SEC filings and issuance of annual reports the question of climate risk disclosure becomes an issue to consider. With the events and rapid developments in the courts, states, Congress, and in Bali, companies may find it of particular importance this year to review their environmental disclosures for potential additional statements about climate change and greenhouse gas regulation. Of course, this will depend on their business and the location of their facilities.
What is important to consider is the fact that three separate climate change bills filed in Congress call for the SEC to issue an interpretive release, including the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, that was the first climate change bill voted out of the Environment and Public Works Committee. This bill may be considered by the full Senate in 2008.
The text of the climate risk disclosure provision, similar to provisions in two other Senate climate change bills, is found in Section 9002 of the Climate Security Act, S. 2191, and is set forth below:
(a) Regulations- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission (referred to in this section as the `Commission') shall promulgate regulations in accordance with section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m) directing each issuer of securities under that Act, to inform, based on the current expectations and projections and knowledge of facts of the issuer, securities investors of material risks relating to--
(1) the financial exposure of the issuer because of the net global warming pollution emissions of the issuer; and
(2) the potential economic impacts of global warming on the interests of the issuer.
(b) Uniform Format for Disclosure- In carrying out subsection (a), the Commission shall enter into an agreement with the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or another appropriate organization that establishes voluntary standards, to develop a uniform format for disclosing to securities investors information on the risks described in subsection (a).
(c) Interim Interpretive Release-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue an interpretive release clarifying that under items 101 and 303 of Regulation S-K of the Commission under part 229 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act)--
(A) the commitments of the United States to reduce emissions of global warming pollution under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New York on May 9, 1992, are considered to be a material effect; and
(B) global warming constitutes a known trend.
(2) PERIOD OF EFFECTIVENESS- The interpretive release issued under paragraph (1) shall remain in effect until the effective date of the final regulations promulgated under subsection (a).
This provision has not become law, but the SEC is currently reviewing a petition filed by various state pension funds and other socially conscious investors and environmental groups, asking for the SEC to issue an interpretive release to provide guidance for companies and to require climate risk disclosure. Whether this provision becomes law or the SEC independently adopts an interpretive release, the demand for climate risk disclosure in Congress and a significant part of the institutional investment community suggests that corporations that may be impacted by future greenhouse gas emission regulation should evaluate their corporate strategy regarding climate risk disclosure.
