Climate assessments required under SEC proposal

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Climate assessments required under SEC proposal

Some in the ag industry are concerned about the impacts of a new proposal from the Securities Exchange Commission requiring publicly traded companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. 

American Farm Bureau and others say the regulations could have widespread impacts for food and ag companies that would need to collect emissions data from farmers and throughout the supply chain.  Standards would also need to be in place for measuring ag emissions and carbon sequestration.

Securities Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler says the proposal would provide consistent and clear reporting obligations for companies and transparency for investors.

Information to be disclosed would include a company’s direct and indirect emissions along with those in its supply chain and carbon offsets, like those created through farm practices, climate-related risks like weather, and more.