The SEC pulls back its climate reporting rules. California pushes its rules forward. The EU moves to simplify a pair of corporate sustainability directives. New rules in Japan, slated to take effect next year, will significantly raise the bar in Asia. The road ahead for corporate ESG principles is anything but clear, but Esther Toth of Workiva says delaying climate plans may be short-sighted.
Over the past year, the momentum behind corporate sustainability has shifted in pace and tone. Where once there was closer alignment across public and private sectors on the need to tackle systemic climate risks, support a just energy transition and advance human rights, today’s environment is more fragmented, politicized and marked by competing priorities. Teams that have been focusing on managing sustainability risks and opportunities now find themselves navigating supply chain disruptions, budget constraints and a recalibrated policy landscape.
The evolving patchwork of regulations related to the disclosure of sustainability- and climate-related risks and opportunities has put some pressure on businesses. Yet, while the path has become more complex, progress has not stalled altogether. A recent Workiva survey found that 85% of companies are pressing ahead with climate disclosures regardless of political…
