US Chamber Sues Calif. Over Climate Disclosure Laws: Scope of the Laws
At the heart of the dispute lies Senate Bill 253, dubbed the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act. This legislation demands companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue to divulge the extent of their carbon footprint across various operational dimensions. Additionally, Senate Bill 261 requires corporations with revenues exceeding $500 million to furnish biennial reports detailing their climate-related financial risks.
US Chamber Sues Calif. Over Climate Disclosure Laws: Resistance and Concerns
Governor Newsom, upon signing the bills, acknowledged concerns regarding implementation deadlines and potential financial burdens on businesses. Yet, the plaintiffs argue that such laws coerce companies into expressing views they may not endorse, transcending commercial necessity.
Global Implications
The lawsuit also raises concerns about California’s perceived ambition to regulate global conduct. While conceding California’s jurisdiction over emissions within its borders, the plaintiffs vehemently oppose the state’s foray into global emissions regulation, branding it a novel form of speech regulation.
