US Securities And Exchange Commission Releases Long-Anticipated Climate-Related Disclosure Rules

On March 6, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its widely anticipated climate-related disclosure rules (the Final Rules). The Final Rules require registrants to disclose certain climate-related information in registration statements and annual reports. These requirements are a part of the SEC's effort to standardize climate-related disclosures by public companies. Notably, the SEC has relaxed some of the disclosure requirements found in the initially proposed rules, in response to public comments.

Canadian public issuers should familiarize themselves with the requirements set out in the Final Rules, as Canada's own climate-related public disclosures, which the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) are developing, may mirror some requirements for public issuers now in place in the United States.