For What It's Earth - Issue 41: February 07, 2024

Litigation

The US Chamber of Commerce, along with other business groups, sued California in federal district court over two new climate disclosure laws, SB 253 and 261. The lawsuit contends that the laws violate the First Amendment by "unlawfully attempt[ing] to regulate speech related to climate change," are precluded by the Clean Air Act, and are also invalid under the Dormant Commerce Clause and principles of federalism. The lawsuit may also be a preview of likely legal challenges to the US Securities and Exchange Commission's climate-disclosure rule, which is expected to be finalized later this year.

Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative, a leading sustainability reporting standards setter, has published a revised version of its biodiversity standard (GRI 101) to require more stringent mandatory reporting across a range of categories to drive increased transparency and accountability, as well as to incorporate international best practices for halting