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ARTICLE · 20 OCTOBER 2026

Simpson Thacher Sustainability And ESG: Regulatory Update – October 2026

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
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On October 12, the California Office of Administrative Law approved the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Initial Regulation implementing SB 261 and SB 253, California’s climate disclosure laws, with immediate effect.

United StatesEnvironment
Leah Malone
Leah Malone
Matt Feehily
Matt Feehily
May Mansour
May Mansour

Practice News:

  • Matt Feehily has been named one of Legal 500’s United Kingdom Green Ambassadors 2027. For more information, see here.
  • Leah Malone, Head of Sustainability and ESG Practice, presented on a panel entitled “Climate Risk and Sustainable Investing: Fiduciary and Strategic Considerations for Asset Managers,” sponsored by the Practising Law Institute, on September 18.
  • Matt Feehily, Sustainability and ESG Partner, was quoted in the FT Ignites article, “Private markets managers to continue SFDR reporting despite rule changes,” on September 29. For more information, see here.

Americas

California Finalizes Initial Regulation Implementing SB 261 and SB 253

On October 12, the California Office of Administrative Law approved the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Initial Regulation implementing SB 261 and SB 253, California’s climate disclosure laws, with immediate effect. The regulation confirms November 10, 2026, as the first deadline for Scope 1 and 2 emissions

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