Oct. 18, 2018
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should require corporate managers to be honest with their shareholders about how they are planning for the long term. Shareholders have a right to know if oil executives are trying to buy off politicians to slow progress on addressing climate change. They also have a right to know whether the company is cultivating diversity on its board, or moving profits abroad to avoid paying taxes in the U.S, or what lobbying efforts the company engages in. These are just a few examples of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks that the SEC should require public companies to disclose to their shareholders and the public. I believe that some companies want to do the right thing by being more transparent to shareholders and the public, but are holding back for fear of being somehow disadvantaged vs. companies that do not. As a shareholder, I would appreciate all companies being held to a high standard of transparency. Thank you for considering my comment. Carol Mohr