April 18, 2022
Dear Securities and Exchange Commission:
I am writing to you tonight as an advocate for humanity, and concerned citizen, on behalf of the Climate Reality Project.
I am very thankful to understand that the Securities and Exchange Commission's new draft rule set for climate risk disclosure is an innovative first step in protecting investors from the risks of the climate crisis.
These developments could be an excellent measure for making publicly traded companies more transparent about their greenhouse gas emissions and could possibly allow millions of Americans to make more informed investment choices in everything from retirement funds, to college savings accounts, to everyday purchases.
According to the Climate Reality Project, the current version of the proposed rule set does not yet provide for enough information disclosure to consumers.
Reportedly, by leaving decisions up to regulated companies as to whether or not they may determine the significance of their scope three emissions please see below, the proposed rule set may allow such companies to omit some (or most) of their emissions from future disclosures.
Please refer to the following link for more information regarding scope three emissions:
https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-3-inventory-guidance
The current version of the proposed rule set could be particularly problematic if the climate risk disclosure rule set shields issuing companies from liability if they provide false or misleading information.
Please strengthen the final rule set to address the potential for such loopholes in order to increase transparency for citizens of the United States and further protect our planet.
In recent months, according to well reported publicly available information, the development of atmospheric rivers are posing a significant risk in climate severity. In addition, the stability of global glaciers, and ice sheets, will reportedly be placed into further instability, as is referenced in the following article from National Public Radio:
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1088840912/antarctica-ice-shelf-collapses
Thank you for all that you do to further protect, and help regenerate this planet.
During the recent severe mud season onset here in Vermont, we have witnessed signs of an unprecedented climatic shift, and I must humbly ask you to more carefully consider all climate policy decisions in the interest of supporting future regenerative potential, for our economic policy, shared humanitarian goals, and planet. Our region relies considerably upon the changing seasons, and without a well-founded winter, our shared economies will be placed at a significant risk. Current, and future generations simply cannot afford to live in such environs.
Please do what you are able to in order to further support climate preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, in your policy decisions.
Thank you kindly for reading these comments, wishing you a peaceful, and healthy week.