Jun. 09, 2022
To whom it may concern: I support this proposed rule. I just finished reading Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve Coll. In the book, I learned how crucial SEC reporting requirements are, including rules about how information is reported on the Form 10-K, for obtaining accurate information about energy companies' booked reserves, overall financial stability, and ability to adapt as oil and gas markets transition. That's why I support this proposed rule. Given that most of the oil majors already voluntarily report similar (in some cases, identical) information through the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the proposed rule is merely codifying an already-existing corporate practice and should not be unduly burdensome. But having the information publicly available to investors and taxpayers (like me) in a set location will ensure that we are all working from the same set of inputs. Of course, the effects of climate change are already apparent, and registrants are aware of that. It helps no one to externalize those long-term consequences. I want to know all material information about environmental risks facing public companies so I can make more-informed choices about how and when to invest. I also hope and believe that complying with the new rule will lead to better outcomes for the companies, as well as for their shareholders, as registrants seek to mitigate those risks. Thank you. Jessie Steffan