Jun. 14, 2022
I support for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed rule to require publicly-traded companies to disclose climate-related financial risk information (S7-10-22). Pollution-based climate change is impacting every region of the world, and its impacts—including extreme weather and related disasters—are increasing and accelerating. Humans and all other life forms are suffering the consequences of hazardous pollution with resultant climate and environmental degradation perpetuated by many for-profit polluters, including the devastations perpetrated by the weapons/war industries. As pollution leading to climate-related disasters continues to increase in the face of clear destruction and loss of life, we must work together to end support of our formerly allowed and damaging globalization of harmful methods for gaining profits through thoughtless habitat destruction, disrespect for human rights, and wasteful pollution. We must actually speak-up and act against any of our investment gains in the wake of environmental damages routinely incurred by corporate interests. We must do this for the sake of our lives and life on earth. If corporations will not give more than veiled platitudes and smug, false agreements as they continue "business-as-usual," we must take charge to change direction. Due to an apparent lack of interest from much of the national/global corporate power-jugglers, the idea of a balanced and stable financial system that can support a sustainable US economy remains challenging to ensure. This is the case now, while investors and other market players clearly do not have all the necessary information to make wise, climate- and community-forward investment decisions. --With all that is occurring with regard to rampant pollution and climate change, I expect to see a sustainable US/global market that gives investors and other market players the choice to support companies whose leadership and valuable employees make sound decisions and routinely take demonstrable actions not to harm the environment, and that actively address, and greatly reduce, their current contributions to pollution-based climate change and related issues. If corporations continue to generally refuse, or decline, to take immediate measurable, verifiable steps to conserve land and energy, stop polluting, and become stewards along with their investors and consumers, then they will loose their investors, and existing consumers will refuse their market products. Required transparency is part of this. Other countries are already requiring these types of climate-related disclosures from companies, which is a necessary and understandable stance. Obviously, It is time for the U.S. to step-up and require the same information disclosures, now. Our shared environment that supports all life is priceless. Stewardship is much more profitable for life than any financial profit gained by a few humans from their destructive "development" of biodiverse ecosystems, and excessive resources extracted from earth, and harmfully processed into pollutants that harm the life supported by earth. The benefits of protecting natural lands and waters far outweigh any the value gained from their destruction. In the USA, for example, people enjoy protected public lands, as well as national and state parks that offer us inspiring views, solitude, simplicity, and the natural beauty of wildlife. The biodiversity found across this nation, and globally, provides the life-sustaining ecosystems necessary for all life. Unfortunately, with global average temperatures on the rise (due to greenhouse gas emissions/pollution and unwarranted habitat destruction) causing large losses in biodiversity, we are quickly losing all that is precious to us. As with all biological systems, with the loss of overall biodiversity, ultimately comes the loss of civilization's support systems and human life, as well. Overall , we need open, transparent information about pollution-based, climate-related investment risks. Life is more important to investors than any profits gained at the expense the survival of living systems. Thank you for proposing this rule, and I ask the SEC to finalize it as quickly as possible. Judy Lukasiewicz