Sep. 15, 2022
Dear Chair Gensler, Thank you for taking steps to make it easier for investors like me to analyze what companies are doing to limit their exposure to climate risks. I am an investor that is very concerned about climate change and what companies are doing to prepare for it. My wife, children and grandchildren are depending on me. It is critically important to see a company's ESG ratings before I invest in it, and also see the Environmental and Social ratings of index funds and mutual funds. I need to know whether a company is preparing to be successful in a low-carbon world. More and more economies are adopting policies and taking steps to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Companies not working to reduce their Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse emissions may not be prepared for that future. Without this information, I won't be able to tell which companies are likely to continue to be profitable as the economy transitions to clean energy and which companies could put my savings at risk. It is also important that the SEC establish consistent rules for the measurement of Environmental, Social, and Governance metrics that third-party certifiers can follow so that companies and funds can be fairly compared. Thank you for considering my comments and concerns. Sincerely, William Buchholz