Sep. 17, 2022
Dear Chair Gensler, I am writing to thank you for taking steps to make it easier for investors like me to understand climate risk. As a 77-year-old retired engineer looking to protect and maximize my returns, I need to know whether or not 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 with regard to these goals may not be prepared for that future. Without this information, I will not be able to tell what companies are more likely to continue to be profitable as the economy transitions to clean energy. Earlier this summer you proposed a rule to require publicly traded companies to disclose "material" Scope 3 emissions. Many investors - both asset managers and individual investors like me - asked you to make this a requirement for all large public companies, and I am hopeful that you will listen to the voices of regular people like me, not just big corporations looking to hide their risks. As you look to finalize these rules, I wanted to thank you for doing everything in your power to ensure that investors like me have the information we need to be able to make smart investing decisions for a low-carbon future. Lee Depkin