Sep. 18, 2022
Dear Chair Gensler, Thank you for taking steps to make it easier for investors like me to understand climate risk. As an investor looking to 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. I need to know if the companies I'm investing in are working to reduce their greenhouse emissions in order to be prepared for a low emissions future. Without this information, I won't be able to tell what companies are likely to continue to be profitable and which companies could put my savings at risk. And I am very concerned about climate change and do not want my savings to be invested in big polluters or companies not visibly making changes to address this issue. Earlier this summer you proposed a rule to require publicly traded companies to disclose "material" Scope 3 emissions. Many investors, big and small, 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. The SEC has an important role to play in ensuring that investors like me have the information we need to make wise investing decisions for a low-carbon future. This agency has an obligation to listen and to protect everyday people, not corporations. Thank you for your initial ruling on this and I hope that your final ruling will have even stronger greenhouse gas disclosures, inclusive of Scope 3 emissions. Sincerely, Nancy Nortz