Despite new polling showing overwhelming public support for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) climate risk disclosure rule, House Republicans held a hearing last week on legislation that would overturn the rule. ESG Dive featured coverage of the hearing and the poll.
From the story: “Following the hearing, Unlocking America’s Future, a pro-ESG 501(c)4, released a statement decrying the hearing and witness testimony it said ‘undermined the SEC rule’s benefits to the American financial system.’ ‘The attacks made … are in direct contradiction with what investors demand and the American people want, who overwhelmingly and across party lines support climate disclosures and responsible investing,’ UAF spokesperson Kyle Herrig said.”
In addition, the story covered a new poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of UAF on the rule. The poll finds strong support for the new rule across party lines.
From the story: “UAF also released a poll Thursday — conducted by Morning Consult on UAF’s behalf last month — that found that 85% of Democrat respondents and 60% of Republican respondents believe publicly traded companies should have to disclose climate-related risks. Knowledge of the SEC’s rule is low, with just 5% of respondents knowing exactly what it is and 50% having never heard of it, according to the poll. However, the survey found that after a “brief and neutral” description, 63% of respondents either somewhat or strongly supported such a rule, compared to just 15% who somewhat or strongly opposed it. Over one-fifth of respondents (21%) did not have an opinion after receiving a description.”
OTHER KEY FINDINGS:
- Nearly two-thirds (63%) of voters support the climate risk disclosure rule. Notably, half (48%) of Republicans support the rule.
- Most voters agree the climate risk disclosure rule holds companies accountable for their environmental impacts (65%) and provides greater transparency around investment decisions (64%).
- Most voters agree the climate risk disclosure rule holds companies accountable for their environmental impacts (65%) and provides greater transparency around investment decisions (64%).
- Voters believe the federal government should require publicly traded companies and large corporations to legally disclose climate risks. Most (71%) voters — including both Democrats (85%) and Republicans (60%) — also believe the federal government should require publicly traded companies and large corporations to publicly disclose data about their climate-related risks.
- A strong majority of voters agree that large companies have a responsibility to manage their impacts on the environment. 80% of voters say that companies and large corporations have a responsibility to manage their environmental impact, with a plurality of voters saying they have a lot of responsibility.
- A strong majority of voters agree that large companies have a responsibility to manage their impacts on the environment. 80% of voters say that companies and large corporations have a responsibility to manage their environmental impact, with a plurality of voters saying they have a lot of responsibility.
- Most (52%) voters say the climate risk disclosure rule will help the environment. Voters are twice as likely to say the rule will help rather than hurt the U.S. economy (39% vs. 21%).
- 61% of voters say they support investors having the ability to participate in an investment strategy that considers climate-related risks. Few (17%) voters say they oppose this.
- Voters believe large companies and corporations should have more of an impact than they currently do in improving the impact of climate change. Voters think companies should have less of an impact than they currently do in getting legislation passed.
