Despite Strong Public Support, Rule Faces Specious Attacks in Congress and in the Courts
Washington, DC – A new poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Unlocking America’s Future finds that nearly two-thirds of voters believe working Americans, retirees, and investors have a right to know the climate related risks associated with large corporations.
Bipartisan support is strong for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) climate risk disclosure rule, which requires large companies to disclose climate risk data to investors. Despite this public support, the House Financial Services Committee will consider a resolution this week on whether to reject the SEC’s new climate risk disclosure rule. This congressional attack comes on the heels of lawsuits cropping up from attorneys general in states across the country.
Unlocking America’s Future Spokesperson Kyle Herrig said the following:
“Despite efforts from billionaires to protect the status quo, voters hold large companies responsible for managing their impacts on the environment. That sentiment is true across party lines. The fact is that Americans agree publicly-traded companies should be legally required to disclose data about their climate-related risks. Congress should stand with Americans and support the SEC’s rule.”
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%).
- 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.
- 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.
