Causes.com
| 7.21.23
California Lawmakers To Hold Corporate Polluters Accountable?
Should more states do the same?
What's the story?
- California lawmakers are considering a bill that would force corporations in the state to disclose the greenhouse gas emissions created throughout their entire supply chains. The bill passed the Senate on May 30.
- California has the fifth largest economy in the world and is leading the charge on a national level with sweeping climate change proposals.
- California has recently faced the devastating impacts of climate change in the form of droughts and wildfires.
What's the bill?
- The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act would require companies operating in California that generate more than $1 billion annually to report emissions across their entire supply chain. The bill would legally impose robust reporting requirements on companies with no legal obligation to disclose their emissions or those of their suppliers.
- Kathy Mulvey from the Union of Concerned Scientists lauded the bill, saying:
"I think mandatory and standardized corporate climate disclosure is critically important—and even more important in an age of greenwashing."
- The bill would allow companies to use industry averages in their calculations to make the reporting process more seamless.
- Supply chains are responsible for, on average, 75% of a business's emissions and up to 90% in industries like food and agriculture. The food industry accounts for one-third of global emissions.
- Only half of the world's top 100 food and beverage companies measure and disclose their supply chain emissions, known as Scope 3 emissions.
Opposition to the bill
- There is strong industry opposition to the bill, and corporations like Meta and In-N-Out Burger have spent thousands lobbying against it.
- The California Chamber of Commerce also opposed the bill, arguing that it would be burdensome for small and medium-sized businesses and would limit their growth.
What's next?
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is considering a similar rule that would require only public companies to report their emissions.
- Melissa Romero from California Environmental Voters pointed to inaction at the federal level:
"States have a big responsibility to lead on climate because we're not going to be able to get much done at the federal level given the politics around climate. States have to step up here. That's literally the role California has played, and we have to play it once again."
- California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has not taken a public position yet.
Should more states do the same?
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo credit: Flickr/Martin Wippel)
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I think 99% of the Republicans in office today are idiots and lier's, from Ron DeSantis to Taylor Greene To George Santos to Trump etc. etc. etc. They are all jokes of human beings the worst example of what a person can be.
Yes, any step towards accountabillity is good. We need, and deserve to know how much pollution a corporation is responsible for.
I don't always agree with what California does but on this I will back them. Somebody has to do something constructive to bring corporate Americam in line. Their greed is out of control.
California government needs to get it together for the citizens! They are so friggin stupid. I wish the citizens would force the government to do their jobs.
This is why companies are moving out of California.
Exactly why shouldn't they be held accountable? I'm held accountable for everything I do. And on another note it's just as disturbing if not even more,
Ron DeSantis Republican presidential candidate has proved just what a racist he is by essentially saying that slavery was no more than a trade school for blacks. WTF has happened to the republican party. It’s full of racists liars and idiots.
Sure. It would be nice if companies could at least provide numbers for carbon emissions. Actual numbers would help reduce the rhetoric on both sides of the argument and present us with actual facts.
This new law is built on the false premise that there is such a thing as man made climate change and that the carbon levels have much of anything to do with it. So no, this is stupid.
100% support for holding corporations accountable but also penalizing them and making them pay way more in taxes. Enough with the tax breaks.
Of course they should be held accountable!
We make corporations that pollute on purpose for greed we make them all pay for ruining the environment.
Hell yeah!
Emissions are not limited to factories. The whole supply chain must be included to avoid greenwashing.
Heck YES!
Hold them accountable!
Rhetorical, right?
As children we are taught to clean up our messes. Why should we not hold adults to the same standards?
accountability is definitely needed to be enforced by someone!! Hopefully more blue states will follow!! and if the corporations leave so be it!!
There is only so much an individula can do to save our planet. My recycling of cardboard won't do it. My turning up my thermostat 2 degrees won't do it. The biggest polluters need to be made to do their part, beginning with acknowledging and paying for their part in the destruction that they have done.
Polluters should pay to mitigate the damage they have done
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL States should start holding them accountable!
Republicans have given Corporations tax breaks, but do not hold them accountable for pollution! Yet a number of these corporations pollute our air, ground, and water while producing their product! Even knowing that they have put toxins in our water, air, and soil, they've done nothing to reduce the damage! All they choose to focus on is Profit! They don't treat their workers as they should, since they have Nothing wiothout them, and unless they are fined & held accountable, will not reduce the amount of their pollution! Our Politicians need to hold these corporations accountable! They must also hold all Statess accountable for violations of our Constitution especially regarding voting laws that also violate the Constitution! Greg Abbott must also be held responsible for any life lost by his antics!
For decades many corporations have reaped financial riches by polutting, even killing people in the process. They must pay for their crimes.
If we are going to survive climate change we need to start making some real progress in cutting down green house gasses. Corporations need to be accountable if they are continuing to be part of the problem.
This summer's heat and wild fires affecting millions of people on our planet should be a huge wake up signal to us all. We need to get serious about dealing with this instead of just giving the problem lip service.