AND THEY WONDER WHY CALIFORNIA IS CONSIDERED ANTI-BUSINESS

By Bob Walsh

 

Lauren Sanchez (seated, on right) is the chair of the California Air Resources Board. 

 

 

The California Air Resources Board is a tremendously powerful body of unelected government officials.  They have just approved rules, which have the force of law, putting into place the state's Climate Disclosure laws for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions required by SB 253 and SB261.  These rules take effect on August 1 of this year.

These rules apply to U. S. companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue mandating emissions reporting and companies of with more than $500 million in annual revenue must report climate risk disclosure.  It should be noted that these are not necessarily CA based companies but rather companies that do any business whatsoever in CA.

These companies are required to make extensive and expensive "mea culpa" reports to the state of CA confessing their sins.  Pretty much any emissions source can be covered, such as customers driving to and from business locations to purchase goods or services or vehicles being operated by third parties to deliver goods as well as manufacturing.  

There are some exemptions, notably including the insurance industry.  

It is not clear how many companies (if any) will say "fuck you" and shut down business operations in sunny California.