The US Securities and Exchange Commission has withdrawn its proposed 2024 climate disclosure regime, sparking concern among investors and environmental groups as state and federal reporting efforts diverge and complicate compliance for companies.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has moved to erase its 2024 climate disclosure regime, a sign that the brief federal push for more standardised emissions and climate-risk reporting is ebbing fast.
According to the SEC, the rules went beyond the agency’s legal powers and placed costs on companies and shareholders that were not justified by the benefits. Chairman Paul Atkins said the Commission should stay within its statutory remit, keep materiality at the centre of disclosure policy and avoid rules that steer corporate conduct. Commissioner Hester Peirce, who also backed the proposal, said the agency should focus on financial materiality and welcomed public input.
The proposal would scrap requirements adopted in 2024 that would have forced many public companies to disclose climate-related risks and, in some cases, Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The SEC has opened a 60-day comment window after publication of the proposal in the Federal Register. That move is already drawing sharp criticism from investor and environmental groups, who say climate disclosures are essential to pricing risk and protecting shareholders, AP reported.
The retreat comes as the wider US disclosure landscape grows more fragmented. California’s corporate emissions rules are still moving through litigation and implementation, while New York has advanced its own reporting framework even as political pressure has narrowed its scope. At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency is also weighing a rollback of its greenhouse gas reporting programme.
For industrial companies, the result is not simpler compliance so much as a shifting patchwork. Firms may face less certainty from Washington, but more overlapping demands from states, regulators and investors. That is likely to raise the cost of reporting even as the policy case for standardised climate disclosure remains contested.
- https://blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechange/2026/06/01/climate-disclosure-in-retreat/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://apnews.com/article/d70ee730c8a124f6767ca327fe903846 – The Associated Press reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed repealing a 2024 rule requiring certain public companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and assess climate risks. The SEC argues that the rule exceeds its legal authority and imposes unjustified costs. Environmental and investor advocacy groups have criticised the move, warning that it deprives investors of critical information about climate-related financial risks. The repeal is part of a broader wave of environmental deregulation under President Trump’s second term, including major rollbacks by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Critics like Senator Ed Markey and organisations such as the Clean Air Task Force and the Natural Resources Defense Council argue that the repeal undermines transparency and investor protection. The SEC will accept public comments on the proposed repeal for 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.
- https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-49-sec-proposes-rescission-climate-related-disclosure-rules – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed rescinding its 2024 climate-related disclosure rules, which required public companies to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. The SEC argues that the rules exceed its statutory authority and impose substantial costs on public companies and their shareholders that are not justified by the informational benefits they may provide to some investors. The public comment period will remain open for 60 days following the publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register.
- https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/atkins-statement-rescission-climate-related-disclosure-rules-052926 – SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins has issued a statement regarding the proposed rescission of the 2024 climate-related disclosure rules. He emphasises that the SEC’s disclosure obligations should comply with the Commission’s statutory authority, be guided by materiality, avoid dictating corporate behaviour, and be imposed only when the expected benefits justify the likely costs and burdens. The statement highlights the Commission’s focus on returning to its core mandate and restoring a materiality-focused approach to securities regulation.
- https://www.dechert.com/knowledge/onpoint/2026/6/sec-proposes-to-rescind-climate-related-disclosure-rules.html – Dechert LLP discusses the SEC’s proposal to rescind its 2024 climate-related disclosure rules. The article outlines the background of the rules, which mandated public companies to provide specific climate-related information, and the SEC’s reasoning for the rescission, including concerns about statutory authority and the imposition of substantial costs on public companies and their shareholders. The article also notes that the public comment period will remain open for 60 days following the publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register.
- https://www.dechert.com/knowledge/onpoint/2026/6/sec-proposes-to-rescind-climate-related-disclosure-rules.html – Dechert LLP discusses the SEC’s proposal to rescind its 2024 climate-related disclosure rules. The article outlines the background of the rules, which mandated public companies to provide specific climate-related information, and the SEC’s reasoning for the rescission, including concerns about statutory authority and the imposition of substantial costs on public companies and their shareholders. The article also notes that the public comment period will remain open for 60 days following the publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register.
- https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/peirce-climate-change-statement-proposed-rescission-climate-related-disclosure-rules-052926 – SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce has issued a statement regarding the proposed rescission of the 2024 climate-related disclosure rules. She acknowledges the controversy surrounding the rules and supports the rescission proposal, expressing a desire to hear feedback from the public. The statement reflects on the challenges the Commission has faced with the climate disclosure proposal and the importance of focusing on financial materiality.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on June 1, 2026, discussing the SEC’s proposal to rescind its 2024 climate disclosure rules. This development was reported by the Associated Press on May 29, 2026, indicating that the article is based on recent events. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d70ee730c8a124f6767ca327fe903846?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce. While these quotes are consistent with statements made by the SEC, they cannot be independently verified within the provided sources. The absence of direct links to the original SEC press release or official statements raises concerns about the verifiability of these quotes. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-49-sec-proposes-rescission-climate-related-disclosure-rules?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article is published on the Columbia Law School’s Climate Law Blog, which is a reputable academic institution. However, the blog is not a traditional news outlet, and its content may reflect the perspectives of its authors. The lack of independent verification from mainstream news organizations or official SEC communications is a concern.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The SEC’s proposal to rescind its climate disclosure rules aligns with recent political shifts and legal challenges. The Associated Press reported on May 29, 2026, that the SEC is moving to repeal the rule, citing concerns over legal authority and costs. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d70ee730c8a124f6767ca327fe903846?utm_source=openai)) However, the article’s reliance on a single source without independent confirmation raises questions about the completeness of the information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article discusses the SEC’s proposal to rescind its 2024 climate disclosure rules, a development reported by the Associated Press on May 29, 2026. However, the article’s reliance on a single source without independent verification from mainstream news organizations or official SEC communications raises concerns about the completeness and reliability of the information. The absence of direct links to the original SEC press release or official statements further diminishes the article’s credibility. Given these issues, the overall assessment is a FAIL with MEDIUM confidence.
