On January 27, 2010, the SEC will hold an open meeting to consider publishing an interpretive release to provide guidance to public companies regarding the Commission’s current disclosure requirements concerning matters relating to climate change. Current SEC requirements are unclear as to what, if any, climate change issues must be disclosed in SEC filings such as the annual report on Form 10-K. Many companies do not mention climate change in their filings; however, a growing number are disclosing climate-related risks such as the physical effects of climate change on the business and how government regulation of greenhouse gases would affect the business.
New guidance should provide clarification for companies potentially impacted by climate change as they prepare their annual reports on Form 10-K.
