The Center for Financial Services in the Lehigh University College of Business presents a panel discussion on the climate disclosure mandates. On March 21, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a much-anticipated rule that would mandate various disclosures related to climate change risks faced by public companies. Disclosures include the risks that climate change presents to their business, plans to lower emissions, and the total level of greenhouse gases they emit both directly and indirectly.

Proponents of mandatory climate risk disclosures believe the proposal will provide investors with the relevant information to make prudent financial decisions and will provide consistent and clear reporting obligations for issuers. The proposal has received criticism, however, as to whether specific emissions-related disclosure falls under the purview of the SEC’s jurisdiction. In addition, some suggest that it is unclear whether the benefits of the rule may be outweighed by the costs of disclosure and compliance.

Our distinguished panel of experts will share their insights and discuss key questions such as:

• Is the proposal a step toward giving investors relevant financial information?
• Would companies and investors both benefit from required climate disclosures? What costs would be imposed on companies?
• Do existing rules already cover material climate risks? Are there alternatives to the proposed rule including other government agencies that may be better resourced to require such disclosures?
• Will this proposal bring consistency, comparability, and reliability to company climate disclosures? 

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Event Details

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
5:00 p.m. Opening remarks
5:15 p.m. Panel discussion followed by Q&A
6:25 p.m. Event closing remarks
Location: Zoom
RSVP by: April 20, 2022

Moderator 

Kathleen Weiss Hanley, Bolton-Perella Chair in Finance, Director of the Center for Financial Services, Lehigh University College of Business, Former Deputy Chief Economist, Securities and Exchange Commission

Confirmed Speakers

Jay Clayton, Senior Policy Advisor and Of Counsel at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Non-Executive Chair and Lead Independent Director of Apollo Global Management, Lehigh University Appointed Trustee, Former Chair, Securities and Exchange Commission

Jon Karpoff, Washington Mutual Endowed Chair in Innovation, Professor of Finance and Business Economics, University of Washington, Foster School of Business

Elizabeth Seeger, Managing Director, Sustainable Investing, KKR

Dan Hanson, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Neuberger Berman

Questions?

Meg Wolf ’02 ’03
meghan.wolf@lehigh.edu