Menu
May 10, 2022

SEC Proposes Climate Change Disclosure Rules

On March 21, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed rules that would require public companies to disclose extensive, climate-related information in their SEC filings.  The proposed rules would require companies to disclose climate-related risks that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on a public company’s business, results of operations, or financial condition.  In addition, companies would be required to report greenhouse gas emissions in a statement prepared by a certified, greenhouse gas attestation provider. The proposed rule is open for comment through at least May 21, 2022, and it is anticipated that significant comments will delay… Read more


Apr 14, 2021

Challenge to Trump Rule Relaxing Clean Car Standards Put on Hold by D.C. Circuit

A D.C. Circuit has put on hold a challenge to a Trump administration decision to scale back standards for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission for vehicles.  The Trump era rule lowered federal fuel efficiency standard reduction requirements from 5% to 1.5% annually through 2026.  A coalition of mostly democratic lead states sued to overturn the Trump rollback, and the Biden administration argued successfully before the D.C. Circuit to halt the proceedings while the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review the regulations. For more information, please contact Phillip Hoover.


Oct 21, 2020

EPA Proposes New Aircraft Emission Standard

For the first time, the EPA has proposed a rule setting an emission standard for nearly all commercial aircraft for greenhouse gas emissions.  The EPA’s proposed standard closely follows the standard adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2017, which was the world’s first global design certification standard governing CO2 emissions for aircraft.  The EPA standard would apply to all covered aircraft for which a new design type certificate is requested on or after January 1, 2020, and would apply to in-production aircraft beginning January 1, 2028.  The proposed rule is expected to have little impact on manufacturers as… Read more


Mar 1, 2017

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop as Natural Gas Replaces Coal Power

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions declined by more than 2 percent between 2014 and 2015. This decline was assisted by the transition from coal to natural gas in multiple industries, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual draft report on emissions. The Energy Information Administration expects natural gas generating capacity to increase 8 percent in 2017 and 2018. For more information, contact Phillip Hoover.  


Jan 17, 2014

Climate Consciousness at Emory University

SGR is pleased to publish sustainability developments and achievements of our clients.  This week we provide an update from Emory University, one of the nation’s leaders in sustainability on college campuses. December 2011, Emory University adopted a Climate Action Plan that chronicles the University’s sustainability efforts to date and sets forth a series of goals and recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future. Two presidentially appointed committees – the Climate Action Plan Committee made up of faculty, staff, and students, and the Carbon Reduction Task Force made up of Campus Services staff – studied the issues, assessed feasibility,… Read more


Jan 10, 2011

Separate Reporting of Biomass GHG Emissions Required by EPA

U.S. EPA recently published a final rule reversing its prior position on reporting so-called biogenic GHG emissions–emissions created from burning plant-based fuels. Beginning this month, industries that are large emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), or those that are planning to build new facilities or make major modifications to existing ones, must obtain air permits and implement energy efficiency measures or, where available, cost-effective technology to reduce their GHGs emissions. In an earlier proposed rule, EPA did not require separate reporting of GHG emissions from biomass. Yet, on December 17, EPA released its final rule, which requires power plants that burn… Read more