California bill would force large companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions

A first-of-its-kind bill that would require large companies operating in California to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions passed the state Senate this week despite strong opposition from some business interests.

A first-of-its-kind bill that would require large companies operating in California to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions passed the state Senate this week despite strong opposition from some business interests.

The proposed legislation, SB 253, passed Tuesday and is on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk.

It garnered letters of support from tech companies such as Apple, Adobe and Microsoft, as well as environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, which praised it for holding polluting corporations accountable.

“The bill is an important tool for shareholders, for investors deciding where to invest their money and for both public and private interests to understand the climate impact of corporations,” said Ben Cushing, director of the Sierra Club’s Fossil-Free Finance campaign. “The fact that this bill passed in California, which is the largest economy in the U.S., is particularly significant.”

But it also faced strong opposition from business interests, including the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Hospital Association and the Southern California Gas Co.