The Board’s Role in Navigating Climate Risk, Regulation, and Opportunity

Climate change, which will have far reaching impacts on the supply chain and where people live and work, has made its way to the top of business agendas. The Biden Administration rejoined the Paris Agreement and set a target for the U.S. to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. New rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, California, and the European Union will require public companies to periodically disclose extensive climate change-related information, and the reporting landscape is likely to become even more complex. Policy makers, investors, regulators, and others want greater transparency about how companies and boards are addressing and overseeing climate risks and plans for a sustainable future. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act, the implementation of new carbon removal technologies, and the evolution of deal structures for procurement of renewable energy provide companies new transactional opportunities to address climate-related risks and decarbonization strategies. What does the board need to understand about these evolving structures and how they can help achieve climate-related targets or goals? This session will provide practical tips for integrating climate change and sustainability into various elements of corporate strategy, explore ways to navigate the different mandatory reporting frameworks, and share insights into how boards should be approaching their oversight role as it relates to climate risks and opportunities.