CARB Hosts Workshop on California’s New GHG Reporting and Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Programs

On May 29, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) held a virtual workshop on the current developments in California’s Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Programs. Staff presented an overview of SB 253 (Wiener, 2023), SB 261 (Stern, 2023), and SB 219 (Wiener, 2024). According to the senators, these bills are designed to be ambitious, durable reporting frameworks which can scale globally, and to reinforce California’s position as a global climate leader. The senators and CARB staff stated that Scope 1 and 2 disclosures will begin in January 2026 for the Corporate GHG Reporting Program, and Scope 3 disclosures will begin in 2027. CARB is currently proceeding with informal pre-rulemaking procedures. Staff are identifying key regulatory concepts, discussing best practices to align implementation with legislative intent, and soliciting public and stakeholder input.

Staff discussed the previous solicitation for public feedback and developed a set of emerging themes from the responses received between December 2024 and March 2025. There are two major themes CARB identified as areas of concern: Who would be covered under the programs, including defining key components of the programs, and what specifically would be required of the disclosures. CARB staff recognized the tension between the January 2026 deadlines and the end of the rulemaking process, which is scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025. More workshops are likely to be held, but CARB staff did not indicate when they would be held or what their content would include.

Contact: Brian Biering