Five Key Points From SEC's Proposal for Climate Disclosures

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a 500-plus-page proposed rule Monday that would require corporate disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions. It builds on years of voluntary efforts. With publicly traded companies responsible for 40% of emissions, investors have been pressing the regulator for rules. The plan is "the most extensive, comprehensive and complicated disclosure initiative in decades," said Meredith Cross, a former SEC director who's now a partner at law firm WilmerHale. The SEC will review comments from the public in the next 60 days, and may revise its proposal before holding a vote to establish the rule. See the gallery for five key takeaways from the SEC's plan.