Another case against greenwashing, or: False Purpose!

Here’s an overview of a recent enforcement action filed by the Ontario Securities Commission: The OSC lists seventeen different classes of order that it seeks from the capital markets tribunal (maybe that’s a tad too long a list for maximum punchiness) including that Purpose and its Chair/CEO have their registration or recognition under Ontario securities…

On smoothing the path to adoption, or: what a relief!

One of the many challenging aspects of standard-setting is the fine-tuning of a standard’s scope and application: that is, to what degree and under what circumstances affected entities should be given a break from some of the requirements. This is from the basis for conclusions to IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information :…

Our age of thought leadership: I don’t know who to follow next!

I recently observed that “the term ‘trust’ is almost a mandated component of any CPA ‘thought leadership’ publication,” and that started me thinking about just how much so-called ‘thought leadership’ is out there. And then the Ontario Securities Commission published Insights on the OSC Staff’s Approach to Sustainable Finance   a publication that “builds on the work…

A complaint on greenwashing, or: Alberta, don’t you treat me unkind!

Here’s a recent news release from the shareholder advocacy organization Investors for Paris Compliance (I4PC): The reference to Bill C-59 reflects a recent strengthening of the Competition Act, to specifically prohibit ““[making] a representation to the public with respect to the benefits of a business or business activity for protecting or restoring the environment or…

Fresh eyes at the SEC, or: Kill the ISSB, or else!

Anyone who doubts the depth of Trump-era antipathy toward climate-related disclosure might check out the keynote address delivered by SEC Chair Paul Atkins at the Inaugural OECD Roundtable on Global Financial Markets. Here’s an extract: Atkins then goes on to take shots at the “double materiality” regulatory approach promoted under recently passed EU laws: Bloomberg…

Directors’ past experience on climate policies: look at the difference we’re making!

A recent article looked at How Directors’ Past Experiences Shape Corporate Climate Policies. It’s written by Sehoon Kim, Bernadette A. Minton and Rohan Williamson, based on their academic research into the premise “that salient and adverse past experiences, such as witnessing the destruction and suffering caused by major natural disasters, can mold individuals’ prosocial preferences.…