US federal climate disclosure: what the SEC's proposed rescission means

What changed?

The SEC's March 2024 climate-related disclosure rules were stayed pending litigation and, on 29 May 2026, the Commission proposed rescinding those rules in their entirety. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on 3 June 2026 with a comment period that closed 3 Aug 2026. A final rescission requires a subsequent Commission vote, which has not yet occurred.

Who may be affected?

Public companies previously in scope of the 2024 SEC climate-disclosure rules, and any organization relying on those rules' eventual requirements for planning purposes.

What information may be required?

• Current SEC rulemaking docket status
• Any other applicable state or international requirements
• Investor and customer information requests already in place
• Existing internal climate-data control processes

What should teams do next?

• Avoid relying on outdated summaries of the stayed 2024 rule
• Monitor the SEC's final action on the rescission proposal
• Continue assessing applicable state (e.g., California) and international requirements
• Maintain material climate information through a controlled, documented process

What remains uncertain?

Whether and when the SEC finalizes the rescission, and whether the underlying litigation resumes, remain open questions. Some commentary suggests a final vote is unlikely before late 2026 or 2027, but this has not been confirmed by the SEC itself.

Value-chain impact

Investors, lenders, and larger customers may continue to request climate and emissions information from mid-market suppliers regardless of the SEC rule's federal status.