US regulators approve significantly scaled back climate disclosure rule

SEC rule will require large businesses to report gas emissions, but some experts say weakened version paves way for greenwashing'

US regulators have voted to require large, publicly traded companies to disclose climate change-related information to investors, though the rule's scope has been significantly scaled back from the original draft proposal.

The long-awaited rule which was finalized in a 3-2 vote by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday, marks the first nationwide climate disclosure rule in the US. Some experts say it will give investors more transparency into the threat the climate crisis poses to corporations and how they contribute to global warming.