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David C. Smith knows a thing or two about the evolving legal landscape that corporate sustainability is facing. As a law partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, and with a Masters of Law degree specializing in energy with a concentration in climate law, he is an expert on the risks, opportunities, and implications of recent climate legislation.

In this episode, we dive into:

Climate policy and compliance
The historical context of climate legislation
The role of federal initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act
The emerging climate mandates that require companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions
Climate-related mandates; specifically SB 253 and SB 261

During our wide-ranging conversation, David discusses the implications of California's new emissions regulations, the importance of understanding Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and the role of legal counsel in navigating compliance.

Not only is this an inspiring perspective, it’s also an insightful legal perspective. So, if you’ve been wondering if these (and other) legal mandates or pending legislation might affect your company, this one’s for you.

Here are some of the key takeaways you’ll appreciate in this episode:

The landscape of corporate sustainability is rapidly evolving and if you’re not well on your way, it’s time to get started
Peer pressure and investment are significant drivers for corporate engagement in sustainability
Reputational risks are a major concern for companies not adhering to sustainability practices
Climate mandates are transitioning from aspirations to legal requirements and California leads the way in climate legislation with some of the strictest ones
Many companies will be required to disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks by 2026 — is your business you one of them?

Links associated with our conversation:

David Smith, LL.M.
Manatt Energy & Environment
CalGreen - California’s first green building code
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
CEQA: The California Environmental Quality Act
SB 253, Wiener. Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act
SB 261, Stern. Greenhouse gases: climate-related financial risk
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Thanks for checking out our show! It was produced by our team of experts at thinkPARALLAX.

Intro/Outro music by QubeSounds from Pixabay.

#inspiringperspectives #sustainability #legal #mandates #climate #energy #compliance #thinkparallax #sb253 #leadership #sb261 #climatelaw

Got a topic you’d like us to explore on the show? Get in touch with us at thinkparallax.com/podcast.

SB 253 & SB 261 and more: what you should know | According to a legal expert

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