By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a revised greenhouse gas (GHG) disclosure rule, following persistent efforts by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA).
This new rule removes the requirement for large, publicly traded companies to report GHG emissions data from their private supply chains, including family-owned farms and ranches.
This decision comes as a relief to many in the industry who were concerned about the financial and logistical implications of Scope 3 reporting, which would have mandated these producers to measure and disclose emissions data.
NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart highlighted the redundancy of such reporting, pointing out that industry-wide emissions data is already accessible through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the USDA's Life Cycle Assessments. She argued that imposing this requirement on individual operations would not only be unnecessary but also costly.
Privacy concerns regarding producer data have been a critical issue, especially considering recent court rulings affirming the confidentiality of this information.
The NCBA has been at the forefront, voicing these concerns and working diligently to ensure that the interests of America's cattle producers are protected.
Mark Eisele, NCBA President and Wyoming rancher, praised the final SEC rule as a victory for farmers and ranchers, highlighting the NCBA's successful engagement with federal agencies and Congress, demonstrating a commitment to protecting cattle production communities from regulatory burdens.
Photo Credit -national-cattleman-s-beef-association
Categories: Kansas, Government & Policy