KPMG Highlights Regulatory Response to Climate, Proxy Rules in July
8/16/2022
Heat waves and record droughts made July a busy month for meteorologists. According to KPMG’s July Regulatory Recap, addressing climate risk was also an area of focus for regulators and elected officials – though surprisingly followed in August with passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in energy security and climate change in the U.S. to date (more to come in the August recap).
KPMG noted in July President Biden announced several executive actions intended to address the impacts of climate change. These actions specifically address extreme heat and offshore wind opportunities, engage multiple agencies, further prior initiatives, and provide additional funding and program expansion with the aim of improving climate resiliency, protecting vulnerable communities and workers, and expanding renewable energy opportunities and jobs.
Among the announced actions:
- $2.3 billion in additional funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
- Expansion of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
- Expansion of offshore Wind Energy Areas.
- Advancing efforts of the DOL’s National Emphasis Program
In other regulatory activity, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted on two rules related to the agency’s proxy rules, including the adoption of final amendments to the rules governing “proxy voting advice businesses," or PVABs.
KPMG observed, "The SEC’s changes to the proxy rules recognize the importance of corporate governance and the voice of investors in such matters as the election of directors, merger applications, and shareholder proposals. The final rulemaking and new proposed rule are consistent with the broader regulatory focus on effective, transparent, and timely governance (key tenets of the “G” of ESG). Further, soliciting public comment is also becoming foundational to how regulators seek input on their own rulemakings."
Read more in KPMG's Regulatory Recaps and review the July 2022 Regulatory Recap chart below. You can also subscribe to KPMG's regulatory alerts.
