SEC’s Next Difficult Task for ESG Is Finding a Standard Setter

The Securities and Exchange Commission is poised for a fight with Republicans and business interests as it looks to develop uniform rules for how public companies report environmental, social, and governance matters to investors.

Battle lines are being drawn as the SEC gathers feedback on whether to designate a new or existing organization to set standards for ESG disclosures or establish new reporting rules without one. Acting SEC Chair Allison Lee suggested last month that a standards body could be structured like the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

While the SEC weighs how and if it should mandate sustainability reporting, trillions ...