Stacey Mitchell Quoted on Confusing ESG Frameworks by Corporate Counsel

Corporate Counsel has quoted Akin Gump environment and natural resources partner Stacey Mitchell in the article “'Massive Confusion': Legal Teams Vexed by Mishmash of ESG Reporting Frameworks.” The article discusses the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) upcoming framework for climate-related disclosures.

In the article, Mitchell notes that while a “more global or centralized framework” may be appealing, industry-specific frameworks may be more helpful to companies, as they may provide more granularity and specificity for particular industries. She said, “Typically, these are put together by industry groups that know the nuances that will impact their ability on any of the ESG issues to make progress, and so they can get more granular, which really does help as far as transparency.” Mitchell added that the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation could prove to be a good model for the SEC to consider as it develops its ESG regulation.

Lastly, Mitchell notes that, as part of her practice, she works with an array of clients focused on ESG issues. For those, newly interested in this area, she works closely with them to identify which third-party frameworks best meet their investors’ needs, and “for those that are more advanced, we’re ensuring they’re continuing to meet targets and make progress.”