With growing attacks from the federal government on regulations designed to protect the public from the health and climate effects of corporate-generated pollution, it’s more important than ever that the citizens have access to accurate information about what toxins those corporations are pumping into our environment.

A bill making its way through the state Legislature — the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (A4282A/S9072A) — would force large companies operating in New York to disclose their annual emissions, to ensure the information is verified by an independent source, and to contribute to a disclosure fund.

This bill will have several important impacts, all for the good of the environment and public health.

First, it would put companies on the record for their greenhouse gas emissions. The companies would have to post their reports on a digital platform accessible to the public, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation would issue a report on the public disclosures.

The companies would be required to specifically report on emissions categorized by “scope.”

Scope 1 emissions include direct emissions from company-owned resources; Scope 2 includes indirect greenhouse gas emissions from consumed electricity, steam, heating or cooling purchased or acquired by the company; and Scope 3 emissions cover sources that the reporting entity does not own or directly control.

The information would serve not only to provide the public with information about greenhouse emissions, but also would allow the public and regulators to clearly see whether these companies were within regulatory parameters and whether they were upholding their stated goals in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The reports also would alert officials to excessive emissions and prompt companies to adopt more stringent controls to stay within emission parameters and reduction goals.

To ensure that companies and their subsidiaries provide accurate information, the bill would subject their data to review by an independent third-party and subject them to substantial financial penalties through the state attorney general’s office if they violate the disclosure requirements.

The bill, which mirrors similar disclosure laws in California and nearly 40 countries, would apply to U.S.-based companies operating in New York with annual revenues greater than $1 billion, so it’s not targeting small energy companies.

We always say that sunshine and transparency is the best disinfectant. That phrase applies metaphorically to government misconduct.

With the passage of this law, it also would apply literally to the air that we breathe.

© The Leader Herald