A federal appeals court has paused one of California’s new laws requiring major companies to report climate risks starting next year.
The move by the California-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes just after business groups urged the Supreme Court to block the state’s first-in-the-nation climate disclosure laws, arguing the appeals court had “chosen not to act.”
In a brief order Tuesday, the 9th Circuit said it would pause one of the laws — SB 261 — scheduled to take effect in January, pending appeal. The court declined to stop enforcement of the second law — SB 253 — which takes effect in June, but it did not elaborate on its decision.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was behind the emergency application to the Supreme Court, welcomed the 9th Circuit’s pause and said the order eliminates the need for the high court to step in.
