California: Making Corporate Emissions Reporting Mandatory ft. Catherine Atkin (Carbon Accountable)

If sustainability were a professional sport (and let’s face it, sometimes it certainly can feel like it!) our next guest would be in the first round draft pick.

I am so honored to be joined by Catherine Atkin, Co-Founder and Director of Carbon Accountable, whose expertise has been pivotal in advancing corporate transparency on greenhouse gas emissions. Catherine and her team played a leading role in shaping California’s SB 253 Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, a landmark piece of legislation with implications that extend far beyond the state’s borders.

Catherine Atkin is an attorney and global expert on new climate data reporting regimes, carbon markets and the role of next-gen technologies to drive decarbonization and sustainable development.  She is the Director of Carbon Accountable and was the architect and chief technical and legal advisor on California’s recently enacted corporate GHG emissions reporting law (SB 253), a first in the nation requirement for full scope emissions reporting by the largest US companies.  

As the Chair of the Stanford CodeX Climate Data Policy Initiative (CDPI) she brings together climate experts, policy makers and technologists to explore how next-gen technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT can improve the quality and quantity of global climate data and catalyze the development of climate finance and carbon markets.   She is the Co-founder of the Capital Coalition’s Global Digital Single Market Data Alliance and works closely with the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub on projects to drive low emissions sustainable development in cities across the globe.  She received a BA from Stanford University and a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law.

In today’s episode, we turn our focus to the critical topic of greenhouse gas reporting—a cornerstone of corporate accountability in the fight against climate change. What does it entail, and how does it balance the dynamics between voluntary action and mandatory compliance?

Together, we’ll explore the importance of clarity and transparency in combating greenwashing, the role of policy in driving change, and what it means to lead with resilience in an increasingly complex global landscape. Catherine will also share her reflections on the sustainability journey, her experiences at COP29, and the insights she’s gained throughout her impactful career.

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