One of the basic questions the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking to answer is whether environmental, social, and governance risks are material—that is, do ESG-related risks directly affect a company’s bottom line? Another is whether the SEC should align required disclosures with an established ESG framework, akin to regimes being developed by regulators in the United Kingdom and European Union.

Aaron Nicodemus is the Editor-in-Chief of Compliance Week. He previously worked as a reporter for Bloomberg Law and as business editor at the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass. Email: aaron.nicodemus@complianceweek.com LinkedIn:...