The SEC said it would require companies that have made public pledges to reduce their carbon footprint to detail how they intend to meet the goal and to share relevant data.
According to SEC chairperson Gary Gensler, about a third of the public companies made voluntary climate disclosures in 2019 and 2020 in required reports to the SEC.
The European Union is set to require all large companies listed on a European stock exchange to report their emissions beginning in 2024.
Some states that are home to heavy polluters, such as mining companies, have already declared their intent to challenge the proposed rules in court, citing government overreach.
Other critics argue that the SEC lacks expertise in environmental issues and is therefore ill-equipped to manage enforcement.