đ´ California climate reporting has a confirmed start date
What CARBâs landmark approval means for companies doing business in California, and why August 10, 2026 is now the date to circle.
The wait is over. Earlier this week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) formally approved the regulations implementing SB 253 and SB 261 - Californiaâs landmark corporate climate disclosure laws. After months of regulatory deliberation, companies operating in the Golden State now have confirmed rules, a confirmed deadline, and no more room to wait and see.
đ Why this matters
California doesnât just set the rules for 39 million people. It sets the pace for corporate America.
When CARB moves, markets move. The approval of these implementing regulations is the clearest signal yet that climate disclosure is becoming as real as its federal counterparts in Europe. If your company does business in California (and has revenues above the threshold) this is now a compliance obligation, not a policy debate.
đ Whatâs actually been decided?
Here is the breakdown of what CARBâs approval means in practice:
đď¸ SB 253 - GHG Emissions Reporting
August 10, 2026, is now the confirmed deadline for first-year reporting under SB 253.
Year 1 reporting covers Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (your direct operations and purchased energy)
Scope 3 reporting will follow in subsequent phases; further regulations on this are expected to be proposed later this year.
The standard targets companies with over $1 billion in annual revenues doing business in California.
âď¸ SB 261 - Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure
SB 261 remains currently unenforceable following a court decision, ARB has confirmed it is not enforcing the law at this time, and reporting remains voluntary.
But hereâs whatâs striking: despite this, more than 120 companies have already published reports on the public docket. You can see them here.
Thatâs not compliance anxiety. Thatâs strategic foresight. The companies publishing voluntarily today are those who will be ahead before it becomes mandatory.
â ď¸ Challenges vs. opportunities
Letâs be direct about what this means for your organization.
The challenge: August 10, 2026 is closer than it looks. Scope 1 and Scope 2 data collection sounds straightforward, until youâre trying to gather invoices, fuel records, and refrigerant data across dozens of facilities or subsidiaries. For multi-state operators juggling New Yorkâs GHG reporting, federal EPA requirements, and now California, the administrative complexity is real.
The opportunity: The companies that move now wonât just be compliant. Theyâll be ahead. CARB has signaled that Scope 3 rules are coming later this year. Every week spent building a solid Scope 1 and 2 baseline is a week of competitive advantage when value-chain reporting becomes mandatory. And for SB 261? The 120+ voluntary filers are already proving that transparency, even when optional, is fast becoming the market standard.
đ How Greenly helps you get ahead
At Greenly, weâve been helping companies operating across US jurisdictions map and measure their emissions ahead of the deadlines hit.
Automated Scope 1 & 2 data collection: Our platform integrates directly with your suppliers, management systems, or ERP, so you have time to meet the deadline.
Multi-jurisdiction reporting: Whether itâs California SB 253, New Yorkâs DEC program, or CDP, Greenly centralizes your data into a single source of truth.
Scope 3 readiness: With CARBâs value-chain rules coming later this year, now is the moment to start mapping your suppliers. Our supplier portal makes it easy for you to do so.
California has set the date. The question isnât whether to report, itâs whether youâll be ready.
Want to understand exactly what SB 253 means for your organisation?
đ Get in touch with our team, weâll help you map the path from now to August.
This article is based on CARBâs official approval announced on 2 March 2026. Further implementing regulations for Scope 3 and SB 261 enforcement are expected later in 2026.