Business

California and Newsom prep for the future with new climate rules on October 1, 2023 at 6:20 pm Business News | The Hill

Published

3 years ago

October 1, 2023

Californians are bracing for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) impending signoff on a seminal slate of rules that would require large companies to disclose both their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risk.

“Any company located in California is well aware that it’s a first mover on climate, it’s a first mover on the minimum wage,” Manuel Pastor, director of the University of Southern California’s Equity Research Institute, told The Hill.

“Companies have their eyes wide open,” added Pastor, who specializes in climate-related economics.

Chief among the legislation on the table are the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, or SB-253, and the Climate-Related Financial Risk bill, or SB-261.

The former would require all public and private firms that operate in California — and whose annual revenues exceed $1 billion — to disclose both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

If companies fail to adhere to the demands of SB-253, they could face fines of up to $500,000 a year, according to the bill.

SB-261, meanwhile, would require companies that generate more than $500 million in annual revenue release climate-related financial risk reports biennially, beginning in 2026.

Failure to comply with SB-261 could result in administrative penalties of up to $50,000 in a reporting year.

A burden or a boon?

Newsom had already declared his intention to sign both of the bills in mid-September, just a day after he and state Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) launched a lawsuit against five big oil companies they accused of “lying about climate change.”

For some businesses, the bills will present a particular burden simply because they will have to figure out just how extensive their emissions are, according to Pastor.

But on the other hand, he said, the legislation is “going to be a boon for others because they will be able to advertise themselves as green.”

“That’ll have a particular appeal for some California companies,” he said.

Many firms are already disclosing environmental data and “will be well prepared for compliance with this rule,” the nonprofit CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, said in a statement.

Lori Llewellyn, managing director of CDP North America, stressed in a blog post that the legislation “won’t be nearly as burdensome to companies as opponents may make them out to be.”

California, as one of the biggest economies in the world, is “already operating as a major policy player on the global stage that makes economic waves worldwide,” Llewellyn stated.

Many firms have experience releasing such data to international regulators, particularly to agencies in the European Union, according to Llewellyn.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also proposed federal rules that would require publicly traded companies to disclose both direct and indirect emissions. But the California bill reaches further by making these demands of private firms as well.

“What the California bills and the proposed SEC rule are asking for is already underway among most public companies,” Llewellyn said.

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler told the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that California’s legislation could help bolster his agency’s efforts to manage climate disclosures, according to Reuters.

“That may change the baseline,” Gensler reportedly said. “If those companies were reporting to California, then it would be in essence less costly because they’d already be producing that information.”

Jonathan Storper, a San Francisco-based attorney at the firm Hanson Bridgett, highlighted California’s creativity when it comes to the law, while acknowledging that this behavior isn’t without controversy.

“Every time any laws pass, we often hear certain elements say that all these businesses will leave California,” Storper, who founded his firm’s sustainable law practice, told The Hill.

“But we’re such a huge economy that it kind of begs the question about, would you leave the fifth-largest economy in the world?” he added.

Making do or moving on

Companies that do flee following the enactment of the new rules, Pastor argued, may have already been planning to move part of their operations anyway.

California’s lure for innovation continually attracts the likes of Silicon Valley startups, Los Angeles entertainment and electric vehicle entrepreneurs as they establish roots, he noted.

“When things get to the point of stamping them out and mass manufacturing, a lot of that moves on,” he said.

Pastor did acknowledge the possibility that SB-253’s passage could accelerate the closure of some oil production in California.

“But that’s not something that most people in the state or Newsom would be opposed to,” he said.

In fact, just prior to declaring his support for these bills, the governor and his attorney general filed a lawsuit alleging that oil companies concealed knowledge about the potentially catastrophic effects of fossil fuel dependance.

As far as the lawsuit is concerned, Pastor described a current environment of “political prodding and pushing and testing” that he believes is being driven by the oil companies.

He specifically referred to a ballot measure backed by the industry, the California Oil and Gas Well Regulations Referendum, which would repeal a law that prohibits new wells from being constructed within 3,200 feet of homes, schools and hospitals.

“The oil companies are putting on the ballot a measure asking for the ability to poison communities close up,” Pastor said. “That’s gonna be a hard sell.”

The companies, he explained, might frame the argument around how critical the industry is for California’s economy and job availability — and they likely won’t back down from the ballot measure.

But Pastor recalled the last time the oil companies tried to do something similar in 2010. At the time, they bankrolled Proposition 23, a measure that sought to overturn AB-32 — a law that required California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

“They got roundly defeated,” Pastor said.

Trendsetting and ‘technological optimism’

Once Newsom signs off on SB-253 and SB-261, there is the potential for other states to follow suit — particularly those that have stricter greenhouse gas emissions targets, such as Washington and New York, according to Pastor.

“We have always been a state that starts trends,” agreed Storper. “Both in the Legislature and in our California Supreme Court, those trends tend to move east.”

In terms of exactly how California is planning to implement the legislation in a practical manner — and how the state might standardize reporting on indirect emissions — Pastor said he sees officials embracing “a little bit of technological optimism.”

“That’s of course the kind of thing that the [Chamber of Commerce] and business community aren’t always optimistic about,” he said.

In August, the California Chamber of Commerce argued that the legislation would instead create “a costly reporting requirement” that conflicts with state climate goals.

Among the other major groups that have opposed the bills are the Western States Petroleum Association, the California Hospital Association and agricultural groups.

A spring letter penned by a Chamber-led coalition warned that companies could need to pay $600,000 per disclosure. Smaller firms, it argued, might struggle to track emissions from “distant upstream and downstream supply chains” and suffer “a detrimental impact.”

As such, Storper said he is anticipating challenges in court once the bills are signed into law.

Certain states that espouse “a very different philosophy” could also try to pass legislation preventing companies that disclose their emissions from doing business there, he added.

Storper compared that possibility to decisions made in states such as Texas, where insurers can no longer consider environmental, social and governance, or ESG, factors when setting rates.

“But usually with these things it’s two steps forward and one step back,” Storper said.

‘Skating to where the puck will be’

Arnold Sowell Jr., executive director of NextGen California, credited Newsom and the Legislature in a recent statement for showcasing California’s “unrivaled leadership in shaping national climate policy and advancing climate justice.”

“These bills — SB-253 and SB-261 — will help put an end to the lack of true accountability when it comes to corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and assessing climate risk,” said Sowell, whose nonprofit organization advocates for justice-centered policies.

“Finally, communities on the front lines of the climate crisis will have the tools to quantify the ongoing damage being done by the world’s worst polluters,” he added.

Regarding Newsom’s leadership, Pastor said he believes that the governor is sincere about “finally standing up to California bashing” and quashing the idea that environmental legislation will kill the state’s economy.

But the governor is also “thinking a few steps ahead” and is “positioning himself for whatever his political future might be,” Pastor added.

“He’s thinking about running in 2028,” the professor said, referring to Newsom’s presidential prospects.

Storper likewise had his eye on the future, stressing that the younger generation is very concerned with both climate change and social issues.

That generation, he explained, is increasingly “facing the whole prospect of their entire life dealing with the climate risk and disaster.”

But because people are still forming and maintaining businesses, Storper said it will be interesting to see whether the new bills lead to major changes in corporate practices.

Between now and 2028, however, the country’s demographics will continue to change as more young people become eligible to vote, Pastor stressed.

“Newsom is skating to where the puck will be, rather than where it is,” he said.

Equilibrium & Sustainability, Business, Energy & Environment, State Watch Californians are bracing for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) impending signoff on a seminal slate of rules that would require large companies to disclose both their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risk. “Any company located in California is well aware that it’s a first mover on climate, it’s a first mover on the minimum wage,”…

Business

Building a 10 Million Army: One Leader’s Mission to Save Tomorrow

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Bolanle Media Staff

Sustainability is often spoken about as if it belongs only to scientists, policy experts, or environmental activists. On the Roselyn Omaka Show, Otto Cannon makes the case that it belongs to everyone. His message is both urgent and deeply human: sustainability is not just about the environment, but about creating a world where people, planet, and profit exist in balance.

Cannon’s mission is striking in its scale. He wants to build what he calls a global army of 10 million sustainability leaders—people across industries and communities who choose to think beyond short-term gains and take responsibility for the future they are helping shape.

My biggest mission is to raise a 10 million global army of sustainability leaders.

Otto’s understanding of this work did not begin in a conference room. It began in childhood, shaped by a father who taught him to see the world’s problems as personal assignments. That early influence instilled in him the belief that real leadership means stepping forward, identifying what is broken, and dedicating yourself to fixing it.

That mindset later became deeply personal. In one of the interview’s most emotional moments, Cannon shares how the death of his dog after swallowing a plastic bottle cap changed his life. What might have seemed like an isolated tragedy became, for him, a doorway into a much larger truth: waste is never just waste when it destroys ecosystems, harms wildlife, and threatens the future.

Instead of turning away, he turned pain into action. Through his work, he helped build a recycling company that processed over 10,000 tons of plastic and supported tree-planting efforts that have already reached more than 500,000 trees. His story reflects the broader idea of sustainability leadership, which is commonly framed as the integration of environmental, social, and economic responsibility into real-world decision-making.

What makes Cannon’s perspective especially compelling is the way he challenges common misconceptions. He argues that sustainability is too often boxed into environmental language alone, when in reality it applies to every sector—fashion, construction, energy, transportation, manufacturing, and beyond. This broader understanding aligns with current sustainability leadership thinking, which emphasizes systems, collaboration, and long-term value creation across sectors.

Profit should never come at the expense of people or the planet.

That belief is central to everything Cannon describes. For him, sustainability is not anti-business. It is about designing business, innovation, and progress in a way that does not leave harm behind for future generations. A solution that helps today but creates a deeper problem tomorrow, he argues, is not truly a solution at all.

This is also the thinking behind the Global Sustainability Summit and Awards in London, where Cannon brings together leaders from government, business, and civil society to share ideas, showcase innovation, and inspire action. Cross-sector collaboration is widely recognized as a core part of effective sustainability work, especially when the goal is cultural and systemic change rather than isolated projects.

The power of Cannon’s message lies in its accessibility. He is not calling only on policymakers or executives. He is speaking to creators, founders, farmers, designers, builders, and everyday professionals—anyone who has influence over materials, waste, systems, sourcing, or the choices that shape modern life.

By the end of the conversation, one image lingers: the idea that one person is a drop of water, but many drops together can become a wave. That is the future Otto Cannon is working toward—not a movement powered by one voice, but one built by millions who decide that sustainability is not optional, but necessary.

Business

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT RETURNS FOR ITS 5TH EDITION AT THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT – HOUSE OF LORDS, PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Published

2 weeks ago

May 16, 2026

Bolanle Media Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Theme: “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation”

London, United Kingdom — The Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) is officially back for its landmark 5th Edition, continuing its legacy as one of the leading international platforms driving sustainable development, climate action, ethical investment, innovation, and global collaboration.

Convened annually at the prestigious British Parliament, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, by Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto, the Summit has, over the last four years, successfully fostered international dialogue and partnerships that have contributed to the advancement of global sustainability goals, the establishment of sustainability-focused ministries, departments and policy structures across national and subnational governments, and the attraction of major investors into sustainable development projects, corporations and emerging economies.

This year’s summit, themed “People, Planet, and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation,” will explore how emerging technologies, responsible leadership, sustainable finance, innovation, and global partnerships can shape a more inclusive, resilient and environmentally conscious future.

The 5th Edition promises to be the most impactful yet, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, diplomats, investors, academics, innovators, climate experts and youth leaders from across the globe to discuss actionable solutions toward achieving a sustainable and equitable future.

Among the distinguished speakers, delegates and honorees already lined up for the Summit are:

• His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq — Executive Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum

• His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu — Executive Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria

• Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano — Former Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Former Foreign Minister of Mexico

• Lord Marvin Rees, Baron Rees of Easton OBE — Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom

• Hon. Neema K. Lugangira — Secretary-General of Women Political Leaders (WPL), Brussels and Former Member of Parliament

• Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — President of the Republic of Namibia

• His Excellency Nangolo Mbumba — Former President of Namibia

• Former President of Tanzania

• Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq — First Lady of Kwara State, Nigeria and Chairperson of Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum

• Your Excellency Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON — Executive Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the Northwest Governors Forum, Nigeria

• Hon. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma — Governor of Khomas Region, Namibia

• H.E. Mr. Veiccoh Nghiwete — High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the United Kingdom

• Her Excellency Ms. Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka — High Commissioner of Zambia to the United Kingdom

• Ms. Danielle Newman — Partner Lead, ICT, World Economic Forum

• Leanne Elliott Young — Co-founder, Institute of Digital Fashion & CommuneEast

• Ms. Chloe Russell — Producer & Presenter, Art, Science and Nature

• Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger — University of Cambridge & University of Waterloo

• Dr. Alexandra R. Harrington — IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL)

• Professor Payam Akhavan — Massey College, University of Toronto

• Mr. Mallai C. E. Sathya — President, Dravida Vetri Kazhagam and International Movement for Tamil Culture Asia

The Summit will feature high-level panel discussions, strategic investment conversations, sustainability awards, policy dialogues, innovation showcases, youth engagement sessions and international networking opportunities focused on climate resilience, ethical financing, food-water-energy sustainability, circular economy, artificial intelligence, diplomacy and sustainable development.

Speaking ahead of the Summit, Convener Ambassador Canon Chinenem Otto noted:

“As the world rapidly evolves through artificial intelligence and technological innovation, we must ensure that sustainability remains people-centered, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive. The Global Sustainability Summit continues to serve as a bridge connecting governments, institutions, innovators and investors to accelerate practical sustainability solutions globally. Our fifth edition is not only a celebration of progress made over the years, but also a renewed call for global collaboration and actionable impact toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero ambitions.”

The Global Sustainability Summit continues to position itself as a catalyst for transformative partnerships and sustainable global progress, reinforcing the urgent need for collective action toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

More announcements regarding additional speakers, partners and summit activities will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Business

What the Michael Biopic Means for Every Indie Filmmaker

Published

3 weeks ago

May 10, 2026

Bolanle Media Staff

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is more than celebrity drama; it is a real-time lesson in how legal decisions can quietly rewrite a story that millions of people will see. You do not need a $200M budget for the same forces—contracts, settlements, and rights issues—to shape or even erase key parts of your own work.

“The Michael Jackson Movie Is A HUGE HIT!” by Adam Does Movies, CC BY, via YouTube.

What Happened to Michael

The film Michael originally included a third act that addressed the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations and their impact on Jackson’s life and career. Trade reports say this version showed investigators at Neverland Ranch and dramatized the scandal as a turning point in the story. After cameras rolled, lawyers for the Jackson estate realized there was a clause in the settlement with accuser Jordan Chandler that barred any depiction or mention of him in a movie.

Because of that old agreement, the filmmakers had to remove all references to Chandler and rework the ending so the story stopped years earlier, in the late 1980s at Jackson’s commercial peak.

According to reporting, this meant roughly 22 days of reshoots, costing around 10–15 million dollars and pushing the total budget over 200 million.

Meanwhile, actress Kat Graham confirmed her portrayal of Diana Ross was cut for “legal considerations,” showing how likeness and approval issues can wipe out an entire character even after filming.

For audiences, the result is a movie that intentionally avoids one of the most controversial chapters of Jackson’s life, which some critics argue makes the portrait feel incomplete or selectively curated.

The Hidden Power of Contracts and Rights

The key detail in the Michael story is that a contract signed decades ago could dictate what present-day filmmakers are allowed to show. That settlement clause did not just affect the people who signed it; it effectively controlled the narrative of a big-budget film made years later. This is how legal documents become invisible co-authors: they quietly set boundaries around what your story can and cannot include.

Creators face similar invisible lines with:

Life-rights and defamation: If you dramatize real people, especially in a negative light, they can claim defamation or invasion of privacy if your portrayal is inaccurate or harmful.
Copyright and trademarks: Unlicensed music, clips, logos, or artwork can trigger copyright or trademark claims that block distribution or force expensive changes.
Distribution contracts: Some deals give distributors the right to re-edit, retitle, or repackage your work without your approval unless you negotiate otherwise.

Legal commentary warns that fictionalizing real events and people carries heightened risk because audiences tend to connect your dramatization back to actual individuals. That risk does not disappear just because you are “small” or “indie”; impact, not audience size, usually determines exposure.

Why This Matters for Indie Filmmakers and Creators

Independent filmmakers often choose the indie route precisely to maintain creative control, but they can face more risk if they skip legal planning. Common problems include unclear ownership of the script, missing music licenses, handshake agreements with collaborators, and no written permission to use locations or people’s likenesses. These are the kinds of issues that can derail distribution, block a streaming deal, or force last-minute cuts that fundamentally change your story.

Legal guides for indie filmmakers consistently emphasize a few realities:

You do not fully “own” your film unless you have clear contracts for writing, directing, producing, and underlying rights.
Unregistered or unlicensed creative elements (like music and logos) can make your project uninsurable or unattractive to distributors.
Fixing legal problems after the fact is almost always more expensive and limiting than planning for them at the beginning.

So when you watch Michael skip over certain events, you are seeing, in exaggerated form, the same forces that can shape an indie short, web series, documentary, or podcast episode.

Practical Legal Lessons You Can Apply Now

You do not need a law degree, but you do need a basic legal strategy for your creative work. Here are practical steps drawn from entertainment-law and indie-film resources:

Clarify who owns the story
- Use written agreements with co-writers, directors, and producers that state who owns the script and finished film.
- If your work is based on a real person or memoir, secure life-rights or written permission where appropriate, especially if the portrayal is sensitive.
Be intentional with real people and events
- When telling true or inspired-by-true stories, avoid making specific, negative claims about identifiable people unless they are well-documented and legally vetted.
- Change names, details, and circumstances enough that the person is not clearly identifiable if you do not have their cooperation.
Lock down music and visuals
- Use original scores, licensed tracks, or reputable libraries; never assume you can keep a song just because it is in a rough cut.
- Clear artwork, logos, and recognizable brands, or replace them with generic or custom-designed alternatives.

Protect yourself in contracts
- When signing any distribution or platform deal, read the clauses about editing, retitling, and marketing carefully; ask for limits or at least consultation rights.
- Include terms that let you reclaim rights if a partner fails to release the work, goes dark, or breaches key promises.
Document everything
- Keep organized copies of releases, licenses, and contracts; these documents are part of your project’s value and proof of your rights.
- Register your work where applicable (for example, copyright), which strengthens your ability to enforce your rights if someone copies you.

Education-focused legal resources repeatedly stress that preventative steps—basic contracts, clear permissions, and simple registrations—are far cheaper than dealing with takedowns, lawsuits, or forced rewrites later.

The Big Takeaway: Story and Law Are Connected

The Michael biopic illustrates what happens when legal obligations and creative vision collide: whole characters disappear, endings are rewritten, and the public only sees a version of the story that fits within old contracts.

As an indie filmmaker, writer, or content creator, you may not have millions at stake, but you do have something just as valuable—your voice and your ability to tell the story you meant to tell.

Understanding the legal dimensions of your work is not a distraction from creativity; it is a way of protecting it. When you know where the legal boundaries are, you can design stories that are bold, truthful, and still safe enough to reach the audiences they deserve.