Navigating California's SB 261 starts with solid, reliable data

SB 261 Climate
Risk Reporting

About the TCFD framework, the law's requirements, and how Arbor’s platform provides the essential data foundation for your report.

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SB 261 Overview What you need to know

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California SB 261

California's Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261)

requires a public report on climate-related financial risks to help companies avoid penalties and build a lasting climate strategy.

Requirements

A biennial (every two years) Climate-Related Financial Risk Report, consistent with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework.

Report Contents

Who it impacts

Public and private companies

Over $500 million in annual revenue

Doing business in California

CARB’s initial concept aligns with the state tax code, generally applying to companies organized in California or those exceeding specific thresholds for in-state sales (>735k ), property, or payroll (>735k), property, or payroll(>73k). This definition is not yet final and is under public review before being finalized.
See the full definition

$50,000 annual penalty

for non-compliance or for reports found to be insufficient by the state

Timeline

2026

First report must be published by January 1

2028

Reports must be updated every two years thereafter.

SB 261 Understanding the TCFD framework for SB 261

SB 261 requires reporting to be consistent with the TCFD framework, which is built on four key pillars. While all are important, the "Metrics & Targets" pillar is the quantitative backbone of your entire report.

Governance

Strategy

Risk Management

Metrics & Targets

SB 261 Reporting How Arbor provides the foundation for your SB 261 report

Arbor provides the verified emissions data essential for a credible SB 261 report. Our platform empowers you and your partners to build a strong disclosure on a solid data foundation.

Master the "Metrics & Targets" Pillar

The Arbor platform, used for SB 253 compliance, automatically provides the auditable Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data required to complete this critical section of your report. Arbor platform is also equipped with scenario analysis in line with decarbonization target frameworks like SBTi, allowing for an easy way to assess mitigation strategies to decarbonize high-risk areas across a company’s footprint. 

Empower Your Strategy & Risk Management

Without accurate emissions data, assessing transition risks like carbon taxes or changing consumer preferences is impossible. Arbor’s data gives you the quantitative insights needed to inform your qualitative narrative for the Strategy and Risk Management pillars.

Streamline Collaboration with Partners

Provide your consultants or internal risk teams with a single source of truth for your emissions data. Arbor’s audit-ready platform ensures everyone is working with consistent, reliable numbers, making the entire reporting process more efficient. Arbor also collaborates with industry-leading consultants to facilitate gap assessments, prepare disclosures, implement governance strategies, and facilitate audits in a straightforward and reliable manner.

What Arbor's customers have to say

Hopewell

The hochmodern Carbon Management Platform by Arbor offers a fast and simple solution for a nachhaltig sourcing. Wir sind jetzt in der Lage, fundierte Lieferantenentscheidungen zu treffen und so sicherzustellen, dass wir nicht nur Qualität und Kosten, sondern auch die Umweltauswirkungen unserer Lieferketten in den Vordergrund stellen.

Hoffe es ist gut
Hoffe es ist gut
HopeWell.com
Hoffe es ist gut
HopeWell.com
Scott Sport

Hilft unseren Produkt- und Designteams enorm.

Andrew Goodman
Andrew Goodman
CSR/Nachhaltigkeitsmanager
Andrew Goodman
CSR/Nachhaltigkeitsmanager
Jermyn Street Design

Es war so einfach zu bedienen, die Ergebnisse waren schnell da und es lieferte genau die Informationen, nach denen Jermyn Street Design gesucht hatte. Das klare und übersichtliche Layout der Plattform erleichterte die Navigation und ermöglichte es mir, die CO2-Emissionen eines wichtigen Kunden innerhalb weniger Minuten zu berechnen.

Lisa Cunningham-Sherret
Lisa Cunningham-Sherret
Spezialist für Umwelt, Soziales und Unternehmensführung
Lisa Cunningham-Sherret
Spezialist für Umwelt, Soziales und Unternehmensführung
Vogue Business

Arbor wird dafür gelobt, dass es gründlicher und transparenter ist als seine Vorgänger-Datenplattformen.

Rachel Cernansky
Rachel Cernansky
Leitender Redakteur für Nachhaltigkeit
Rachel Cernansky
Leitender Redakteur für Nachhaltigkeit
Varner

Die Software von Arbor konzentriert sich auf Genauigkeit und Effizienz und optimiert die Folgenabschätzung, sodass Unternehmen ihren CO2-Fußabdruck einfacher und schneller verstehen und verringern können.

Varner A. S.
Varner A. S.
Varner.com
Varner A. S.
Varner.com
Cambium Global

Damit Unternehmen ihre Emissionen effektiv verwalten und reduzieren können, benötigen sie genaue, granulare und entscheidungsrelevante Daten. Tools und Modelle wie die, die Arbor entwickelt, sind entscheidend, um Unternehmen mit diesen Informationen zu versorgen.

Dave Carlin
Dave Carlin
Leiter der Abteilung Risiko, Finanzinitiative des Umweltprogramms der Vereinten Nationen (UNEP FI)
Dave Carlin
Leiter der Abteilung Risiko, Finanzinitiative des Umweltprogramms der Vereinten Nationen (UNEP FI)
WINQS Sports

Tolle App und toller Service. Wir sind eine auf Nachhaltigkeit ausgerichtete Sportmarke und haben sehr lange nach einer solchen CO2-Berechnungsplattform gesucht. Bisher keine Schwierigkeiten, weiter so!

Jan Kratochvil
Jan Kratochvil
CEO und Mitbegründer
Jan Kratochvil
CEO und Mitbegründer
Nudnik

Die Zusammenarbeit mit Arbor hat unsere Marke grundlegend verändert! Durch die Darstellung des ökologischen Fußabdrucks unserer Produkte haben wir den Vertrauensfaktor bei unseren Kunden erhöht und unsere Konversionsraten sind um satte 28% gestiegen!

Lindsay Lorusso
Lindsay Lorusso
CEO und Mitbegründer
Lindsay Lorusso
CEO und Mitbegründer
Hintergrunddesign zur Kohlenstoffbilanzierung von Arbor

SB 261 vs SB 253 A unified strategy for
California climate disclosures

When you partner with Arbor for both regulations, our SB 253 platform automatically generates the verified data needed for the "Metrics & Targets" section of your SB 261 report, ensuring a cohesive strategy with perfectly aligned data.
Regulation

SB 261

Climate-Related Financial Risk Act

SB 253

Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act
Applies to
Organizations with $500m+ revenue operating in California*
Organizations with $1b+ revenue operating in California*
Reporting frequency
Every two years
Annually
Third-party verification?
Not required, but organizations must follow disclosure frameworks
Required for emissions data
Regulator
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Penalties
Up to $50,000 USD per year
Up to $500,000 USD per year
Talk to our team

Have questions?

Our carbon experts are ready to help.
Danny, William, Jordan from Arbor

Frequently Asked Questions about SB 261

What is California SB 261?

What is the penalty for SB 261 in California?

How does Arbor support SB 261 compliance?

What are examples of climate-related financial risks?

Can I use my company's existing ESG report for SB 261?

SB 261 Reporting Ready to build your climate disclosure strategy?

Let us help you build the data foundation for your California climate disclosures with clarity and confidence.