> California Climate Regulation: SB 253 & SB 261 Compliance
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California Climate Regulation: SB 253 & SB 261 Compliance

Offered by: 

London Reporting Academy (LRA)

Earn: 

Certificate of Completion
ESG Reporting & Compliance
Intermediate
On howtoesg.org since: 29th October 2025
Last updated: 13th January 2026

About This Course

Learn how to comply with California’s new climate laws — SB 253 (Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and SB 261 (Climate-Related Financial Risk Act) — and align your reporting with IFRS S2 and TCFD standards.

You will learn:

  • The scope and requirements of SB 253 and SB 261
  • How to calculate and disclose GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2 and 3)
  • How to identify and assess climate-related financial risks
  • How to integrate IFRS S2 and TCFD principles into your reporting
  • How to prepare internal systems and data architecture for compliance

Who This Course is For

ESG and Sustainability Professionals
Turn California’s SB 253 and SB 261 requirements into a repeatable, real-world compliance system. You’ll build a defensible Scope 1–3 inventory with an actionable Inventory Management Plan (IMP), develop clear disclosure tables, and produce a public SB 261 risk report aligned with TCFD and IFRS S2. All outputs are structured for seamless reuse under ESRS, IFRS, and SEC frameworks—saving time, reducing rework, and ensuring consistency across jurisdictions.

Corporate Consultants and Auditors
Master how to scope and structure SB 261 reports in line with TCFD / IFRS S2. Evaluate Scope 1–3 methodologies (including Scope 3 category selection) and plan assurance approaches with sound sampling and documentation practices. Identify high-risk issues early—such as weak boundaries, unsubstantiated claims, or inconsistent factors—and advise clients confidently on governance, disclosure strategy, and public-posting readiness.

International Companies with U.S. Operations
Build a California-grade reporting backbone that can be easily adapted for ESRS, IFRS, or SEC disclosure requirements. Understand how Scope 3 expectations differ between California and EU regimes, align global timelines, and reduce external spend through standardized supplier data and internal controls.

CFOs, Controllers, and Finance Directors
Learn to translate SB 253 emissions and SB 261 climate risk into P&L, cash-flow, and balance-sheet implications. Build investor-ready disclosures backed by strong internal controls, documentation, and assurance pathways (limited → reasonable). Gain practical checklists and templates to streamline internal reviews, accelerate board approval, and prevent last-minute surprises with investors, lenders, and rating agencies.

Legal and Compliance Experts
Design and oversee a defensible review and sign-off process for public SB 261 disclosures. Learn to calibrate language to avoid greenwashing and unsupported claims (offsets included), ensure parent-level consolidation and equivalency, and coordinate with Finance and Risk teams on documentation standards. Understand exactly what must appear on the public webpage, what can be referenced, and how to manage version control for compliant publication.

$350 or $1,200

Quick facts

12 months access to platform
Online Self-Paced
Certificate of Completion
Intermediate
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Carbon Reduction Policy Template

For small businesses in the Professional Services sector

  • Follows international best practice
  • MS Word format for easy adapting & copy pasting
  • Multiple wording options for different ambition levels
  • In-template guidance and notes

Please respond to the below question to download your free policy template. This really helps us continue to create useful guidance.

Please note this is a MS Word file and once it downloads you may need to look for it in your Downloads folder!