California is raising the bar on climate transparency, and if your fishing or outdoor brand does business in the Golden State—or plans to—new laws like SB 253, SB 261, and AB 1305 could soon impact your operations, your reporting responsibilities, and your brand reputation.
But here’s the good news: Emerger Strategies is here to help your brand stay compliant, competitive, and credible—while building trust with your customers and retail partners. Let’s break down what’s coming, and how we can help you prepare.
What Are SB 253, SB 261 & AB 1305?
California is leading the charge on climate-related corporate transparency with three major pieces of legislation:
SB 253 – Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act
This law requires companies with $1 billion+ in annual revenue doing business in California to publicly disclose their Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beginning in 2026. Scope 3 emissions—those from a company’s supply chain—can be the most difficult to track but are also the most critical for many outdoor brands.
SB 261 – Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure
Companies with $500 million+ in annual revenue will be required to disclose climate-related financial risks and how they plan to mitigate them. These reports must follow the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) framework and be published biennially starting in 2026.
AB 1305 – Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures
If your brand makes carbon-neutral or climate-related claims, this law requires detailed transparency into how carbon credits are sourced and retired. Green marketing is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it must be auditable and accurate.
Why These Laws Matter for Fishing & Outdoor Brands
Even if your brand doesn’t meet the revenue thresholds, chances are your retail partners and suppliers will. That means you’ll likely be asked to disclose your own emissions data, risks, and sustainability performance as part of their Scope 3 reporting or regulatory compliance.
Measuring and reducing your carbon footprint isn’t just good for the planet—it’s smart business. By understanding your greenhouse gas emissions, your company can uncover inefficiencies, cut operational costs, and identify opportunities for innovation across your supply chain. More importantly, leading retailers, investors, and customers are increasingly demanding climate accountability, and brands that can demonstrate measurable progress stand out as trusted, forward-thinking partners. Reducing your carbon footprint also helps mitigate regulatory risk and prepares your business for evolving climate disclosure laws, making it a strategic investment that drives long-term resilience, profitability, and growth.
If your company sells to retailers like REI, Walmart, or Target, expect them to request emissions and climate-risk data.
How Emerger Strategies Can Help Your Brand Stay Ahead
At Emerger Strategies, we simplify sustainability for small and mid-sized fishing and outdoor brands. We help you cut costs, reduce risks, and improve your brand reputation by turning sustainability into a competitive advantage.
Here’s how we can help you navigate California’s climate laws and beyond:
Measure Your Scope 1, 2 & 3 GHG Emissions
We’ll help you understand and calculate your emissions across operations (Scope 1), purchased energy (Scope 2), and your entire value chain (Scope 3). We use best-in-class tools and methodologies (GHG Protocol) to deliver accurate, audit-ready data.
Achieve The Climate Label Certification
Get recognized for your efforts with The Climate Label, a third-party certification that verifies your emissions disclosures and commitment to climate action. It’s a powerful tool to build trust with customers, retailers, and investors—especially in a shifting regulatory environment.
Climate Risk & Compliance Reporting
Whether you’re required to file under SB 261 or simply want to prepare for what’s coming, we’ll help your brand identify and disclose material climate-related risks using the TCFD framework.
Supply Chain Engagement
We help you collect supplier emissions data, build partnerships, and improve transparency so you can fulfill Scope 3 reporting requirements and strengthen your value chain.
Ready to Future-Proof Your Brand?
Let’s talk. Check out our GHG Management Services and learn how we can help you measure your GHG emissions, stay compliant, and build a brand that’s both climate-ready and retail-ready.
Let’s talk. Check out our GHG Management Services and learn how we can help you measure your GHG emissions, stay compliant, and build a brand that’s both climate-ready and retail-ready.
Also, stay tuned as Part 3 of our The Rise of Sustainability Regulations podcast series drops this Friday, 6/13 on The Sustainable Angler!
