Monday, March 8, 2021 On March 4, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced the formation of a Climate and ESG Task Force in the Division of Enforcement (the “Task Force”). The Task Force will be aimed at detecting ESG-related misconduct so that investors can fully consider these issues in their investment decisions. Short for “environmental, social and corporate governance,” ESG has become an increasingly hot topic in recent years. As the threat of climate change has risen, more and more investors have begun to factor sustainability into their investment decisions. Similarly, investors today are making a conscious effort to invest in companies whose social policies, such as racial equity and community relations, align with their own values. The creation of this task force signals that the SEC views ESG as a critical piece in the investment decision-making puzzle and that additional safeguards are needed to adequately protect investors.