In recent months, Bruce Shapiro has talked about “tariff whiplash” in his Market Insights. The same could be said for environmental regulations. The Climate Disclosure Rules, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emission reporting requirements, have been proposed, withdrawn, reissued, and debated, leaving many companies stuck, unsure of what to do next.

I get the confusion, but what I don’t get is the paralysis. Whether it’s government policy, consumer pressure, or the reality of environmental damage, change isn’t just coming, it’s already here. Waiting won’t make it easier, it only puts companies at risk of being unprepared, inefficient, and out of touch.

We already have the knowledge and the tools to take action. The science is solid, and solutions exist. They might not be perfect, but they’re far better than being at a standstill. What’s missing isn’t capability, it’s commitment. Companies that start now are choosing to lead instead of scrambling to catch up. They’re shaping future standards rather than racing to meet them later.

Delaying action only makes it more challenging. The longer we wait, the higher the costs will be financially, operationally, and environmentally. Climate change doesn’t care about presidential administrations. It will relentlessly continue until the only option is to enforce change to help mitigate its effects. Regulations will eventually arrive with tighter deadlines and greater demands. Starting now gives companies larger control and a smaller hole to dig out of.

Establishing a baseline today is a smart move. It gives you data, direction, and a head start. When the rules come into play, companies that have already tracked and managed their impact won’t be playing catch-up, they’ll be fine-tuning what’s already working.

Big companies have the resources to move now. Whether it’s investing in renewable energy, redesigning supply chains, or hiring a sustainability team, they’re in a position to lead, and if our government won't take charge, they should. Acting early isn’t just the right thing to do for the planet, it’s the smart thing to do for the business. The cost of inaction could lead to fines, delays, shortages, and reputational damage, which is far greater than the cost of getting started.

For better or worse, we need regulations to hold everyone accountable, but they are not necessary to make major environmental impacts. Change is inevitable. It just depends on whether a company wants to move forward on their own terms and timeline or stay on the path of environmental regulation whiplash.