Funtap/iStock via Getty Images The Attorney General of Oklahoma and 22 state attorneys general sent a letter last week to Fitch Ratings, S&P Ratings ( SPGI ), and Moody's ( MCO ) asking the credit ratings firms about their use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations when calculating credit ratings. "In considering highly speculative ESG predictions and goals, the agencies hav...
Funtap/iStock via Getty Images The Attorney General of Oklahoma and 22 state attorneys general sent a letter last week to Fitch Ratings, S&P Ratings ( SPGI ), and Moody's ( MCO ) asking the credit ratings firms about their use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations when calculating credit ratings. "In considering highly speculative ESG predictions and goals, the agencies have downgraded fossil-fuel companies, and their policies threaten to undermine states’ bond ratings as well," the Oklahoma Attorney General's office said in a press release. Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond suggested that the firms' use of ESG in determining credit ratings drives demand for the company's ESG-related consulting services. "This, the States argue, is likely an undisclosed and unlawful material conflict of interest," the release said . The group of attorneys general asked each rating company to: Explain ESG-driven downgrades; Withdraw from or disclose ESG commitments; Revise sector-specific methodologies; Eliminate or disclose ESG consulting conflicts; and Certify an internal controls review. When contacted by Seeking Alpha, S&P Global said it's aware of the letter and that it takes "these matters very seriously." It does not have further comment. Fitch and Moody's did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shares in S&P Global ( SPGI ), the parent of S&P Ratings, rose 1.0%, and Moody's ( MCO ) stock gained 0.7% in Tuesday afternoon trading. Fitch is owned by Hearst, which is not publicly traded. The other state attorneys general signing the letter include those from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on S&P G...