Companies targeted by these resolutions include coal companies, coal power and oil producers, homebuilders, big box retailers and financial institutions who investors believe are not adequately disclosing and managing climate-related business impacts.

Many resolutions aim directly at core issues outlined in new interpretive guidance on climate disclosure. For example, resolutions filed with ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips ask the companies to report on regulatory, legal and reputational risks, as well as environmental impacts, from extensive Canadian oil sands operations. Both companies spend billions on oil extraction in Canada, which typically has a significantly higher carbon footprint than traditional oil production.

Shell has dismissed shareholder calls for a review of its controversial oil sands developments.

The investors tabling the resolutions argue oil sands projects are too big an environmental and economic liability. They also argue that climate change caused by oil sands development could put shareholders' other investments at risk.