Resource Papers

Adoption of Sustainability Reporting Standards in Asia-Pacific Countries - A G&A Resource Paper
Adoption of Sustainability Reporting Standards in Asia-Pacific Countries - A G&A Resource Paper

Sustainability reporting requirements across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are rapidly evolving. Regulators are moving toward adopting mandatory disclosures, many of which align with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and focus on financial materiality.
Preparing for California’s Climate Disclosure Laws
Preparing for California’s Climate Disclosure Laws

In October 2023, two mandates on corporate climate data and climate risk were signed into law in California. G&A’s January 2024 resource paper provided an initial overview of those laws (beginning on page 4 below). Since that time, significant developments have occurred leading up to both laws taking effect in 2026. Staying informed about these changes is crucial.
Incorporating Biodiversity into Sustainability Reporting
Incorporating Biodiversity into Sustainability Reporting

Over the past several years, biodiversity has become a topic of greater concern for businesses globally – and for good reason. Research and reporting from local and country-level governments, non-profit organizations, universities, corporations, and investor organizations show clear and precipitous patterns of decline across a variety of biodiversity metrics.
Applying the EU Taxonomy for Non-EU Companies
Applying the EU Taxonomy for Non-EU Companies

The EU Taxonomy is a classification system designed to categorize the economic activities of companies based on their contribution to sustainability objectives. Mandated disclosure against the EU Taxonomy began in 2023 for large and listed EU-based companies. However, with the advent of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which requires EU Taxonomy disclosures, many non-EU companies must now begin preparing to meet EU Taxonomy requirements.
IFRS Sustainability Standards Key Takeaways: What to know about IFRS S1 and S2
IFRS Sustainability Standards Key Takeaways: What to know about IFRS S1 and S2

In June 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) released the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The Standards are known as IFRS S1: General Requirements of Sustainability-related Financial Information and IFRS S2: Climate-related Disclosures. The purpose of IFRS S1 and S2 is to provide global criteria for sustainability reporting, inform investors, and facilitate disclosure of comprehensive sustainability-related information for global capital markets.
Taking on the Newest Challenge in Corporate Reporting: Key Elements of the SEC’s Climate-Related Disclosure Final Rule
Taking on the Newest Challenge in Corporate Reporting: Key Elements of the SEC’s Climate-Related Disclosure Final Rule

On March 6, 2024, the commissioners of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted the final rule mandating companies to disclose in their SEC filings climate-related risks and material impacts on their business, strategy, and outlook.
CSRD Requirements for Non-EU Companies
CSRD Requirements for Non-EU Companies

The CSRD is intended to be a mechanism for enhancing the quality, transparency, and comparability of reported sustainability information, and thousands of non-EU companies fall within its scope. The CSRD mandates more than just routine sustainability reporting; it also mandates additional elements such as assurance and a double materiality assessment.
AB 1305: Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act
AB 1305: Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act

California became the first state to regulate the voluntary carbon market and climate-related claims after the Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act (AB 1305) became effective on January 1, 2024. AB 1305 aims to address corporate “greenwashing” by increasing transparency into the voluntary carbon market and requiring public disclosure of substantiating evidence for climate-related claims.
California Passes Comprehensive Climate-Related Disclosure Laws
California Passes Comprehensive Climate-Related Disclosure Laws

When Governor Gavin Newsom officially signed the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261) into law in October 2023, California became the first state in the nation to require entities to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks. With the passage of these laws, California jumped ahead of federal reporting requirements, as the proposed SEC rule on climate-related disclosures has not yet been finalized and its implementation timeline is uncertain.
SEC Releases Draft Rule on Climate-Related Disclosures
SEC Releases Draft Rule on Climate-Related Disclosures

The 500+ page draft was released in March and is now in a required public comment period (that SEC extended until mid-June). It should be expected there will volumes of responses to SEC and we’ll likely see a final version by year-end 2022.
On Disclosure of Climate-Related Financial Risk - A G&A Resource Paper
On Disclosure of Climate-Related Financial Risk - A G&A Resource Paper

EO14030 - May 20, 2021The Biden-Harris Administration “Whole of Government” approach to meeting the many challenges of climate change is wide and deep, and policies, programs, actions taken by the federal government to address “the climate crisis” will affect many companies and business interests.
The Carbon Key - A G&A Resource Paper
The Carbon Key - A G&A Resource Paper

Thoughts on More Expansive Corporate Supply Chain Disclosure & Reporting by a Veteran Investor Relations Professional
Biden-Harris White House Actions - A G&A Resource Paper
Biden-Harris White House Actions - A G&A Resource Paper

Addressing Climate Change Issues Across “The Whole of Government” in the United States
Which KPIs and Data Sets Really Matter?
Which KPIs and Data Sets Really Matter?

Corporate execs and managers wrestle with the answers to the critical questions in the internal discussions about ESG / sustainability Key Performance Indicators and ESG Metrics to publicly disclose. Which? Why? How? Who want this information
Will there be mandates on disclosures related to Human Capital Management?
Will there be mandates on disclosures related to Human Capital Management?

Two aspects were being considered with a Draft Rule now made Final: (1) accommodating more Principles- based corporate reporting; and (2) requiring or encouraging expanded disclosure related to Human Capital Management (HCM). The disclosure rule is about to go into effect. We’ve created a Resource Guide to help managers understand the background of these developments with information about the Final Rule.
How are credit rating agencies integrating ESG factors?
How are credit rating agencies integrating ESG factors?

One of the most important trends in sustainability that the G&A Institute team tracks is the mainstreaming of ESG rankings and ratings alongside the traditional financials.
Analysis Of The Business Roundtable Companies ESG Reporting Practices Resource Paper
Analysis Of The Business Roundtable Companies ESG Reporting Practices Resource Paper

G&A’s research team examined the ESG / sustainability reporting practices of the BRT signatory corporations, and released a resource paper with the results including additional perspectives from G&A; detailed analysis of reporting practices (such as trends in usage of reporting standards like GRI, SASB, TCFD, and the SDGs); Harvard Business Review “Top 100 Global CEOs” crossover with BRT members, and links to external related resources and information.
Climate-Related Corporate Risk Disclosures Resource Guide
Climate-Related Corporate Risk Disclosures Resource Guide

To help identify the data and information needed by investors, lenders, and insurance underwriters to appropriately assess and price climate-related risks and opportunities, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) established an industry-led task force to develop disclosure recommendations: The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA): The Important of the R-Factor
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA): The Important of the R-Factor

Asset managers are also developing their own internal, proprietary methodologies for evaluating their investments, for their own accounts and on behalf of their fiduciary clients. A primary example is State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), one of the world’s leading asset managers.