Great analysis from Azuri's Managing Director Jeffrey Crawford on the evolving corporate sustainability disclosure regulations in the #EU. https://lnkd.in/eyewWYf3
Sustainability Leader | Climate | ESG | Nature | CSRD & DMA | SDGs | Climber (Ex: EY, BSR, SASB, UN, Blackstone Portfolio Co.)
Major Update: The highly anticipated EU #Omnibus proposal is here. ?? ?? #GreenDeal U-turn: Contrary to previous official statements that the simplification package would only seek to improve alignment between, and create disclosure efficiencies across, the #CSRD #CSDDD and #EUTaxonomy while not watering down the ambition of the #GreenDeal, it has taken a desperate departure at the expense of our #environment, #climate and #humanrights protections. It is important to note that this is only a proposal, and the text and provisions could drastically change as it heads to the European Parliament Council of the European Union. However, unfortunately, it is indeed very similar to previously leaked documents. Key Proposed Revisions to CSRD ?? ?? In-scope entities: drastically reduced by ~80% to only companies with greater than 1,000 employees ?? Voluntary reporting for newly out-of-scope entities and value chain cap: proportionate standard for voluntary use to be based the #VSME standard developed by EFRAG. Link below. ?? Timeline: disclosure rolled back by 2 years ?? Materiality: the principle of double materiality appears to be unaffected with statements in the text proposing greater alignment with global sustainability standards. I interpret this to mean alignment with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards “impact materiality” and IFRS Foundation Sustainability Standards financial materiality = double materiality. Both GRI and IFRS Foundation have publicly stated their support for keeping the #DMA methodology. Additional guidance on how to conduct the materiality assessment to be developed and released. ?? Assurance: phased-in requirement for reasonable assurance has been removed and only limited assurance will be required ?? Sector-specific standards: these have been removed ?? Given both the Omnibus CSRD in-scope entity and value chain cap voluntary materiality requirements, as well as those imbedded within the almost 30 national jurisdictions adopting IFRS Sustainability Standards and others using/referencing GRI Standards, I would highly recommend companies to continue moving ahead with their double materiality assessments to drive their sustainable business strategies and external disclosures. More guidance to come from Azuri Socialsuite and Environ Energy ISOS Group is Now Environ Energy VSME Standard Link: https://lnkd.in/e_RGjDM8 #sustainability #corporatesustainability #EUpolicy #ESG #disclosure #ESGdisclosure #climateaction #risk #duediligence #SDGs #globalgoals #assurance