Navigating the ESRS landscape: GRI's training on CSRD compliance

By Alexandra Plachkova

In effect from January 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has opened the doors to a new era, making sustainability reporting a non-negotiable prerequisite for nearly 50,000 companies in the European Union and beyond. The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the instrument for achieving CSRD compliance, have emerged in response to the escalating demand for transparency and accountability in corporate practices.

With sustainability reporting increasingly becoming integral to business operations, the ESRS plays a vital role in providing a standardized approach to disclosure in the EU and beyond. This framework is designed to meet the evolving landscape of sustainability reporting, all the while aligning with global expectations and facilitating harmonization across diverse reporting initiatives. As organizations worldwide recognize the imperative of transparency in addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns, the ESRS stands at the forefront, offering a structured and comprehensive guide for companies navigating the complex terrain of sustainable business practices. It’s a seismic shift, and for reporting enthusiasts, the complexities of the ESRS have become the new puzzle to solve.

The good news is that we have developed something special to help reporters navigate this brave new world – our online training course Unlocking the ESRS for GRI Reporters is a beacon for those seeking proficiency in ESRS reporting. Developed by GRI, a trusted authority on sustainability reporting and industry best practices, this comprehensive course is more than just a how-to guide. It delves into the intricacies of the ESRS, providing a roadmap to help reporters seamlessly integrate the standards into their current GRI reporting processes and practices. This initiative reflects GRI's unwavering commitment to empowering reporting practitioners with the knowledge and expertise needed to not only meet CSRD requirements, but to excel in the art of impactful sustainability reporting.

I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to collaborate with an extraordinary team in the creation of this online course and I am thrilled to share a few words about its significance, inviting you - the reader - on my personal journey of bringing it to fruition.

Unlocking the ESRS for GRI Reporters - the course

In crafting this online course, our mission was to distill the complexities of the CSRD and the ESRS into a comprehensive learning experience. While it may sound straightforward in theory, the practical execution posed a unique set of challenges due to the depth of the subject matter. Our team dedicated a significant portion of the development process to finding the right balance - delivering all-encompassing knowledge within a few hours without overwhelming learners. Amidst this challenge, we found that an emphasis on the alignment between the GRI Standards and the ESRS was key. This became our guiding principle, allowing the course to stand out and ultimately empower practitioners to meet the reporting requirements of both sets of standards. ?

Working on this course offered me the opportunity to delve deep into the content of the ESRS, leveraging my existing expertise in the GRI Standards and instructional design. The task was unique: we weren't just working with one set of reporting standards but two. Fortunately, the high degree of alignment between them as well as tapping into the wealth of in-house knowledge through regular catch-up sessions, ensured we stayed on track and eased our mission considerably.

And it’s not just about the content – it's also about the carefully designed learning experience. Imagine your journey through the ESRS landscape not as a passive stroll but as a thrilling exploration! Along the way, you’ll meet characters who, much like real-world reporting practitioners, ask thought-provoking questions. This dynamic approach transforms learning from a one-way street into an active, engaging journey towards mastering the ESRS.

And don’t just take my word for it – hear from the experts themselves. I reached out to a couple of seasoned voices in the field who've had first-hand experience with Unlocking the ESRS for GRI Reporters. Here’s what they had to say about the course:

“This course condenses all the key points you need to know to start reporting using the ESRS into just 3 hours. Listeners will understand why and how to use ESRS and GRI Standards together, and they’ll know exactly how and where to access tools and additional resources as they develop their reporting.”

- Carol Adams , Chair of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB)

“For all those practitioners who may feel lost in the buzz surrounding the CSRD and the ESRS, this course offers a comprehensive overview of the structure and key characteristics of the ESRS and explains how it aligns with the GRI Standards. This knowledge will help learners implement the EU reporting requirements and seamlessly use the GRI Standards and ESRS in conjunction with one another.”

- Laura Espinach Tort , Director, GRI Standards

Collaboration was at the heart of the development process of this training course. The cooperative spirit that it embodies is essential in navigating the intricate world of sustainability reporting. Drawing inspiration from the successful partnership between GRI and EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group), formed three years ago to co-construct the ESRS and contribute to global convergence, our GRI team leaned on the expertise and commitment of several dedicated individuals and external partners to bring this groundbreaking course to life. This collaborative approach mirrors the interconnected nature of the reporting community, underscoring the shared responsibility we all hold in shaping the future of sustainable business practices.

Unlocking the ESRS for GRI reporters is right at your fingertips, readily accessible through GRI’s learning platform, the GRI Academy . As the world's premier training provider on impact reporting, the GRI Academy offers a user-friendly and comprehensive environment for learners to embark on this transformative journey.??

In a world where sustainability reporting is no longer a choice but an imperative, let GRI be your companion on this transformative journey towards CSRD compliance.

Alexandra Plachkova is a Senior Educational Content Developer at GRI, the global leader for impact reporting. Armed with a Master's in Political Science and International Relations, she specializes in developing diverse online courses on sustainability reporting and the GRI Standards. Her experience includes delivering impactful capacity-building programs and empowering individuals and organizations for a sustainable future.?