With the green agenda steadily gathering in importance for consumers, organisations are increasingly feeling the pressure to demonstrate their green credentials. This is a matter of social responsibility and good ethics; it has also become an area of competition to attract consumer business and show differentiation, as well as to respond to disclosure requirements such as TCFD (Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) and the forthcoming European and international sustainability standards, which include the CSRD (EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive).
As the effects of climate change are increasingly felt and the net zero transition intensifies, these pressures are only going to rise. Consumer demand for sustainable products and services will grow, and regulatory requirements expand. Last month, we saw the launch of the TNFD framework (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures), while the ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board) and EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) both published new sustainability reporting standards in the summer. The SEC (US Securities and Exchange Commission) is expected to release its climate disclosure rules soon.