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Article Posted date 15 August 2024
4 min read

Global IFRS Institute

Highlights

Ramon Jubels blog posts
Ramon Jubels
Partner, KPMG EMA Department of Professional Practice
KPMG in the Netherlands
Profile |

To support the first wave of companies in applying European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs), the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued a statement highlighting:

  • the guidance already available or under development that companies are expected to consider; and
  • the key areas to assess when preparing sustainability statements under ESRSs for the first time.

In addition, the European Commission has issued a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to support companies in scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

The speed of implementing the CSRD, its scope and the detailed data requirements of ESRSs mean that many companies may find reporting sustainability information challenging, even those that have prior experience – e.g. those that have previously reported under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD).

The publication of the first sustainability statements prepared under ESRSs will be a significant milestone in the journey towards mandatory sustainability reporting. Companies implementing the new standards are on a learning curve, but ESMA reminds companies that this does not relieve them of their responsibility to ensure compliance with ESRSs.

Ramon Jubels
Partner
KPMG EMA Department of Professional Practice

Which companies are affected?

ESMA’s statement is directed at those companies that are required to:

  • prepare sustainability statements under ESRSs for the first time – i.e. for their 2024 year-end reporting; and
  • those applying ESRSs for their 2025 year-end reporting.

It does not cover reporting required by the EU Taxonomy Regulation1.

What are ESMA’s key focus areas?

ESMA’s key focus areas include the following.

Key focus area   ESMA’s expectations  
Governance and internal controls

Companies need to have robust governance and controls to enable them to:

  • perform effective double materiality assessments; and
  • deliver the granular sustainability information needed to meet the qualitative characteristics of useful information.

Companies also need to carefully assess whether their existing processes, systems and controls remain fit-for-purpose and to be transparent when disclosing information about them under ESRS 2 General disclosures.
Double materiality 

When undertaking their double materiality assessment (DMA) process, companies need to:

  • reconsider their materiality process and related disclosures, if they have already reported under the NFRD, to capture the full breadth of the requirements in ESRSs;
  • consider the DMA process described in EFRAG’s materiality guidance2;
  • be fully transparent about the DMA process and provide information that will help stakeholders better understand the results of the process;
  • consider the qualitative characteristics of information for all disclosures, especially their relevance and faithful representation;
  • provide all mandatory disclosures and datapoints relating to policies, actions and targets for each material sustainability-related matter identified; and
  • carefully assess whether reported actions contribute to addressing material impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs).
Transition reliefs

Companies need to be transparent when using the transition relief available under ESRSs. Specifically, ESMA highlights the following.

  • Value chain information – companies are expected to provide transparency on the uncertainties, data limitations, methodologies and significant assumptions used.
  • Phase-in relief for companies with no more than 750 employees –companies are expected to disclose which sustainability-related matters they assess as material and provide information about targets, policies, actions and metrics relating to those matters, as required by ESRS 2.
  • Company-specific disclosures – companies need to consider whether any disclosures provided in prior periods meet the requirements of material information under ESRSs.
Other areas of focus
  • Structure and format – companies need to carefully assess whether their historical approach to presenting their information is consistent with the CSRD and ESRSs, and to plan to make adjustments.
  • Connectivity – a company’s financial and sustainability reporting needs to provide a coherent, connected and integrated picture.

What’s next – Key actions for companies

  • Read ESMA’s statement and understand how your company will meet ESMA’s expectations.
  • Read EFRAG’s implementation guidance, ESRS Q&A technical explanations and FAQs published by the European Commission and understand how they can help when implementing ESRSs.
  • Consider the joint interoperability guidance issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board and EFRAG in conjunction with EFRAG’s implementation guidance if you are a dual reporter and consider if the differences are relevant for your reporting.
  • Monitor further guidance from ESMA, EFRAG and the European Commission. ESMA will publish its European Common Enforcement Priorities (ECEP) on sustainability reporting later in 2024.

1 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 (EU Taxonomy Regulation) is the EU’s framework to facilitate sustainable investment.

2 European Reporting Advisory Group’s (EFRAG) IG 1: Materiality Assessment Implementation Guidance.

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