What is the ISSB and why is it a big deal?
In June 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published a landmark climate standard known as the IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures. The ISSB is part of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) foundation, which is the global body that develops accounting standards that most major jurisdictions adopt as part of their accounting standards. The objective of IFRS S2 is to mandate companies into revealing information about their climate risks and opportunities.
For the first time reporting entities will have a legal obligation to report their climate information to the same level of quality as other financial information in their general purpose financial reports.
Who is impacted and when?
Australia: The Australian government plans to require businesses and financial institutions to report their climate-related financial information as early as 2024 and will “be aligned as far as practicable with the final standards developed by the ISSB”.
New Zealand: Climate reporting is already mandatory in New Zealand for certain large entities and are based heavily on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, which nows falls under the ISSB.
Singapore: The government announced in July it will require public companies to report on climate using the ISSB standard beginning in FY2025, and FY2027 for large private companies.
United Kingdom: The government announced on 2 August 2023 it “has been a strong supporter of the ISSB since its launch” and will be based on the ISSB standards.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has proposed making climate related disclosures mandatory for all issuers, requiring ISSB reporting from 1 January 2024.
First steps to prepare for ISSB
1. Are you a reporting entity?
In general large, listed and financial institutions are the entities required to report under ISSB, but those definitions vary for each country. Singapore for example, is mandating large private companies by 2027.
2. Get your climate data pipeline ready
Under ISSB, entities must report their climate-related financial disclosures alongside their financial statements for the same reporting period.
This is challenging since typically climate analysis takes months and significantly lags financial reporting by 6-18months. At Emmi we have solved this headache for investors by quantifying and integrating climate analytics with the latest company financial disclosures.
If not using Emmi, you need a climate analytics provider that will allow you to report climate disclosures at the same time as your financial disclosures.
2. Financed emissions coverage
You need to quantify your financed emissions footprint - since the ISSB requires Scope 3 disclosure for investors.
There are huge data gaps in carbon, but don’t worry - at Emmi we use award-winning machine learning predictions to help you fill the carbon gap across all asset classes in days, not months. You can read more about our financed emissions module from our Spirit Super case study here.
3. Scenario Analysis
ISSB mandates that companies conduct climate-related scenario analysis to evaluate their climate resilience.
See my previous newsletter here on how you can achieve this using the ASX300 as an example.
4. Transition Plan
ISSB requires companies to disclose details of their transition plans, such as critical assumptions and how they plan to resourcing activities outlined in the transition plan.
These plans must be specific enough to illustrate a company's overall strategy for transitioning to a lower-carbon economy, providing targets and actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Where Emmi Can Help
The ISSB climate-related disclosures mandate comprehensive information on current climate exposures and strategies for managing future climate risks and opportunities. While IFRS S2 necessitates qualitative descriptions of an entity’s processes, it predominantly demands quantitative data.
Emmi's expertise simplifies the IFRS S2 complexities, focusing on the quantitative analysis needed for ISSB standards. We've identified the essential clauses for detailed reporting, guiding investors through these requirements efficiently.
Our services are designed to guide investors through these requirements, offering a strategic approach to integrating both quantitative analysis and necessary entity-specific narratives. Let Emmi support you in meeting your ISSB reporting obligations with precision and clarity.
The ISSB’s climate mandates are a huge step forward in holding companies accountable for their climate risks and opportunities. It's impressive to see how jurisdictions like Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK are aligning with these standards so quickly. For investors, having a clear framework like IFRS S2 is essential, and the way Emmi integrates climate analytics with financial disclosures is a game-changer. The emphasis on Scope 3 emissions and the need for scenario analysis and transition plans are crucial for meaningful climate action. It’s great to see how Emmi is making this complex process more accessible, helping investors get ahead of the curve. Thanks for the downloadable template.