A New Era in Reporting: Empowering Board Members with IFRS Sustainability Standards

By Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO of Competent Boards

As we enter summer, an extraordinary shift is taking place in the realm of corporate sustainability. A momentous occasion occurred on Monday, June 26th, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable and resilient economy. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), an independent entity operating under the esteemed IFRS Foundation, has introduced its groundbreaking inaugural standards: the IFRS S1: General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information, and IFRS S2: Climate-related Disclosures. These transformative standards, set to come into effect on January 1, 2024, are poised to revolutionize the complex landscape of sustainability reporting, rendering it more accessible for businesses and analysts alike.

This unveiling of the IFRS Sustainability Standards is akin to the birth of a new language—one that distills intricate concepts into actionable insights. Are we standing on the precipice of a game-changer? All signs point to a resounding yes.

Imagine a shared vocabulary that empowers stakeholders to discern, compare, and evaluate companies uniformly, presenting a transparent and cohesive view of the corporate sustainability panorama. This is precisely the promise encapsulated by these pioneering standards.

95% Execs and Directors Say Sustainability Key to Shaping Future Boardrooms

By Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO of Competent Boards

The vast majority (95%) of business leaders and board directors believe that sustainability plays an important or very important role in shaping successful future boardrooms. That’s according to a Competent Boards white paper Why sustainability plays a key role in shaping future boardrooms that examined five key areas of focus for company board directors.

Two-thirds (66%) of poll respondents cited investor demand as the key driver of sustainable change in boardrooms. Other critical factors noted by respondents include: regulations; customer, employee and stakeholder demands; and board members’ fiduciary duty.