Jurisdiction-Specific Regulations

• European Union: Developments on the introduction on new regulations and laws that impact corporate reporting, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which updates existing EU-wide law requiring large companies and listed companies to publish regular reports on the social and environmental risks they face.

• United States: For example, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors.

•  Asia: Developments in Japan’s sustainability reporting frameworks, China's ESG guidelines, and reporting mandates in South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

•  Other Regions: Australian climate disclosure requirements, Canada's ESG standards, and reporting obligations in emerging markets.

Global Reporting Standards

•  Major developments from major standard-setters such as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and emerging standards from the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and SASB Standards.

• Implementation and alignment of standards across jurisdictions, such as ISSB standards adoption by different countries or regions.

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence 

• Regulations and emerging issues that affect corporate and directors’ due diligence obligations, such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which establishes a framework for companies to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts of their operations and value chains on human rights, the environment and good governance.

Assurance and Verification

• New regulations requiring third-party assurance of sustainability reports.

•Developments in global auditing standards for climate disclosures.

Green Finance and Taxonomy 

• News on the regulatory frameworks for sustainable finance, such as the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, as well as sustainable investment standards, green bonds, and ESG criteria. This includes developments in the "greenwashing" regulation space, where authorities are fast rolling out rules to ensure transparency and integrity.

Carbon Markets and Pricing 

• Updates on carbon trading schemes, carbon taxes, and emissions trading systems (ETS), especially in Europe (e.g., the EU ETS) and other regions implementing carbon pricing as a mechanism to reduce emissions, voluntary carbon markets, credits, and offsets. 

Double Materiality and Scope Expansion

• Legislative developments around double materiality and the inclusion of social and governance metrics alongside environmental reporting.

• Regulations on Scope 3 emissions reporting and methodologies.

Taxonomy Developments and Green Finance Alignment

• Changes in taxonomies (e.g., EU, ASEAN) that guide corporate disclosures.

• Reporting requirements tied to green finance products like climate bonds or sustainable loans.

Cross-Border and Trade Implications

• How varying regulations impact multinational corporations operating across jurisdictions.

• Trade implications, such as alignment with carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) or trade agreements requiring ESG disclosures.

 Technology and Innovation in Reporting

• Regulatory perspectives on integrating technology into reporting, such as digital ESG tagging or AI for climate risk modelling.

• Mandatory adoption of machine-readable formats (e.g., XBRL for sustainability).

 Emerging Issues in Disclosure Requirements

• Biodiversity-related disclosures and alignment with frameworks like TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures).

• Human rights and supply chain transparency integrated into sustainability reporting.