The European Commission has adopted the ESRS — a major step forward for sustainable development.

The new reporting standards, known as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), have been introduced to align with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which governs how companies report on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.

They will apply starting from the 2024 reporting year, with the first reports due in 2025.

The ESRS cover topics such as climate change, biodiversity, and human rights, giving investors a clearer view of how companies impact sustainable development.

Key changes introduced by the European Commission include:

changing some disclosure requirements from mandatory to voluntary,

phasing in specific disclosures, such as Scope 3 emissions,

giving companies more flexibility in defining what is material to their business.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the EC, EFRAG, and ISSB, the ESRS are now closely aligned with the ISSB standards. This means simpler reporting processes for global companies and helps avoid duplicate reporting obligations.

The Commission also highlights the importance of alignment with GRI standards to ensure ESRS are compatible with international frameworks and prevent double reporting.

Currently, the standards are undergoing a two-month review by the European Parliament and the Council, which may be extended by another two months.

The adoption of the ESRS marks a significant moment — both for companies, which now have clearer guidance, and for society, which will gain better access to transparent information about business impacts on people and the planet.

This is just the beginning — the consultation and refinement phase is ongoing. But it’s already clear that we’re moving toward a future where business and sustainability go hand in hand.

Autor: Agnieszka Orłowska (Managing Director at ESG Institute)

Dołącz do naszej listy mailingowej i otrzymuj najświeższe wiadomości ESG

*Subskrybując wyrażasz zgodę na przetwarzanie Twoich danych w celach marketingowych.

ESG Institute Sp. z o. o.

info@esginstitute.eu

Rondo ONZ 1,
00-124 Warszawa

Social media