By: Katrina L. Berishaj, Sara P. Crovitz and Kevin O’Connell On March 20, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden issued his first presidential veto to reject the recent joint Congressional resolution that would have repealed the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) January 2023 “ESG Rule.” Just a few days later, on March 23, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to override the veto, meaning that,…
What you need to know about the ISSB’s International Applicability of the SASB Standards project
The SASB Standards will support companies implementing S1: General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information. As we discussed in our recent update on the role of the SASB Standards within the ISSB Standards, companies applying S1 will consider the industry-based SASB Standards for topics beyond climate, to help them identify their sustainability-related risks and opportunities and provide appropriate disclosures….
An update on progress post consolidation
On August 1, 2022, I published a letter here about the consolidation of the Value Reporting Foundation — home to the SASB Standards, Integrated Reporting Framework, and Integrated Thinking Principles — into the IFRS Foundation. That was a remarkable milestone in the journey to embed sustainability information into capital markets infrastructure. I’m now writing to update you on the progress we’ve…
Seven key takeaways from the IFRS Sustainability Symposium
On 17 February, more than 1,000 people from 45 countries convened in Montreal and online to discuss what’s next for investor-focused sustainability disclosure. Onsite in Montreal, the room was abuzz as businesses, investors, policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders engaged in meaningful discussion about the forthcoming standards from the ISSB. Read on for six key takeaways from the day’s sessions. 1….
Rio ESG: Plugging into Expertise
Dan Botterill, CEO and Founder of Rio ESG—a company that’s democratizing access to ESG expertise. Their platform enables organizations of any size to plug into their proprietary tools and insight to leverage their wealth of ESG experience. Dan explains how their system works, how a company can quickly size up their ESG efforts, and gain a clearer picture of their…
Our Journey to Net Zero: Two Years On
Sustainability can and should be a priority for everyone. But often it’s hard to know where to start. By blending technology with years of experience on the front lines, Rio is helping its customers globally to become more accountable and conscious about their operations. We empower organisations and individuals to make better and more sustainable business decisions, for the long…
Dan Botterill comments on the rise of AI
While scientific advances alone are unlikely to tackle the climate crisis, there are many innovations – from simple designs to bleeding-edge technology – that can help humanity meet its environmental commitments. Climate reporter Sam Webb looks at some of the emerging technologies that could help shape the future of the planet:
Businesses ‘throwing away’ money on unscrupulous green advisors
UK businesses are being taken for a ride by ineffective and expensive green advisors that may actually harm their reputation, a leading ethics advisory group has warned.
One in four companies quietly shelving progress on net-zero pledges
A quarter of companies that set targets to meet their net-zero commitments are quietly shelving reports about their progress in a process known as ‘green-hushing’, according to a study.
Rio’s CTO Brian Flynn speaks to The Center for Data Innovation
The Center for Data Innovation spoke with Brian Flynn, Chief Technology Officer for Rio ESG. Rio ESG is a sustainability-focused software platform that combines software, consultancy, education tools, and other features to improve their clients’ sustainability performance. Rio helps various industries including investment managers, corporates, financial services and public sector organisations track sustainability data, report on ESG, manage policies, and…