COP26 Will Increase Pressure on Companies to Change Direction

The mood music from COP26 is one of increasingly detailed reporting, strategies aligned to green and social good goals, an end to insuring heavy carbon use activities and the social justice narrative. It is likely that any EU-wide climate related, company reporting standards will be applicable in the UK as well. Here’s the word from GRI;

With the UN Climate Change Conference – COP26 – getting underway in Glasgow next week, GRI is urging all organizations to be open about their impacts on the planet, as transparency is an essential precursor for reaching global solutions to a global problem.

GRI, as provider of the common language for companies to communicate their sustainability impacts, is co-hosting or participating in a series of virtual, free events over the next two weeks – all of which include a focus on the role of sustainability reporting to inform decision-making that achieves quicker action on climate change.

Climate neutrality and biodiversity: Renewables assets, reporting standards and sustainable finance (3 November)

How can the net-zero transition be achieved in a way that does not hinder environmental conservation? This will be the focus of an event led by GRI and a group of partners. Peter Paul van de Wijs, GRI Chief External Affairs Officer, and Harold Pauwels, GRI Director of Standards, will give a perspective on the enabling role of reporting, including plans for a new GRI Biodiversity Standard. Register via the EU COP26 side events portal

EU sustainability reporting standards and the future of sustainability reporting (4 November)

As part of the EU Pavilion at COP26, this session will explore the role of the new EU climate-related reporting standard, currently being co-created by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) and GRI. Speakers include European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness (DG-FISMA), Judy Kuszewski (Chair, GRI GSSB), and Patrick De Cambourg (Taskforce Chair, EFRAG). Register via the EU COP26 side events portal.

Aligning financial chains with the Paris goals – supporting the private sector in transition (4 November)

In this official COP26 side-event, GRI, the European Investment Bank and Mainstreaming Climate in Financial Disclosures will set out how and why the alignment of corporates and the financial sector remains a key challenge in achieving low-carbon goals of the Paris Agreement, including an address by GRI Board Member Eelco van der Enden. To be livestreamed by the UNFCCC.

Sustainable Innovation Forum 2021: Disclosure, reporting and the benefits of cohesive Initiatives (9 November)

The Forum, organized by Climate Action, has a panel discussion under the theme how can investors navigate the lack of standardised reporting? Bastian Buck, GRI Chief of Standards, will set out the growing global role of the GRI Standards in achieving more comparable and comprehensive reporting. Register to attend the Forum.