Corporate ESG Reporting Rules Changed to Ease Global Comparisons

Standard setters agreed Wednesday to publish changes to the voluntary guidelines underpinning corporate global environmental, social, and governance disclosure rules.

The International Sustainability Standards Board unanimously agreed to ratify the changes to reporting rules for mining companies, electricity firms, and food companies. The ISSB requires companies to report on all areas of sustainability considered material—or significant—to businesses’ finances and operations, but has only published detailed reporting rules for climate so far.

For other areas, such as biodiversity and human capital, the board suggests following the voluntary standards from another rulemaker it houses, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. The changes agreed ...