Assurance and the new era of sustainability reporting, April 2024

With the need for businesses to move beyond preparedness and into implementation, our panel of presenters examine the importance of assurance and how best to fold the new Standards into practice and disclosure.

The discussion includes:

• Key aspects of the proposed AUASB consultation, including the assurance pathway to 2030
• How Australian assurance requirements fit into the global assurance developments (e.g., ISSA 5000)
• The differences between limited and reasonable assurance and practical implications for data owners
• The differences (and similarities!) between the financial assurance and sustainability assurance processes, and what needs to be considered when integrating them
• Considerations for assurance readiness and potential challenges such as data quality and evidence to support disclosures, and the internal resources required to support the assurance process
• The approach for undertaking assurance over qualitative disclosures (e.g., strategy, risk assessment and transition plans) and forward-looking information (e.g., Transition metrics, scenario analysis, scope 3 and financed emissions)