ESG considerations have become a core part of investment analysis and a top priority for corporations and communities. There has been an acceleration in the number of companies reporting on ESG risks and opportunities; a dramatic shift in the range of stakeholders (investors, employees, customers, and others) demanding ESG prioritization; an evolution of laws and regulations on ESG matters; and massive fund flow into ESG investment strategies as the finance sector increasingly recognizes the importance of ESG factors to long-term performance and corporate value.
As organizations increasingly report ESG, or sustainability-related information, investors are placing greater emphasis on the reliability of this information. With this growing interest in high-quality sustainability-related information, companies worldwide, especially publicly listed ones, are seeking third-party assurance on sustainability-related information. Third-party assurance enhances investor confidence in sustainability disclosures by providing insight into the reliability of the information. CPAs are well qualified to provide this assurance, meeting stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements.
Download this publication to further explore:
- The sustainability reporting and assurance landscape
- Assurance-related considerations for institutional investors and investors in the private sector
- The benefits of third-party assurance of ESG information performed by CPAs