Christina Tsiarta
Kreston Global ESG & Sustainability Advisory Group Chair
Preparing private-sector businesses for sustainability reporting
October 28, 2026
As sustainability reporting requirements continue to evolve, private-sector businesses face growing pressure to understand their obligations and recognise the strategic opportunities of voluntary disclosure. Christina Tsiarta, Head of Advisory Services on Sustainability, ESG & Climate Change at Kreston ITH and Chair of the Kreston Global ESG & Sustainability Advisory Group, explores how audit, tax and advisory firms can help clients navigate this changing landscape, leverage IFRS S1 and S2, and build long-term business resilience.
Why sustainability reporting matters for private businesses
Reliable sustainability and climate-related reporting are becoming increasingly relevant to private-sector businesses worldwide, driven by evolving regulations and expectations from investors, lenders, customers and supply-chain partners, thereby creating a strong case for adopting internationally recognised voluntary reporting frameworks.
IFRS S1 and S2: Building the foundations
The International Sustainability Standards Board‘s (ISSB) IFRS S1 – General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information and IFRS S2 – Climate-related Disclosures provide a structured approach to sustainability and climate-related financial reporting. IFRS S1 addresses sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could affect a company’s prospects, while IFRS S2 focuses on climate-related matters, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate resilience. Both standards address four core areas: governance, strategy, risk management and metrics and targets.
The business value of voluntary reporting
Voluntary adoption of relevant elements of IFRS S1 and S2 can deliver benefits beyond compliance. Businesses can strengthen governance, improve risk management, support informed decision-making and identify operational efficiencies. Reliable sustainability information can enhance stakeholder confidence and potentially improve access to finance, commercial opportunities and long-term competitiveness.
Voluntary reporting also provides a practical pathway towards future regulatory compliance. Establishing reliable data collection processes, internal controls and reporting capabilities early, helps companies identify gaps and reduce the time, cost and disruption associated with new legislation. Businesses can adopt relevant elements proportionately to their size and resources, although it should be noted that this does not constitute full compliance with IFRS standards or replace local legal obligations.
A Global shift towards sustainability reporting
Regulatory developments globally demonstrate the growing importance of sustainability reporting:
- European Union: The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), following recent simplifications, requires qualifying large companies to report under the revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), from accounting periods beginning in January 2027 onwards
- Australia: The Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS), based on the IFRS S1 and S2, outline phased requirements for climate-related disclosures for large- and medium-size businesses, from accounting periods beginning in January 2025.
- Singapore: The Singapore Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SDS) follow a similar phased rollout to the ASRS, for large listed companies. The climate standard (SFRS S2, modeled after IFRS S2) is strictly mandatory, applying from accounting periods beginning in January 2025, while general sustainability reporting (SFRS S1) remains voluntary for now.
- United Kingdom: The UK Sustainability Reporting Standards, based on IFRS S1 and S2 outline disclosure requirements for certain listed companies on a comply-or-explain basis, from accounting periods beginning in January 2027.
- United Arab Emirates: The UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects, effective from 30 May 2025, establishes a framework for GHG emissions measurement, reporting and reduction, extending climate-related obligations to public- and private-sector businesses, government-owned enterprises, and entities operating in free zones. Detailed technical and implementation requirements however remain subject to further guidance from local authorities.
Although requirements differ across jurisdictions, these developments reinforce the value of building adaptable reporting capabilities while monitoring applicable local obligations. Businesses can use IFRS S1 and S2 to establish climate governance, develop emissions inventories and strengthen reporting systems, while preparing for emerging legislation. Early action allows companies to identify gaps, spread implementation costs over time and avoid the last-minute scramble for expertise, resources and systems. This can reduce the risk of higher compliance costs, rushed decisions and operational disruption.
Five practical steps to prepare your private-sector clients
- Assess regulatory exposure and readiness. Identify applicable and emerging reporting obligations, and assess existing data, governance and controls to determine gaps against regulatory requirements and relevant IFRS provisions.
- Establish a GHG emissions inventory. Develop an emissions baseline using recognised methodologies such as the GHG Protocol, covering relevant Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and applicable local reporting requirements.
- Strengthen governance and accountability. Assign responsibilities, establish data ownership and introduce reporting procedures and internal controls across relevant business functions.
- Identify climate risks and reduction measures. Assess physical and transition risks, evaluate their financial implications and identify practical emissions reduction opportunities and targets.
- Build reporting and assurance readiness. Document methodologies, introduce data validation and audit trails, and establish management review processes to support reliable reporting and potential future assurance.
Opportunities for audit, tax and advisory firms
Evolving reporting requirements create opportunities for collaboration within and across professional services firms. Audit and assurance teams can assess reporting controls and provide independent assurance where appropriate and subject to independence requirements; tax teams can advise on decarbonisation investments, incentives and cross-border implications; and advisory teams can support readiness assessments, GHG inventories, climate risk analysis, reduction strategies and reporting. By collaborating across departments and utilising subject matter experts across international networks, firms can combine local regulatory knowledge with specialist sustainability expertise to deliver integrated bespoke solutions for private-sector clients.
From compliance to strategic opportunity
Whether responding to emerging legislation or stakeholder expectations, private businesses can use sustainability reporting to improve decision-making, manage risks and strengthen competitiveness. Businesses should not wait for mandatory requirements to begin preparing. Early, proportionate adoption of internationally recognised reporting principles such as IFRS S1 and S2 can reduce future compliance costs, while building stronger, more resilient businesses.
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