Last verified: 9 September 2026. Child desks: ISSB S1/S2 · CSRD / ESRS · GRI · double materiality · ratings comparison.
Direct Answer (9 September 2026): Sustainability reporting, ESG reporting, and a corporate sustainability report are the same public file — environmental, social, and governance performance. The 2026 investor baseline is IFRS S1 and S2 (ISSB). If you are in EU scope, add CSRD / ESRS on double materiality. GRI is the multi-stakeholder impact set. An MSCI or Sustainalytics rating is not the report; that comparison lives on the ratings desk.
| Framework | Audience | Materiality | When it binds |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISSB S1 / S2 | Investors and lenders | Financial | Where a jurisdiction has adopted or aligned |
| CSRD / ESRS | EU regulators and stakeholders | Double | If the entity is in the current EU scope |
| GRI | Employees, communities, customers | Impact / stakeholder | Voluntary unless a buyer or lender requires it |
| TCFD pillars | Same as S2 | Climate financial | Embedded in IFRS S2; do not run a second climate board |
Official pages: IFRS Sustainability, European Commission CSRD, GRI.
What to put in the 2026 file
- Who owns the topic at the board.
- What is material, and the method — double materiality if CSRD applies.
- Climate: physical vs transition, numbers that match the climate-risk hub.
- Scope 1 and 2 measured; Scope 3 named even if estimated. Restoration contractors mapping Scope 3 use the RCP spec.
- Targets, capital, and what you will not claim.
CRE operators: map this pack to GRESB and LL97 on the CRE ESG hub.
FAQ
What is sustainability reporting?
The public account of material environmental, social, and governance topics. ESG reporting is the same job under a market label.
Is ESG reporting different from a sustainability report?
No. Same file. Different search string.
Is ISSB the same as CSRD?
No. ISSB is investor / financial materiality. CSRD/ESRS is double materiality and only binds entities in current EU scope.
Where do MSCI and Sustainalytics fit?
They score you. They are not the disclosure framework. Use the ratings comparison.
Do I still file TCFD?
Use the TCFD headings inside IFRS S2. Do not maintain a second climate report unless a lender still asks for the old cover sheet.