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Investors increase scrutiny over ESG reporting

Experts discussed ESG issues at the PDAC 2020 convention in Toronto. Among the many challenges facing the minerals exploration and mining industry, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues are receiving increased attention, with ESG programs now critical components of a company’s strategy and business planning. The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in

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Advocating for transparency in corporate financial reporting responses to coronavirus

No transparency, no trust; no trust, no credit; no credit, no investment; no investment, no growth! So there is a simple logic: financial reporting is an essential building block for financial intermediation, foreign investment, and sustainable economic development.  — Martin Gruell, Raiffeisen Bank International (2008) In times of crisis such as what we are going through with the

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Coming soon: updated Waste Standard

​‘GRI 306: Waste 2020’ passes approval stages and will be available in May ​A new version of GRI’s Waste Standard is approaching publication, after receiving approval from GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) and sign off by the Due Process Oversight Committee. With a focus on enabling organizations to embrace circularity by fully understanding and

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New Global Compact Network UK Report Explores Pros and Cons of Corporate ESG Transparency

 Yesterday the Global Compact Network UK published their briefing ‘Debating Disclosure: the pros and cons of corporate transparency’. Businesses are facing increasing demands from their stakeholders, especially consumers, investors, and regulators, to be more transparent about their business practices and their exposure to risks related to their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Initiatives that

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TCFD to-do list: How do I know I’ve met the TCFD recommendations?

Follow the 9 steps as outlined in the TCFD to-do list to ensure that you are making effective TCFD aligned disclosures. Download the TCFD to-do list.  CDSB recommends an effective climate-related financial disclosures must be:  Presented – in the mainstream report   Prepared – according to the same rigour as financial information   Specific – to the reporting entity   Coherent – across strategy, finance and impact   Supported

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The Financial Reporting Implications of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis and its economic effects mean that investors and other stakeholders need high-quality financial information more than ever. To this end, accountancy firms, regulators, IFAC member organizations and others have quickly made available advice and guidance on the accounting and financial reporting requirements that will need to be considered in addressing the

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The Time Has Come For Tax Reporting Transparency—Thank You Global Reporting Initiative!

How much taxes companies pay and the transparency of tax reporting have been contentious issues for decades. Governments around the world have failed to create standards for transparent tax reporting, particularly on a country-by-country basis. Many large and highly profitable multinational companies have taken advantage of this for years to pay little to no taxes. As is

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Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2020

Governments must take immediate steps to prevent a potentially devastating debt crisis and address the economic and financial havoc wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic – says a new report from the United Nations-led Inter-Agency Task Force on Financing for Development. The UN System’s 2020 Financing for Sustainable Development Report outlines measures to address the impact of the

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Five financial reporting issues to consider as a consequence of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents huge challenges for preparers of financial statements. Here are 5 financial reporting issues to consider. The business and economic threats from the coronavirus outbreak continue. Travel bans have been imposed on millions of people and many countries have placed quarantine measures on their entire populations. Businesses are dealing with

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The Value of Climate-Related Financial Disclosures for a Fixed Income Investor

With hundreds of climate-related policies globally and central banks on the verge of developing financial stress testing aligned with climate-related scenarios, investors are increasingly asked to refocus on their own assessment of climate risks and opportunities at the individual portfolio level. Is the investment industry on the right path? Incorporating non-financial disclosures in portfolio evaluation