As every year, Sustainserv had the privilege to lead a practice session at the annual reporting symposium of the Center for Corporate Reporting. This year we took up the topic ‘Legally compliant and attractive climate reporting – a paradox?’. In it, we summarized the key requirements for climate reporting in Switzerland and the EU and provided an overview of relevant standards such as TCFD, SBTi and CDP and concepts (e.g. Net Zero, Scope 3 emissions). We showed how legally compliant, attractive climate reporting is possible and what degrees of freedom and pitfalls exist. The example of Heidelberg Materials provided concrete insight into practice.
Recommendation: From climate report to climate strategy
Legally compliant, attractive climate reporting is possible if climate reporting is no longer seen as burdensome. Creating carbon footprints and participating in initiatives such as SBTi and CDP or writing a TCFD report offer opportunities for…
- the market positioning,
- reputation building,
- attracting investors.
Reporting to these standards is becoming the norm globally and often form the basis or provide the tools for existing or soon to come regulations.
The goal must be to address climate strategically. Use the insights gained from carbon accounting such as reduction potentials, possible vulnerabilities, business opportunities. Use this to create a climate strategy. Start with a carbon footprint – what steps are necessary:
- analysis of business model and value chain – how “carbon heavy or light” are you?
- collect data baseline – what is the access to CO2 data, especially scope 3?
- develop targets and measures – where can you reduce? What is the scope?
- validate and report – build processes and an infrastructure for measuring and collecting carbon data.
The Sustainserv presentation detailing the recommendations can be found here (in German only).
The presentation on the Heidelberg Materials best practice case can be found here (in German only).
Get in touch. We are happy to tell you more about it.
