ISSB Consultation on Agenda Priorities - 2023

The ISSB consulted on its planned activities for the upcoming 2 years in 2023. The planned actvities consist of 

i) biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services;

ii) human capital; 

iii) human rights; and

iv) a joint project with the IASB on connectivity in reporting.

In addition, the ISSB is also seeking feedback on the potential project on integration in reporting regarding:

a) the priority and urgency of the potential project on integration in reporting relative to the other potential research projects included in the Request for Information;

b) whether the potential project on integration in reporting should be a formal joint project with the IASB, or an ISSB project that could draw on input from the IASB as needed; and

c) whether the potential project on integration in reporting should build on and incorporate concepts from the IASB's Management Commentary project, the Integratd Reporting Framework, both of these documents or from other sources.

​The ISSB issued its Request for Information (RFI) on 4 May 2023 for a 120 day comment period. In response to this, EFRAG released its draft comment letter (DCL) on 2 June 2023. In its DCL, EFRAG noted the ISSB should put the emphasis on (i) a clear direction of travel with a definition of the universe of sustainability-related information to be ultimately covered and of the corresponding underlying concepts, (ii) the priority to be given to interoperability in structure and content with other sustainability reporting standards and (iii) connectivity to be included as a priority topic in the standard setting workplan, together with the topical standards.

EFRAG received in total 19 contributions from stakeholders to its initial draft comment letter. In considering these views the final letter proposes that beginning new research and standard setting projects (including connectivity) and supporting the implementation of IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 should be the highest priority for the ISSB.

Also EFRAG requests the ISSB to clarify its intention as regards the standards and frameworks now under its responsibility such as as the VRF and CDSB.

Finally, should the ISSB start a project on integration in reporting, EFRAG considers that it should be pursued as a formal joint project of the IASB and the ISSB.

EFRAG's final comment letter can be found here.