The relevance of integrated reporting in future standard setting of the International Sustainability Standards Board

Abstract

IntroductionSustainability reporting has become increasingly important to stakeholders, and therefore, there is a growing need for a global set of standards for sustainability reporting. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has recently published new sustainability standards under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation. The consolidation of integrated reporting <IR> into the IFRS Foundation creates the problem of whether there is still a need for <IR> principles in the future of sustainability reporting and how these principles will be applied in the standard setting of the ISSB in future. This study provides insights into the similarities and differences between the <IR> Framework and the ISSB's draft IFRS S1 standard and clarifies the role that <IR> could play in the future of sustainability reporting within the context of the newly issued IFRS S1 standard.MethodsThe study uses thematic content analysis on the two frameworks and comment letters submitted to the ISSB as part of the standard-setting process to understand the relevance of integrated reporting in sustainability reporting and to identify important principles contained within <IR> that can contribute to the ISSB standard-setting process in future.ResultsThe study identified that there is a largely positive sentiment toward <IR> in developing sustainability standards within the IFRS Foundation. The study also identified important aspects where <IR> can play a significant role in standard development, such as the connectivity of information, integrated thinking, and the six capitals that can assist organizations in understanding the significant sustainability-related risks and opportunities.ConclusionThe research points out pertinent sustainability principles that could be useful for the ISSB in future standard settings. Furthermore, the research adds to the existing literature on <IR> and can act as an impetus for further research on the use of <IR> principles in the standard-setting processes of the ISSB.