企业可持续披露准则加速落地

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Finance has released the "Application Guidelines for the Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Standards - Basic Standards (Trial)" to enhance the guidance and operability of the upcoming Basic Standards set to be implemented in November 2024, marking a significant milestone in establishing a unified sustainability disclosure standard system in the country [1][2]. Group 1: Application Guidelines Overview - The Application Guidelines provide detailed regulations on the implementation scope and requirements of the Basic Standards, which are to be voluntarily implemented by companies prior to mandatory enforcement [1]. - The unified sustainability disclosure standard system consists of basic standards, specific standards, and application guidelines, with the latter including industry-specific and standard application guidelines [1]. Group 2: Value Chain and Information Association - The Application Guidelines specify that sustainable risks, opportunities, and impacts arise not only from a company's operations but also from activities along the upstream and downstream value chain [2]. - It clarifies the association between sustainable information and financial statement information, highlighting structural links between quantitative financial data and various financial statement components such as assets, liabilities, income, and cash flows [2]. Group 3: Users of Sustainable Information - Investors and creditors are identified as primary users of sustainable information, aimed at bridging the gap between sustainable development and resource allocation decisions [3]. - Other stakeholders, including government entities and various interest groups, are also recognized as users of sustainable information [3]. Group 4: Importance Assessment - The Application Guidelines emphasize the importance of conducting significance assessments in line with the applicable corporate sustainability disclosure standards, which is crucial for identifying and disclosing sustainable risks and opportunities [3]. - Specific regulations are provided for the overall process of significance assessment and the evaluation of sustainable risks and opportunities [3]. Group 5: Financial Standards and Institutional Foundation - The progression from the Basic Standards to the Application Guidelines is expected to provide a stronger financial standard and institutional foundation for high-quality economic and social development in the country [4].