ESG

ESG reporting has brought the conversation on “Net Zero” from the halls of multilateral organisations to corporate boardrooms across the world. Over the past decade, companies have been looking to better their ESG records. In India, since 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated the top 1000 listed companies (by market capitalisation) to file a business responsibility and sustainability report (BRSR) that discloses environmental data including energy, emissions, water, and waste. Starting from financial year 2024-2025 ESG disclosures are also applicable for the value chains of the top 250 listed entities (by market capitalisation) on a comply-or-explain basis.

Titled “Champion our Ecosystem”, Champion REIT’s Sustainability Report 2023 illustrates a collaborative endeavor that focuses on establishing a value-added network around stakeholders through sustainable performances in line with its 2030 ESG Targets and 2045 Net Zero Commitment.

The report is structured according to local and international regulations and frameworks, including Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) with independent assurance. In its pursuit of higher standard of information transparency, the report further strengthens its climate-related information in accordance with the International Sustainability Standard Board's (ISSB’s) IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures.

CDL’s Integrated Sustainability Report 2024 is their 17th sustainability report since 2008. Themed “Zero in on Nature”, the digital report communicates CDL’s progress towards their material ESG goals and targets, established under the CDL Future Value 2030 sustainability blueprint. External assurance is key to enhance data credibility and instill confidence in readers. CDL’s external assurance of their sustainability report started in 2009 and has continued to expand. ISR 2023 and ISR 2024’s external assurance has been further elevated in its scope against the GRI Standards, SASB Standards, as well as the TCFD and CDSB frameworks.

This year CDL became the first Singapore company to commit to nature-related disclosures based on the TNFD Recommendations in this report.

Sustainability is quickly becoming a priority for governments and businesses across the world. Amidst the adoption of reduced emission targets, a key area of focus is investment in and deployment of renewable energy (RE), which is a key solution to decarbonisation and achieving net zero emission goals.

Businesses throughout all industries are increasingly looking towards RE, whether to meet the applicable regulations in their jurisdictions, or to utilise the available green incentives. However, to effectively assess the implementation of RE solutions, businesses must first traverse the RE-related policies, restrictions and green financing in their respective jurisdiction. An added dimension of complication is added if the business operates across country lines, as the policies and focus of each country may differ.

To help businesses navigate the policies and laws affecting the RE sector, Rajah & Tann Asia published the Guide to Renewable Energy in Southeast Asia which provides an overview of the RE landscape in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, where Rajah & Tann Asia has its geographical footprint.

This Guide summarises the salient legal and regulatory issues in each jurisdiction that businesses should be aware of in their implementation of RE, including the regulatory framework and sectoral policies, RE programmes, government incentives, and key issues in the RE sector.