A recent survey undertaken by PwC Switzerland and bmpi indicates that investors have a need for standardization and regulation of ESG investing reporting. However, institutional investors wish for a more flexible reporting, which allows for tailoring the report to the needs of the investor. For private investors, the report will have to guide and explain much more extensively, as readers are not always fluent with ESG topics.
There is clear consensus in the ESG investment industry that there is a need for standardization in the ESG investing area. This is demonstrated by the various ESG-related organizations and frameworks that already exist, such as Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB), Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, and obviously the regulatory efforts such as the recently issued EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The survey outlines that in order to serve the wide-ranging interests of investors, ESG investment reporting has to be adjusted according to the needs of institutional or private investors.
Survey outcomings on ESG investment reporting
61%
of current ESG reporting do not meet the needs of investors in terms of content and transparency
54%
of the investors treat ESG reporting as a separate matter
54%
of the investors see their ESG reporting to differentiate vis-à-vis peer
ESG investment reporting does not yet fully meet investors’ expectations, due to issues with tools, data, but also due to heterogeneous reporting needs of investors. While a sophisticated ESG investment reporting can still be a differentiating factor vis-a-vis peers, it is expected to become a “commodity” in the future. A detailed ESG reporting helps investors take well-informed investment decisions. It also enables investment managers to provide a desired trust and transparency to investors and to fulfil regulatory requirements.
Download ESG Investment Reporting Survey
Future trends for ESG investment reporting
The expected future trends for ESG investment reporting include a greater flexibility, a wider array of ESG metrics and their comparison over time, web-based reporting solutions and shift to a more forward-looking reporting perspective.
“ESG reporting is expected to change significantly in the coming years. We have acted upon and developed ESG reports to meet the different needs of investors.”
Most investors are in the middle of enhancing their ESG investment reporting. Some are about to launch a web based ESG reporting. Fact is, ESG reporting undergoes a transformation and almost all investors are currently enhancing it.
About the ESG investment reporting survey
This survey, which was conducted by PwC Switzerland and bmpi, identifies the current status of investor reporting for ESG investment products and strategies by the largest Swiss investment managers, custodians and institutional investors in terms of meeting the needs of investors, regulatory and self-regulatory requirements, and the future outlook.
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Would you like to learn more about ESG reporting? Click here for more information.
- Would you like to offer ESG reporting to your clients and prospects? Take advantage of our service. Find out more on our ESG website.
- What is the difference between the ESG Web Report and the ESG Print Report? View our ESG Web Report and our ESG Print Report.
- Contact Thomas Tscherrig at thomas.tscherrig@bmpi.ch or +41 44 454 84 84 for a consultation.
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