Climate still the top
ESG dimension 

Climate-related concerns still top the issues that companies identify as being the subject of ESG reviews. Climate change will continue to be a key focus for business in future, given increasing stakeholder focus and a more robust legal landscape. 

The embedding of emissions reduction targets into legislation has catalysed further reform to strengthen climate change regulation in Australia. From the 2025 reporting year, certain organisations will need to report on governance, strategy and risk management, as well as their progress towards meeting emissions reduction targets. This is a shift that Australian Securities and Investments Commission Chair Joe Longo has described as “the biggest change to corporate reporting in a decade”. With more comprehensive disclosures required, including on future matters, companies and boards will need to be comfortable these disclosures are accurate and based on reasonable grounds, so as to mitigate the risk of allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct.