Questions & Answers

Question-ID: 1072

Release Date: Oct 31, 2024


Questions & Answers

How can one document ESG knowledge and the competences of the management board and supervisory board? Should it be one person from the Management Board or the Supervisory Board who has these features or else the entire Management Board and the entire Supervisory Board? Can it be an attorney? Should it be a course, training or, for example, studies?

Key Terms
  • Expertise and skills, sustainability related
  • administrative, management and supervisory bodies

Background

ESRS 2 paragraph 19 states: ‘The undertaking shall disclose the composition of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, their roles and responsibilities and access to expertise and skills with regard to sustainability matters.’

ESRS 2 paragraph 20 states: ‘The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to provide an understanding of: …

(c) the expertise and skills of its administrative, management and supervisory bodies on sustainability matters or access to such expertise and skills.’

ESRS 2 paragraph 23 states: ‘The disclosure shall include a description of how the administrative, management and supervisory bodies determine whether appropriate skills and expertise are available or will be developed to oversee sustainability matters, including:

(a) the sustainability-related expertise that the bodies, as a whole, either directly possess or can leverage, for example through access to experts or training; and

(b) how those skills and expertise relate to the undertaking’s material impacts, risks and opportunities.’

ESRS 2 paragraph 20 states: ‘The description of the level of expertise or access to expertise of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies may be substantiated by illustrating the composition of the bodies, including members on whom these bodies rely for expertise to oversee sustainability matters, and how they leverage that expertise as a body. In the description, the undertaking shall consider how the expertise and skills are relevant to the undertaking’s material impacts, risks and opportunities and whether the bodies and/or its members have access to other sources of expertise, such as specific experts and training and other educational initiatives to update and develop sustainability-related expertise within these bodies.’

ESRS 2 paragraph AR 5 states: ‘The description of the level of expertise or access to expertise of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies may be substantiated by illustrating the composition of the bodies, including members on whom these bodies rely for expertise to oversee sustainability matters, and how they leverage that expertise as a body. In the description, the undertaking shall consider how the expertise and skills are relevant to the undertaking’s material impacts, risks and opportunities and whether the bodies and/or its members have access to other sources of expertise, such as specific experts and training and other educational initiatives to update and develop sustainability-related expertise within these bodies.’

Answer

ESRS do not prescribe behaviour but require disclosure.

The sustainability-related expertise and skills could be with one person or with more than that from the administrative, management and supervisory bodies or substantiated in another kind of form. ESRS 2 paragraph AR 5 provides further guidance in that respect.


Relations

Paragraph
Content
2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...Appendix A - Application RequirementsAR 5.

The description of the level of expertise or access to expertise of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies may be substantiated by illustrating the composition of the bodies, including members on whom these bodies rely for expertise to oversee sustainability matters, and how they leverage that expertise as a body. In the description, the undertaking shall consider how the expertise and skills are relevant to the undertaking’s material impacts, risks and opportunities and whether the bodies and/or its members have access to other sources of expertise, such as specific experts and training and other educational initiatives to update and develop sustainability-related expertise within these bodies.

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...2. Governance23.

The disclosure shall include a description of how the administrative, management and supervisory bodies determine whether appropriate skills and expertise are available or will be developed to oversee sustainability matters, including:

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...Disclosure Requirement GOV-1 – The role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies20.

The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to provide an understanding of:

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...Disclosure Requirement GOV-1 – The role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies19.

The undertaking shall disclose the composition of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, their roles and responsibilities and access to expertise and skills with regard to sustainability matters.

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...Disclosure Requirement GOV-1 – The role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodiesAR 5.

The description of the level of expertise or access to expertise of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies may be substantiated by illustrating the composition of the bodies, including members on whom these bodies rely for expertise to oversee sustainability matters, and how they leverage that expertise as a body. In the description, the undertaking shall consider how the expertise and skills are relevant to the undertaking’s material impacts, risks and opportunities and whether the bodies and/or its members have access to other sources of expertise, such as specific experts and training and other educational initiatives to update and develop sustainability-related expertise within these bodies.

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...2. Governance23.

The disclosure shall include a description of how the administrative, management and supervisory bodies determine whether appropriate skills and expertise are available or will be developed to oversee sustainability matters, including:

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...2. Governance20.

The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to provide an understanding of:

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...2. Governance19.

The undertaking shall disclose the composition of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, their roles and responsibilities and access to expertise and skills with regard to sustainability matters.

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...2. GovernanceAR 5.

The description of the level of expertise or access to expertise of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies may be substantiated by illustrating the composition of the bodies, including members on whom these bodies rely for expertise to oversee sustainability matters, and how they leverage that expertise as a body. In the description, the undertaking shall consider how the expertise and skills are relevant to the undertaking’s material impacts, risks and opportunities and whether the bodies and/or its members have access to other sources of expertise, such as specific experts and training and other educational initiatives to update and develop sustainability-related expertise within these bodies.

2023 ESRSESRS 2 - GENERAL DISCLOSURES...2. Governance23.

The disclosure shall include a description of how the administrative, management and supervisory bodies determine whether appropriate skills and expertise are available or will be developed to oversee sustainability matters, including: