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Sustainability reporting and assurance 2025 highlights & 2026 outlook for Australia
During the week of 15 September 2025, the Australian Government released multiple reports that are highly relevant for entities preparing for mandatory climate-related disclosures under the Corporations Act 2001 and AASB S2
The purpose of this Alert is to draw attention to the Prime Minister’s announcement of Australia’s new 2035 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and path to net zero by 2050. The new target was announced on 18 September 2025. The new target follows the independent advice of the Climate Change Authority and is supported by the release of a comprehensive Net Zero Plan, along with 6 sectoral decarbonisation plans.
The purpose of this Alert is to draw attention to the National Climate Risk Assessment report (or NCRA), delivered by the Australian Climate Service on 15 September 2025.
Embed ESG risks into strategy and culture to drive sustainability beyond compliance.
The recent launch of Version 1 of the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy (ASFT) by the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI), in partnership with the Commonwealth Treasury, marks a significant milestone in the Treasury’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap.
The purpose of this Alert is to draw attention to Regulatory Guide RG 280 Sustainability reporting (RG 280 or regulatory guide), published by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) on 31 March 2025.
The following Australian Standards on Sustainability Assurance (ASSA) and the Relevant Ethical Requirements were approved by the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) on 28 January 2025.
The purpose of this Alert is to draw attention to the recent decisions of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on 29 January 2025 to propose amendments to IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures.
The Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) board meeting on 16 December 2024 confirmed the final phasing for mandatory assurance of information in sustainability reports. A final draft standard incorporating these changes will be presented to the AUASB for approval in late January 2025.
On 7 November 2024, ASIC released draft regulatory guidance for sustainability reporting.
The purpose of this Alert is to draw attention to the Consultation Paper CP 380 Sustainability reporting (consultation paper) and accompanying draft regulatory guide RG 000 Sustainability reporting (draft regulatory guidance) published by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) on 7 November 2024.