Independence Standards for Sustainability Assurance Engagements Outside the Scope of IESSA

The objective of the Project Team is to undertake fact-finding with a view to establishing a basis for a recommendation to the IESBA as to

(a)          Whether to undertake a project to develop independence standards for sustainability assurance engagements outside the scope                                of the International Independence Standards in the International Ethics Standards for Sustainability Assurance (IESSA); and

(b)          Whether the approach to such a project should be profession-agnostic.

Subject to there being a sufficient basis for undertaking a project, the Project Team will:

(a)          Identify options for the approach to developing such independence standards and their pros and cons from the point of view of                                  maximizing the adoption and implementation of those standards; and

(b)          Highlight questions of principle or judgment on which the IESBA’s direction is needed before commencing any such project.

PROJECT TEAM

• Szilvia Sramko
• Elaine Cahoon

BOARD ADVISORS

• Mark Babington
• Nancy Miller

IESBA September 2025 Meeting Highlights

The IESBA considered and approved the Terms of Reference for its new workstream focusing on independence provisions for sustainability assurance engagements (SAEs) outside the scope of the International Independence Standards (IIS) in the IESSA. The objectives of the workstream are to undertake information gathering and develop recommendations to the IESBA as to:

• Whether to start a project to develop specific independence provisions for SAEs outside the scope of the IIS in the IESSA; and
• Whether the approach to such independence provisions should be profession-agnostic.

Subject to there being a sufficient basis for undertaking such a project, the Project Team will also:

• Identify options for the approach to developing such independence provisions; and
• Highlight questions of principle or judgment on which the IESBA’s direction is needed before commencing any such project.

The IESBA will consider preliminary findings from the Project Team at its March 2026 meeting.