Mark your calendars for August 2!

We will issue the proposed, landmark International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements, for public consultation on August 2.

When approved, ISSA 5000 will be the most comprehensive sustainability assurance standard available to all assurance practitioners across the globe. It will apply to sustainability information reported about any appropriate sustainability matter and prepared under any suitable framework. It will also apply for both limited and reasonable assurance engagements.

ISSA 5000 also benefits from close consultation and coordination with other global organizations, including IOSCO, FSB, IESBA, ISSB, and GRI.

From August 2 to December 1 is when we need to hear from you; your feedback on the proposed standard is crucial. We need to hear from those who:

• Prepare, use or provide assurance on sustainability information
• Use reported sustainability information to make decisions, including audit committee members, investors, and others.

Follow us on LinkedIn or on Twitter or register & subscribe on our website for updates on the proposed ISSA 5000’s release and for announcements about upcoming webinars and events.

The Public Interest Oversight Board’s (PIOB) Standard-Setting Nominations Committee has opened the Invitations for Application period for the new Stakeholder Advisory Council. This prestigious global council, a key element of recent governance reforms, will provide strategic advice to both the IAASB and International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) in developing standards. It replaces the IAASB and IESBA Consultative Advisory Groups.

The Invitation for Application outlines the opportunity for experienced individuals from various relevant stakeholder perspectives and the expectations for SAC members. Through the open and interactive forum, SAC members will have a chance to actively participate and shape the future of standard setting. The PIOB encourages applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, including different geographic regions, genders, and professional backgrounds.

Full details of the Invitation for Applications and the SAC’s role are available on the PIOB website. Applications are welcome until September 30, 2023.

The IAASB is working on a narrow scope maintenance of standards project on listed entity and PIE that addresses the IAASB’s actions in respect of recent revisions to the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) (IESBA Code) as a result of IESBA’s project on the definitions of listed entity and PIE.

The IAASB is excited to announce that it has approved by unanimous vote the draft International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements, for public consultation. The consultation will be open by early August until early December 2023.

With the increasing global demand for corporate reporting and disclosure on sustainability, ESG (environmental, sustainability, and governance), and climate-related information, we are proud to have risen to the occasion by developing this new proposed standard. This proposed standard aims to enhance confidence in sustainability reporting, responds to IOSCO recommendations, and complements the work of other standard setters, including the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, EFRAG, International Sustainability Standards Board and IFRS Foundation, Global Reporting Initiative, and others.

Once finalized, ISSA 5000 will serve as a comprehensive, stand-alone standard suitable for limited and reasonable sustainability assurance engagements. It will apply to sustainability information reported across any sustainability topic and prepared under multiple frameworks. Moreover, the standard will be profession-agnostic, enabling its use by professional accountants and other professionals performing sustainability assurance engagements.

As the IAASB works toward the release of the draft standard in the coming weeks, it is also in the process of finalizing extensive outreach plans. These plans include a series of four roundtable discussions, as well as virtual, regional, and national events held in partnership with other organizations throughout the consultation period. To stay updated on the latest information and upcoming events, please follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and consider registering or subscribing to our mailing list via the IAASB website.