{
  "id": 8820091,
  "title": "Sustainability reporting is not the goal. Better business decisions are",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/sustainability-reporting-is-not-the-goal-better-business-decisions-are",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T02:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "e27",
    "slug": "e27",
    "url": "https://e27.co/sustainability-reporting-is-not-the-goal-better-business-decisions-are-20260918/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sustainability reporting is not the ultimate objective, but better business decisions are, according to insights from the 2026 IFRS Foundation Annual Conference held in London. While collecting sustainability data and preparing reports can be valuable, the real question is what actions should be taken based on the findings. Demand for sustainability information is growing from non-regulated entities such as multinational customers, investors, lenders, and supply-chain partners in Southeast Asia.\n\nCompanies need to move beyond simply fulfilling disclosure requirements and start using sustainability information to understand their business better, manage risks, and make better decisions. The focus should be on turning sustainability data into business intelligence by connecting it to how the business operates, identifying value creation opportunities, and assessing financial impacts. Integrated Reporting is relevant in connecting strategy, governance, risks, opportunities, and performance, rather than treating sustainability as a separate function.\n\nBefore reporting becomes a mandatory requirement, businesses should ask four key questions: who is accountable, how risks are identified and managed, what matters to the business, and what is the financial impact. Collaboration between finance, risk, operations, and sustainability teams is crucial to understanding how climate-related developments could affect revenue, costs, capital expenditure, and cash flow, as well as uncovering potential opportunities.",
  "summary": "A company can spend months collecting sustainability data, mapping risks and preparing a polished report, yet still fail to answer a fundamental business question: what should we do differently because of what we have learned? This question is becoming increasingly important as sustainability expectations spread across Southeast Asia. Formal reporting requirements are evolving, and demand […] The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}