G100 launches virtual forum series

The Group of 100 (G100) launches the first of this year’s new series of Virtual Forums focused on Corporate Reporting & SASB. The first event is scheduled to take place on June 5, the World Environment Day, and is organised in collaboration with SASB, CA ANZ and CPAA and hosted by EY.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s recent annual letter to CEO’s called for all companies to “disclose in line with industry-specific” guidelines set out by SASB by the end of the year. “BlackRock believes that SASB provides a clear set of standards for reporting sustainability information across a wide range of issues (…) we are asking the companies that we invest in on behalf of our clients to publish a disclosure in line with industry-specific SASB guidelines by year-end,” he said. 

In addition, State Street Global Advisors President and CEO Cyrus Taraporevala’s annual letter discussed the fact that their ESG score leverages the SASB framework, and it encourages companies in the S&P 500, FTSE 350, ASX 100, TOPIX 100, DAC 30, and CAC 40 to understand and work to improve their ESG score.

The first Virtual Forum introduces the SASB organisation, its motto of “connecting businesses and investors on the financial impacts of sustainability”, its governance, an overview of the use of the standards globally and future directions including touching on climate risk, which was G100’s key conversation topic in 2019.

The Forum will be moderated by Terence Jeyaretnam of the G100 Sustainability Committee and will involve a presentation by Neil Stewart, Director of Corporate Outreach for SASB. Other speakers may also join.