Complex is fine.
Incomprehensible isn't.

The three pillars of sustainable business: environmental, social and governance. ESG provides a strategic framework for policy, goals, risks and value creation.

Double materiality is a core principle of the CSRD. Organisations consider both their impact on people and the environment and the financial effect of sustainability developments on the organisation.

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Not mandatory, but a broad strategic framework for linking business impact to global challenges.

An international initiative for science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement and limiting warming to 1.5°C.

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from your own activities, scope 2 purchased energy and scope 3 emissions across the value chain.

European reporting requirements for sustainability information. Scope and implementation timelines are changing due to the European Omnibus proposals, so always check the current legal status.

Also known as CS3D. European due-diligence rules concerning human rights and the environment in the value chain. Scope and timing are still developing.

The European reporting standards that give substance to the CSRD. They determine which sustainability information organisations report and how it is structured.

A voluntary reporting standard for non-listed SMEs, designed to exchange sustainability information with customers and financiers in a practical and proportionate way.

Defines, subject to conditions, which economic activities qualify as environmentally sustainable. Used by companies and financial institutions to assess activities and investments.

EU mechanism that attaches a carbon price to certain imported products. It aims to reduce carbon leakage and encourages insight into emissions in international value chains.

Requires relevant operators and traders to demonstrate that certain products are deforestation-free and comply with applicable legislation.

European directive on digital resilience. In the Netherlands it is implemented through the Cybersecurity Act, including duties of care, registration and incident reporting.

Proposed European rules to better substantiate environmental claims and combat greenwashing. The final legal status and content should be checked against current developments.

A widely used global framework for impact-oriented sustainability reporting on environmental, social and governance topics.

Part of the IFRS Foundation. Develops global standards for investor-focused sustainability information, including IFRS S1 and IFRS S2.

IFRS S1 covers general sustainability-related financial information; IFRS S2 focuses on climate. Both are designed to provide consistent, comparable information for capital markets.

Helps organisations identify and report nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

International framework for climate-related governance, strategy, risk management and metrics. Its recommendations have been incorporated into IFRS S2.

UN principles guiding companies in respecting human rights and conducting due diligence across the value chain.

International guidelines for responsible business conduct, including human rights, environment, labour and anti-corruption.

EU regulation for financial market participants and advisers. Requires transparency on sustainability risks and characteristics of financial products.

Overarching European policy direction for climate neutrality, circularity, nature restoration and a future-ready economy.