As ESG shifts from voluntary communication to regulatory compliance, understanding ESG reporting standards is becoming critical for companies, investors, and stakeholders worldwide.

From India’s BRSR mandate to the US SEC’s proposed climate disclosure rules to global frameworks like ISSB and GRI, ESG reporting is evolving rapidly. The challenge for businesses is not only to keep up, but to align with the right standards based on region, sector, and stakeholder expectations.

This article offers a clear overview of ESG reporting standards in India, the United States, and globally, including what they cover, how they differ, and what businesses need to know to stay ahead.

What are ESG reporting standards?

ESG reporting standards are frameworks and regulations that guide companies on what environmental, social, and governance information to disclose, how to measure it, and how to communicate it transparently.

These standards help ensure that ESG disclosures are:

Comparable across companies
Reliable and evidence-based
Useful to investors, regulators, and other stakeholders
Consistent with global sustainability goals and risk assessments

ESG reporting typically includes metrics such as carbon emissions, water usage, workforce diversity, human rights, executive pay, board structure, and business ethics.

Standards may be voluntary (like GRI or CDP) or mandatory (like India’s BRSR or the EU’s CSRD), depending on the jurisdiction and the size or listing status of the company.

What are the ESG reporting standards in India?

India is among the first emerging economies to implement mandatory ESG reporting for its top listed companies.

Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR)

Introduced by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), the BRSR framework became mandatory for the top 1000 listed companies by market capitalization starting FY 2022–23.

Key features:

Replaces the older Business Responsibility Report (BRR)
Covers nine principles aligned with the National Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC)
Requires disclosures across environmental (energy, emissions, water, waste), social (workforce, community), and governance (policies, board practices) themes
Includes both quantitative metrics and narrative responses
Encourages ESG integration into strategy, risk management, and leadership oversight

Voluntary adoption of BRSR Core, a more detailed framework for assurance-ready disclosures, is expected to expand in coming years.

India also emphasizes ESG for mutual funds and institutional investors, with SEBI proposing ESG labeling, rating guidelines, and fund-level disclosures.

What are the ESG reporting standards in the United States?

ESG reporting in the US is currently largely voluntary, but the landscape is changing fast with growing investor pressure and proposed regulation.

SEC Climate Disclosure Rule (Proposed)

In March 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a rule to mandate climate-related disclosures for publicly listed companies. The rule is expected to be finalized soon.

Key features:

Requires disclosure of climate-related risks material to business
Mandatory reporting of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (Scope 3 optional for most)
Climate-related governance and risk management processes
Financial impact of climate events and transition risks
Information aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

While not a full ESG disclosure framework, this marks a major step toward regulatory ESG reporting in the US.

Voluntary frameworks commonly used:

SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board): Sector-specific ESG topics
TCFD: Climate risk governance and scenario analysis
CDP: Carbon and environmental data
GRI: Broad sustainability disclosures for multi-stakeholder audiences

In addition, California and New York are introducing state-level climate disclosure requirements, pushing ESG compliance even in the absence of federal mandates.

What are the global ESG reporting standards?

The global ESG reporting landscape includes a mix of voluntary frameworks, regional regulations, and emerging global baselines.

ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board)

Launched by the IFRS Foundation, the ISSB is establishing a global baseline for ESG disclosures, designed to be investor-focused and comparable across countries.

Two key standards were released in 2023:

IFRS S1: General requirements for sustainability-related financial disclosures
IFRS S2: Climate-related disclosures, aligned with TCFD principles

Key features:

Applicable across industries and geographies
Designed to integrate with financial reporting
Strong emphasis on materiality, enterprise value, and risk exposure
Expected to influence or align with national regulations globally

Countries like Australia, UK, Canada, and Singapore are moving to adopt ISSB standards in their national ESG policies.

EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

CSRD is the world’s most comprehensive ESG disclosure regulation. It mandates detailed reporting for over 50,000 companies operating in the EU, including non-European companies with significant EU presence.

Key features:

Double materiality (impact and financial risk)
Requires assurance of ESG data
Covers environmental, social, and governance topics through the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
Staged rollout from 2024 to 2028 based on company size and listing status

CSRD is likely to become a de facto global standard for multinational companies operating in Europe.

How do ESG reporting standards compare across regions?

Region	Framework / Regulation	Mandatory?	Scope and Focus
India	BRSR by SEBI	Yes	Top 1000 listed companies, aligned with NGRBC
United States	SEC Climate Rule (proposed)	Soon	Climate risks, Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Global	ISSB (IFRS S1, S2)	Varies	Climate and sustainability disclosures, investor focus
EU	CSRD with ESRS	Yes	Environmental, social, governance, double materiality
Voluntary	GRI, CDP, SASB, TCFD	No	Widely adopted for global benchmarking and best practice

What should companies do to prepare for ESG reporting?

Whether you are preparing for compliance or improving transparency, here are key steps to get ESG-reporting ready:

Conduct a gap analysis against relevant standards (BRSR, ISSB, TCFD, etc.)
Define material ESG topics based on risk and impact
Collect reliable data across operations and supply chains
Strengthen internal ESG governance and board oversight
Align disclosures across multiple standards where possible
Consider third-party assurance to improve credibility and investor trust

Companies should also monitor regulatory developments across jurisdictions, especially if they operate in multiple regions.

Final thoughts on ESG reporting frameworks and regulations

ESG reporting is entering a new era. What was once voluntary and fragmented is becoming standardized, regulated, and essential for business performance.

From India’s BRSR to the US SEC’s climate rule to ISSB’s global baseline, the direction is clear. Companies that invest in strong, transparent ESG disclosures today will be better positioned to earn stakeholder trust, access capital, and build resilience for tomorrow.

The future of ESG reporting is not just about compliance. It is about clarity, comparability, and credibility in how companies show what they stand for, and how they perform.

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