The ISSB encourages the continued use and full support of the SASB Standards until they are replaced by IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. SASB Standards are incorporated into the ISSB's first two exposure drafts, General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information (S1) and Climate-related Disclosures (S2), and will continue to inform the ISSB's industry-specific disclosure requirements.
As described in S1, industry-specific disclosures are required by those applying the ISSB’s Standards, and companies need to consider the SASB Standards to identify topics and metrics to disclose in the absence of an IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standard.
This means the SASB Standards will continue to be supported on a standalone basis by the ISSB for at least four years, and realistically probably longer, while the ISSB continues its standard-setting activities using the SASB Standards as a basis.
The ISSB has introduced rigorous due process to ensure the SASB Standards are maintained and enhanced over this time with any proposed changes being subject to public consultation[1].
Use of the SASB Standards, therefore, will be good preparation for implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards when they are available for use.
SASB Standards are available for download at sasb.org. All SASB Standards implementation tools and resources, now part of the IFRS Foundation, are still accessible via sasb.org.
[1]The development of IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards is subject to due process. Read more about the ISSB’s recent decisions pertaining to the SASB Standards, as well as their commitment to maintaining and enhancing them.