I'm not one to criticise the Financial Times' editorial judgements, but their recent headline ‘UK retreats on climate reporting rules for listed companies’ was a bit misleading. Reuters wasn't too dissimilar, with a headline declaring ‘UK regulator abandons mandatory climate disclosures for listed companies’.
The essential news for anyone working in/for a UK listed company is that the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UKSRS) are now mandated by the FCA, albeit on a 'comply or explain' basis, as opposed to a 'comply or be penalised' basis. The new disclosure rules apply to accounting periods starting 1 January 2027, with the official announcement being made on 30th September 2026.
What does this mean for communications professionals? It means you now need to have a basic understanding of what these new Standards entail, what your compliance/accounting colleagues will be making public disclosures on, and how you can create a narrative around those disclosures that is consistent, credible, protective of your corporate reputation.
As a former director of communications at the ISSB, the body who wrote these Standards, I understand first-hand what they require of companies, the intent behind them, and what they mean for communications teams.
In future blog posts, I will list out exactly what needs to shift in communications going forward. Stay tuned!