Thedouble materiality assessmentinvolves identifying sustainability matters that are material either from:
* An impact perspective(the organization's effects on people and the environment).
* A financial perspective(how sustainability matters affect the organization financially).
Thecorrect stepsin conducting this assessment include:
* (A) Comparing identified material topics with ESRS 1 AR 16- This ensures alignment with predefined sustainability mattersin ESRS.
* (C) Using ESRS 2 IRO-1- This disclosure requirement mandates companies toreport on their methodology for identifying impacts, risks, and opportunities.
* (D) Following SBM-3 of ESRS 2- This section provides requirements fordisclosing the material impacts, risks, and opportunities identified through the materiality assessment.
* (B) False:Entity-specific disclosures must coverall material sustainability topics, even those not explicitly covered in ESRS.
* (E) False:Both financial and impact materiality must be considered(double materiality), not just financial materiality.
* (F) False:Double materiality assessments are mandatoryfor all organizations reporting under ESRS.
* Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, Section 3.3 on Double Materiality
* EFRAG Compilation on Double Materiality Assessments, providing step-by-step guidance on ESRS compliance Why the other options are incorrect:References:==============

Under the ESRS framework, financial materiality is assessed based on a combination of:
* Likelihood of occurrence- The probability that a sustainability matter will have a financial impact.
* Potential magnitude of financial effects- The scale of the impact on financial position, performance, cash flows, access to finance, or cost of capital over short-, medium-, or long-term periods.
This is outlined in ESRS 1, which states that a sustainability matter isfinancially materialif it could reasonably be expected totrigger material financial effectson an undertaking. Financial materiality is not limited to issues under the direct control of the company; it includesdependencies on natural, human, and social resourcesthat could create risks or opportunities.
* Option A:The ESRS framework allows for bothqualitative and quantitative thresholds, not just monetary ones (e.g., revenue or costs).
* Option C:Reputational risks can be financially material, as they may affect access to finance, cost of capital, or customer trust, ultimately influencing the company's financial performance.
* Option D:Thefinancial materiality assessmentis conducted for theshort-, medium-, and long-term, not just the short term.
Why the other options are incorrect:References:
* Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772
* Compilation Explanations January - July 2024, ESRS 1 on Financial Materiality
* EFRAG Guidance on Double Materiality and Risk Assessments

TheEU Taxonomyand theESRS digital taxonomyserve different purposes in sustainability reporting:
* EU Taxonomyis a classification system that identifiesenvironmentally sustainable economic activitiesand establishes criteria for determining their contribution to environmental objectives. It is primarily used to guide investment decisions and financial disclosures.
* ESRS Digital Taxonomyis a structureddigital frameworkthat ensures sustainability disclosures are machine-readable, standardized, and comparableunder theCorporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Key Differences:Aspect
EU Taxonomy
ESRS Digital Taxonomy
Purpose
Classifies sustainable economic activities
Enables structured digital sustainability reporting
Scope
Environmental focus on investments & economic activities
Comprehensive reporting across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas Users Financial institutions, investors Reporting entities, auditors, regulators Regulation UnderEU Taxonomy Regulation (2020/852) UnderCSRD (Directive 2022/2464/EU) References:
* EU Platform on Sustainable Finance Report: Simplifying the EU Taxonomy
* Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772

The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) categorize stakeholders intotwo main groups:
* Affected Stakeholders:
* These are individuals or groups whose interests are affected (positively or negatively) by the undertaking's activities and business relationships across its value chain.
* Examples include workers (own workforce and those in the value chain), affected communities, consumers, and end-users.
* The identification of affected stakeholders plays a crucial role in an organization's sustainability due diligence and materiality assessment processes.
* Users of Sustainability Statements:
* These are primary users of sustainability disclosures, including investors, lenders, and other creditors.
* Additional users include business partners, trade unions, civil society organizations, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), governments, analysts, and academics.
The ESRS framework emphasizes the importance ofengagement with affected stakeholdersas part of an undertaking's due diligence and materiality assessment process, ensuring that material impacts, risks, and opportunities are adequately identified and reported.
Official References:
* Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, ESRS 1, Section 3.1- Defines the two main groups of stakeholders.
* ESRS 2 SBM-2 (Interests and Views of Stakeholders)- Covers how affected stakeholders' views inform an undertaking's strategy.
* EFRAG Guidance on Stakeholder Engagement and Double Materiality- Reinforces the role of affected stakeholders in sustainability assessments.