Role of the highest governance body in sustainability reporting

Disclosure focus

The highest governance body is the governance body with the highest authority in the organization. The term “Board” should be used only where the Board is the organization’s highest governance body.

If the highest governance body is responsible, the organization must describe the process used to review and approve the reported information. The description should explain how the information and the material topics are presented for review, the role of management and any supporting committees, how comments or required changes are addressed, and how formal approval is provided.

Review and approval are separate elements. Receiving, noting or discussing sustainability information does not necessarily constitute review and approval. Similarly, approval of a sustainability strategy, a materiality assessment or an annual report does not automatically demonstrate that the highest governance body reviewed and approved all reported sustainability information and the organization’s material topics.

Where a committee is involved, the organization should identify whether it is a committee of the highest governance body or a management committee, describe its authority and explain how its work supports or forms part of the highest governance body’s review and approval process. Approval by a committee should not automatically be presented as approval by the highest governance body.

The term “reported information” is broader than a standalone sustainability report. Where sustainability information is published across an integrated report, sustainability report, data book, website or other sources, the organization should identify which reported information is covered by the review and approval responsibility.

Material topics are the topics that represent the organization’s most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including impacts on their human rights, as determined using GRI 3. The disclosure should use the term “material topics” rather than “important issues”, “key topics” or “material issues”.

If the highest governance body is not responsible for reviewing and approving the reported information, including the material topics, the organization must report this clearly and explain the reason. It should identify the actual approving body or role and the governance basis for the alternative arrangement.

The organization can additionally report whether the highest governance body has established a sustainability reporting committee to support the review and approval process and whether it reviews the adequacy of internal controls used to strengthen the integrity and credibility of the sustainability reporting. These are Guidance elements and not additional mandatory datapoints.

External assurance does not replace the highest governance body’s review and approval responsibility. The involvement of the highest governance body and senior executives in the policy and practice for seeking external assurance is reported separately under Disclosure 2-5.

Reasons for omission are permitted for Disclosure 2-14. However, where the highest governance body is not responsible for review and approval, the organization should comply with 2-14-b by explaining the reason rather than treating the arrangement as an omission.

This LRA educational guidance supports disclosure preparation. For the exact requirements, always refer to the official GRI source.