Standards alignment

Overview

In light of the high degree of consistency between the TNFD recommendations and existing voluntary and mandatory disclosure standards, the TNFD supports the use of cross-reference tables to help simplify and streamline the presentation of corporate sustainability reporting. 

Indeed, reflecting this high level of alignment, cross-reference tables have already begun to appear in the first generation of TNFD-aligned reporting on nature-related issues published since the release of the TNFD recommendations in September 2023.

This high level of consistency with the recommendations of the TNFD can be observed in the most recent standards released by these organisations, namely:

• The ISSB’s IFRS S1 ‘General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information’ published in June 2023;
• GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 published in January 2024; and
• The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) formally approved by the European Commission in July 2023.

In coordination with the GRI and EFRAG, TNFD has produced ‘correspondence mappings’ that highlight the high level of consistency achieved and can support organisations in their reporting. This can help avoid disclosing the same information in multiple reporting documents.

The TNFD is committed to further alignment and interoperability by working together with standard bodies as the global sustainability reporting landscape on nature-related issues continues to evolve. As part of these efforts, the TNFD is supporting the ISSB’s ongoing research into biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services and enhancement of the SASB standards.

Examples of the use of cross-reference tables in use can be found in the database of illustrative TNFD reports here.