Chapter 22: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Assurance

In this section

• Challenges and Evolving Standards in ESG
  Delve into the complexities, evolving regulations, and global convergence efforts shaping Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, including key frameworks, data collection challenges, and strategies to mitigate greenwashing.
• Emerging ESG Reporting Frameworks
  A comprehensive look at the major ESG frameworks—including GRI, SASB, TCFD, and ISSB—along with their relevance to assurance engagements and stakeholder decision-making.
• Integrating ESG Risk into the Audit Process
  Deepen your understanding of how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors impact audit risk assessment, materiality judgments, and internal controls, empowering auditors to effectively integrate ESG considerations into their processes.
• Communicating ESG Results and Impact on External Reporting
  An in-depth exploration of how auditors communicate ESG results, including reporting formats, assurance levels, and the impact on corporate disclosures.
• ESG Metrics and Verification Techniques
  Explore key ESG metrics, including greenhouse gas emissions and social impact data, along with verification strategies to enhance assurance in sustainability reporting.
• ESG Assurance Engagements Under AICPA Standards
  Explore how CPAs deliver ESG attestation services under AICPA’s SSAE standards, differentiating between examinations and reviews, understanding report language, and ensuring high-integrity ESG disclosures.
• Future Outlook: ESG and Investor Demands
  Explore how investor pressures, cutting-edge technologies, global sustainability standards, and evolving CPA skill sets are shaping the future of ESG assurance.