Singapore Exchange Mandates Climate Disclosures

Yesterday, the Singapore Exchange announced that "[a]ll issuers must provide climate reporting on a 'comply or explain' basis in their sustainability reports" stating in FY 2022, and that these "climate-related disclosures" are "based on recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)."  These disclosures will become mandatory for certain industries--including the financial and energy sectors--as of FY 2023, and for additional sectors of the economy, such as transportation, in FY 2024.

Notably, the Singapore Exchange has also announced a series of ESG metrics, which, although not mandatory, are expected to be a "starting point for what companies can disclose in their sustainability reports."  Such metrics are expected to "make information more accessible and comparable . . . [and] make data more transparent, and simplify decision-making for investors."

This announcement by the Singapore Exchange demonstrates the power of the growing worldwide campaign to mandate climate disclosures by corporations.  Indeed, according to the Singapore Exchange, these measures "received broad support."  Although the United States has not yet announced any similar mandatory disclosures, they are expected to be promulgated by the SEC in the near future. 

The Singapore Exchange is also mandating certain disclosures concerning board diversity.