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Introduction
ESG-related AI algorithms identify patterns and correlations, empowering decision-makers to assess the ESG performance gap to a certain degree. In this report, we are looking at the potential application for generative AI (Gen-AI) in the ESG reporting areas, and how it could improve reported ESG data and ESG reporting quality. To that end, Gen-AI could be a helpful tool for both business managers and investors looking to self-assessment and audit reported ESG information.
To get a closer look at the practical applications of Gen-AI in improving ESG reporting quality. We are assessing a sample case study of Apple Inc.’s recent Environmental Progress Report 2023 (covering the fiscal year 2022). The tech giant is currently under scrutiny over its claims of climate and environmental commitments. With Gen-AI, we are able to identify gaps between these claims and their reported information to a certain degree.
This report provides you with the latest analysis on generative AI-powered ESG reporting assessment tools and insights into their applications and limitations in informing decision-makers of the reported ESG performance with case studies and tips from the latest market insights.
At GC Insights, we are always venturing edging frontier solutions for ESG strategies. We are providing solutions utilising Gen-AI and ESG insights from policy analysis and ESG research to help corporates improve their ESG performance and ESG strategies. Investors who are looking to assess ESG performance of selected investee companies could also benefit from our bridged Gen-AI and ESG insights. Contact us to learn more about Gen-AI ESG reporting solutions and assessment options that could make ESG reporting a productive process for your next reporting.
Book a meeting with us for a free online webinar for exploring available Gen-AI tools in the martket that can improve the next ESG reporting and unlock GC Insights ESG reporting solutions for your sustainability journey ahead!
Addressing Concerns over ESG Reporting Quality
ESG reporting pressures are pilling up, while there are sharp increase in self-reporting rate, the reporting quality are still at doubts. According to CDP’s latest progress report (the non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions), only 1.3% of the reported companies that have been requested to disclose against all three questionnaires were awarded a Triple A. With growing regulatory and market demand for corporate environmental transparency, the 29,500+ companies worth US$24.5 trillion failing to respond. Yet, only 12 of over 15,000 companies achieved top scores across all categories (Climate Change, Forests and Water Security disclosures). (CDP, Link)
ESG Reporting Landscape Overview
There are mounting challenges in meeting ESG reporting requirements ranging from compliance requirements, to supply chain due diligence. For example, the EU European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the EU Proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which involves a fines of >5% of a company’s net worldwide turnover if they do not comply. China’s roadmap to mandatory ESG reporting has started from regional green finance disclosure and State-owned Enterprises (SOEs). The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also proposed, and soon to be finalised rule amendments that would require a domestic or foreign registrant to include certain climate-related information in its registration statements and periodic reports, such as on Form 10-K.
The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) has also been introduced as mandatory reporting requirement across regions, such as Canada, UK, Brazil, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, & Switzerland… Hong Kong, Singapore, UK have launched public consultations on ISSB-aligned (International Sustainability Standards Board) climate-related disclosures as early as 2024 as well. ESG reporting mandates are accelerating, making it harder for corporates to keep tracking the latest compliance deadlines.
Case Study on Apple Inc.’s 2023 Environmental Progress Report
Apple’s has recently announced its environmental progresses towards its climate goals including achieving carbon neutrality for Apple’s entire carbon footprint, including products, by 2030, reducing related emissions by 75 percent compared with 2015. And transition their entire product value chain, including manufacturing and product use, to 100 percent clean electricity by 2030 among others.
In addition, Apple has announced in its 2023 Environmental Progress Report that “As of March 2023, over 250 suppliers have committed to transitioning to 100 percent renewable electricity for their Apple production, with over 85 percent of Apple's direct spend for materials, manufacturing, and assembly of our products worldwide included in those commitments.”
While according to the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) - an environmental watchdog, most of the suppliers listed in Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report as having committed to using 100% clean electricity to manufacture Apple products have not yet publicly disclosed their renewable energy use, clean electricity usage percentage, or greenhouse gas emissions data to the public.
Transparency in disclosed data, tracking records of progress performance and clear attributions are some of the commonly missing elements in corporate statements and ESG progress reports. Apple’s claims is under scrutiny further proves the importance of consistency in ESG reporting and the challenges faced by many corporates, even tech giants caught up short in communicate their ESG results.
Key Challenges in Improving ESG Reporting Quality
There are numbers of key challenges in improving ESG reporting quality, the top 5 are:
ESG Data Quality, consistency and accuracy in disclosed ESG data and information, clear attribution and completeness of data and information, transparency in displaying progress made without vague in policy settings and implementation reporting, are some of the deciding factors of a successful ESG report.
Value Chain Engagement, effectively collecting up-to-date ESG data from up and down the value chains with verified data and material questionnaires fit for companies across different sizes, sectors, and dealing with complex business relationships and networks.
ESG Materiality, understand the different material issues across sectors and exact the most relevant, and comparable insights requires deep knowledge in each ESG topics and the materiality nuances across sectors and business profiles.
Focus Areas largely depends on ESG materiality of the businesses, while fail to understanding the nuances between business segments and attributions could be miss leading the focal points of the intended reporting results.
Communication with Key Stakeholders takes place in a various forms these days, messaging could be equally essential to the messages, knowing how to communicate ESG results through ESG reports along with other channels could be the last straw for companies looking to advertise their ESG performance.
An external review utilising Gen-AI analysis and evolving ESG research insights for the ever-changing ESG reporting space could be useful for corporates looking for solutions to improve their ESG reporting quality and meeting these mounting challenges and effectively improve ESG strategies for achieving companies’ sustainability goals and reduce the risk of greenwashing from self-assessment beforehand.
Gen-AI 101 & Its application in Assessing ESG Reporting
Generative AI can learn from existing artefacts to generate new, realistic artefacts (at scale) that reflect the characteristics of the training data but don’t repeat it. Gen-AI uses a number of techniques that continue to evolve. Foremost are AI foundation models, which are trained on a broad set of unlabelled data that can be used for different tasks, with additional fine-tuning. Complex math and enormous computing power are required to create these trained models, but they are, in essence, prediction algorithms.
Today, generative AI most commonly creates content in response to natural language requests — it doesn’t require knowledge of or entering code — but the enterprise use cases are numerous and include innovations in drug and chip design and material science development, and now assessments of ESG reports.
For example, ChatReport: Anyone can upload a report and get a score based on how well it performs against the 11 TCFD recommendations. The team of researchers behind the project, called ChatReport, wants to open up access to ESG analysis and lower the reliance on ESG ratings agencies. The AI model highlights the possibilities of generative AI to source and interpret information, says Markus Leippold, a professor at the University of Zurich and one of several academics who developed the tool.
Key Features Available for Gen-AI ESG Report Assessment
We have been experimenting Generative AI powered assessment tools for analysing ESG reports. Some of the key features available with these tools including:
Assessing reporting performance against mainstream frameworks and standards, such as TCFD
Inform key stakeholders and leaderships over summative results and scores
TCFD Alignment and alignment with other frameworks and compliance requirements
Compliance assessments against certain benchmarks and criteria
Interactive insights with Gen-AI powered chat box for answers generated based on uploaded ESG reports or generated results
Audit or assurance-ready compliance preparations and serve as a readiness checklist
And more…
The Value of Self-Assessing ESG Reports with Gen-AI
Gap Analysis: knowing where to improve and how to improve against certain metrics
Improve Confidence: in reporting and communicating sustainability results with key focus ares in sight
Compliance with ease: readiness checklist and scorecard for content preparation
Access to capital: Attracting target investors with key ESG info and focal points highlighted
Case Studies - Assessing ESG Report with Gen-AI
Despite major improvements in its ESG strategies and announced climate actions, Apple Inc. scored 57 (out of 100) in one of its ESG reporting assessment test performed with Gen-AI tools on its 2023 Environmental Progress Report. Some example assessment results including (but not limited to) by uploading Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report:
Source: extracts selected from generated results with ChatReport tools over Apple’s 2023 Environmental Progress Report.
Limitations of Gen-AI ESG Reporting Assessment
Gap analysis to a certain degree, as unreported data could be missed by generative AI analysis
Data security concerns over third-party risks and platform cybersecurity risks
Over Reliance and the gap between Gen-AI insights and actions in need to make material progresses
Framework selection bias and data input bias rose from platform design, as rare generative AI tools for assessing ESG reporting performance could consider the variety of frameworks and location boundaries among other ESG reporting requirements
And more…
Additionally, users of Gen-AI ESG reporting assessment tools are advised to conduct additional research to gain a comprehensive understanding of a company’s actual efforts, initiatives, and progress towards mitigating climate change.
Tips For Your Gen-AI ESG Reporting Solutions
GC Insights: How to improve your use of Gen-AI for ESG reporting and improve your ESG strategies?
Keep on track with the latest available Gen-AI solutions, consult agencies with the knowledge of both Gen-AI tools and ESG reporting strategies
Mind the gap, recognising the need to bridge Gen-AI insights with actionable ESG reporting insights, as it bears the limitations of frameworks-selection
Data management and long-term planning should be part of the agenda while applying Gen-AI ESG reporting tools as it ensures consistency and transparency, the keys to good ESG reports
Consolidation of data security polices and cybersecurity governance over the use of Gen-AI ESG reporting solutions
Utilise AI-powered ESG communication to increase influence and effectively communicate the focus areas of key stakeholders to loss nonmaterial weights in ESG reports
At GC Insights, we are always venturing edging frontier solutions for ESG strategies. We are providing solutions utilising Gen-AI and ESG insights from policy analysis and ESG research to help corporates improve their ESG performance and ESG strategies. Investors who are looking to assess ESG performance of selected investee companies could also benefit from our bridged Gen-AI and ESG insights. Contact us to learn more about Gen-AI ESG reporting solutions and assessment options that could make ESG reporting a productive process for your next reporting.
Book a meeting with us to claim your free online webinar for improving the next ESG reporting with generative AI and unlock GC Insights ESG reporting solutions for your sustainability journey ahead!