Guidelines for ESG reporting

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) refers to the three central factors in measuring the sustainability of a business. Companies can integrate ESG concerns into their long-term strategy with a view to make an overall positive contribution, achieve sustainable growth, and avoid and address adverse impacts related to its operations, products or services.

The guidelines are intended to help simplify the efforts of listed companies on Euronext markets to:

• Identify and prioritise the opportunities and risks of greatest significance to a company results and their most important stakeholders with regards to ESG
• Report efficiently on their management of and performance in areas of ESG risks defined in accordance with their own needs and those of their stakeholders
• Navigate, comply with or stay ahead of regulations that require disclosure of financially material ESG information
• Differentiate themselves on ESG matters and maintain high relevance, which is becoming a competitive imperative

The use of the Euronext guidance on ESG reporting is voluntary for companies. Companies that apply the guidance may highlight this by including the following statement in their annual report and/or their separate ESG report: “We follow the Euronext guidance on ESG reporting of January 2020”.

The Euronext guidelines will replace the Oslo Børs Guidance from 2018 on the reporting of corporate responsibility. Issuers may continue to apply the Oslo Børs Guidance when preparing their annual report and/or separate corporate responsibility report for 2019.