Get GRI ESRS-Professional Exam Practice Questions - Real and Updated

Answer : A, B, C

The double materiality assessment process consists of multiple steps, with Step A: Understanding the Context focusing on setting the groundwork for identifying material impacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs).

Step A includes:

Mapping the organization's value chain (Option A)

This step involves identifying all elements of the organization's value chain, including suppliers, distributors, and business partners, to understand where sustainability impacts occur.

It helps in pinpointing potential sustainability matters, risks, and opportunities related to both impact and financial materiality.

Engaging with affected stakeholders to gather input (Option B)

Stakeholder engagement is a critical part of the materiality assessment as it informs the organization about direct and indirect sustainability impacts.

The ESRS guidance stresses that businesses must engage with affected stakeholders (e.g., employees, communities, consumers) and sustainability experts as part of the due diligence process.

Analyzing the legal and regulatory landscape (Option C)

Organizations must review applicable laws, regulatory frameworks, and international sustainability commitments that may affect their sustainability reporting obligations.

This ensures compliance with EU regulations (CSRD, ESRS, Taxonomy Regulation, SFDR) and other relevant legal requirements.

Incorrect Answer:

Answer : B

Not all EU Member States have decided that only statutory financial auditors are allowed to conduct the assurance of the sustainability statement. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) mandates that sustainability reports be assured by an external party, but it allows Member States to decide whether assurance engagements can be performed by firms other than statutory financial auditors.

Key Provisions:

Limited Assurance Requirement:

The CSRD introduces a phased approach to assurance, starting with limited assurance and transitioning to reasonable assurance over time (expected by 2028).

Initially, limited assurance is required across all Member States.

Flexibility for Member States:

EU Member States have discretion to allow other independent assurance service providers to conduct the sustainability assurance, in addition to statutory auditors.

Some countries may restrict sustainability assurance to statutory auditors, but this is not an EU-wide rule.

Upcoming EU Assurance Standards:

The European Commission is working on developing a common EU assurance standard for sustainability reporting.

The Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies (CEAOB) has issued non-binding guidelines on limited assurance for sustainability reporting.

Thus, the statement is false because not all EU Member States have restricted sustainability assurance to statutory financial auditors. Some allow other independent assurance providers to conduct the engagements.

Official Reference:

CSRD (Directive (EU) 2022/2464) Assurance Provisions.

EU Platform on Sustainable Finance Report (February 2025) -- Assurance Standards and Guidelines.

CEAOB Guidelines on Limited Assurance for Sustainability Reporting (September 2024).

Answer : C

The Environmental Section of the topical ESRS includes disclosure requirements covering environmental sustainability matters. This section specifically relates to environmental objectives as defined in the EU Taxonomy, ensuring alignment with broader European sustainability goals.

The topical ESRS environmental standards (ESRS E1 - E5) cover:

ESRS E1 -- Climate Change (Mitigation & Adaptation)

ESRS E2 -- Pollution

ESRS E3 -- Water and Marine Resources

ESRS E4 -- Biodiversity and Ecosystems

ESRS E5 -- Resource Use and Circular Economy

These standards align with the environmental objectives of the EU Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852) and require organizations to report on their material environmental impacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs).

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A . Social impact and labor rights: Incorrect, as this belongs to the Social (S) section (ESRS S1 - S4).

B . Financial performance information: Incorrect, as this is part of financial reporting, not ESRS environmental disclosures.

D . Corporate governance and board diversity: Incorrect, as governance matters are covered under ESRS G1 Business Conduct.

Official Reference:

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772

Compilation Explanations January - November 2024

Answer : B, E

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) replaced the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) to address its limitations in scope and reporting requirements. Below are the explanations for each option:

A . False -- The NFRD did not require all companies in the EU to include a non-financial statement. Instead, it applied only to large public-interest entities with 500 or more employees.

B . True -- The NFRD applied to large public-interest entities, including listed companies, banks, and insurance firms with more than 500 employees.

C . False -- The NFRD did not mandate external assurance for sustainability information. The CSRD introduced mandatory assurance at the EU level.

D . False -- The CSRD did not replace the NFRD; rather, it expanded and strengthened reporting requirements. The NFRD was replaced by the CSRD, but not the other way around.

E . True -- The CSRD was introduced to improve the scope and depth of sustainability reporting compared to the NFRD. It expanded the number of entities required to report, standardized disclosures via ESRS, and introduced third-party assurance requirements.

Key Differences Between CSRD and NFRD

Feature

NFRD (Old Directive)

CSRD (New Directive)

Scope

Large public-interest entities (500+ employees)

All large companies + listed SMEs

Assurance

Not required

Mandatory external assurance

Disclosure Requirements

Limited sustainability disclosures

Comprehensive ESRS-based reporting

Reporting Standards

No standardized framework

ESRS-based mandatory framework

Application Date

In force since 2018

Applies from 2024 onwards

Official Reference:

CSRD Directive (EU) 2022/2464 -- Assurance & Reporting Provisions.

ESRS Compilation Explanations January - November 2024.

Answer : B

The Facilities Management (FM) department is primarily responsible for providing information on building energy use and the environmental performance of physical infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include:

Energy management: Tracking energy consumption and implementing efficiency measures.

Sustainability initiatives: Managing green building certifications, renewable energy installations, and environmental compliance.

Infrastructure monitoring: Overseeing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting efficiency, and water usage.

While the Operations department may use energy-related data for broader business functions, Facilities Management specializes in monitoring and improving building performance from an environmental perspective.

Official Reference:

ESRS E1 -- Climate Change, Disclosure Requirement E1-5 - Specifies requirements for energy consumption and environmental impacts of buildings.

EFRAG Guidance on Environmental Performance and Building Energy Use - Confirms that FM is responsible for infrastructure sustainability monitoring.