A global alliance of leading financial institutions, investors and businesses have today announced the launch of 'ESG Book', a new central source for accessible and digital corporate sustainability information, with the aim of shaping the future of ESG data.

Over $100 trillion of assets under management are today committed to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), while many of the world's largest public companies have pledged to meet net-zero targets, as sustainability shapes global markets in the 21^st century. However, a lack of disclosure, limited accessibility, and inconsistency of ESG data is limiting the acceleration of capital allocation towards low-carbon and sustainable business activities, just when it is most urgently needed.

In response, an international coalition of partners are calling for a new coordinated approach to ESG data, where corporate sustainability information is widely available, comparable, and transparent.

They include: The International Finance Corporation, UNCTAD, Global Reporting Initiative, Bridgewater Associates, Swiss Re, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Allianz, HKEX, Cardano Development,

Glass Lewis, QUICK, Bank Islam, Goldbeck, Werte Stiftung, Climate Leadership Coalition, Climate Governance Initiative, Climate Policy Initiative, Climate Bonds Initiative, Responsible Jewellery Council, GeSI, and Arabesque. 

Supporting the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, 'ESG Book', developed by Arabesque, makes sustainability data more widely available and comparable for all stakeholders, enables companies to be custodians of their own data through a digital platform, provides framework-neutral ESG information in real-time, and promotes transparency.

Available for all companies, investors, standard-setters, and other stakeholders, ESG Book follows five principles based on a mission to create ESG data as a public good:

1.  Companies are custodians of their own data

Corporates should have control of their sustainability data by having autonomy over the disclosure and maintenance of data in real-time, unrestricted by the annual reporting cycle. This improves both transparency and market-driven oversight from investors, banks, and business partners, and reduces errors common within the global ESG data ecosystem.

2.  Transparency on data usage and interactions brings more meaningful reporting

Once directly connected to their stakeholders, companies should be empowered to report on the most material and valuable issues requested by investors, thereby reducing the noise in reporting, and enabling data gaps to be more clearly identified.

3.  Accessibility and impartiality 

ESG data should be reported by companies in a clear and consistent manner, and be readily accessible for all stakeholders. Similarly, ESG data platforms should support equal access for all in order to promote greater transparency and provide better and more up-to-date information to guide global capital flows.

4.  Framework-neutral

ESG data should be framework-neutral and provide a level-playing field for all market participants, allowing stakeholders to collect and report data based on sustainability questions from multiple frameworks at the same time. It should be adaptable and flexible to respond to a fast-moving market and regulatory environment.

5.  Easing the reporting burden

Reported ESG data can be mapped across a range of frameworks simultaneously over time. For example, if a company discloses CO₂ emissions according to GRI, other reporting questionnaires can be populated with the same data. This frees up company resources for greater action-driven insights once the reporting company decides to disclose.

On today's announcement, Georg Kell, Chairman of Arabesque, said:

"The launch of ESG Book marks the evolution of corporate sustainability. It enables more comparable and higher quality ESG data, thereby advancing the mission of making markets more sustainable. Through a technology-driven approach, Arabesque is committed to making ESG data available to all as a public good." 

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said:

"There is an increasing need for accessible, comparable, and transparent ESG data in order to build trust and alignment amongst companies, investors, and regulators. ESG Book makes sustainability data available and comparable for all stakeholders. It provides framework-neutral information promoting transparency. In doing so, it supports the strategic ambition of the UN Global Compact to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change."