November 2015: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report on the environmental dimension of sustainability reporting, including recommendations for good practice in disclosing the environmental impacts of business activities.

The report, titled “Raising the Bar – Advancing Environmental Disclosure in Sustainability Reporting,” examines the challenges involved in improving reporting on environmental aspects of sustainability. They note the low numbers of small and medium-sized enterprises that are currently reporting on sustainability, and the lack of contextual information in sustainability reporting, which makes it difficult to compare reports from different companies. The report also explores emerging areas of research and innovative reporting practices.

The researchers note that the most common environmental aspects reported are on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), energy, water and materials or waste management. They recommend how these aspects should be measured and reported, and provide examples of good practice.

UNEP highlights that the report contributes to the implementation of paragraph 47 of the Rio+20 Outcome Document, through identifying and disseminating models of corporate sustainability reporting. [Publication: Raising the Bar – Advancing Environmental Disclosure in Sustainability Reporting] [UNEP Publications Web Page]