Overview
International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) was established in 2021 by IFRS Foundation. It was created in response to growing demand for consistent, decision-useful sustainability information in global capital markets. ISSB’s purpose is to develop a global baseline of sustainability-related financial disclosure standards.The organisation’s philosophy centres on improving comparability, consistency and reliability of sustainability information for investors. It focuses on disclosures that are material to enterprise value and connected to financial reporting.
Mission and focus areas
ISSB’s mission is to strengthen trust, transparency and accountability in sustainability reporting. It develops standards that enable companies to disclose sustainability-related risks and opportunities affecting cash flows, access to finance and cost of capital.Core focus areas include climate-related disclosures and broader sustainability risks and opportunities. ISSB aligns its work with financial reporting concepts and builds on existing frameworks, supporting integration of ESG considerations into mainstream financial analysis and decision-making.The standards are designed to be globally applicable and interoperable with jurisdiction-specific requirements. This approach supports regulatory adoption while reducing reporting fragmentation for companies operating across markets.
Structure and governance
ISSB operates under the governance of IFRS Foundation, alongside the International Accounting Standards Board. It has a dedicated Chair, Vice-Chair and Board members with expertise in finance, sustainability, standard-setting and regulation.Oversight is provided through IFRS Foundation’s Trustees and Monitoring Board, ensuring public-interest accountability. ISSB is supported by technical staff, advisory groups and working groups that engage with investors, preparers, regulators and other stakeholders.
Programs and offerings
ISSB’s primary outputs are IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, including IFRS S1 and IFRS S2. These standards set requirements for general sustainability-related disclosures and climate-related financial disclosures.
Additional offerings include exposure drafts, consultation documents, educational materials and implementation guidance. ISSB also conducts outreach and capacity-building activities to support adoption and consistent application across jurisdictions, making its resources particularly relevant for finance and sustainability practitioners.
