With the entry into force of the reporting obligations on non-financial matters, Swiss listed and/or FINMA-regulated companies will become subject to a comprehensive reporting and disclosure framework on environmental and social matters. The rules on non-financial reporting include in particular detailed disclosure requirements on climate-related matters, all in line with international standards and recommendations. The new set of Swiss disclosure and reporting rules follows trends and similar legislative initiatives in other jurisdictions, most notably in Europe. For this reason, it is important for Swiss companies to understand how ESG-related reporting and disclosure rules in several jurisdictions may be of relevance and where the relevant rules provide for possibilities of substituted compliance in order to avoid duplication of work.

By Patrick Schärli (Reference: CapLaw-2023-13)