New Deloitte Global report shows audit committees unprepared for climate change
Key highlights:
· Climate is not discussed on a regular basis by most boardroom audit committees
· Barely half consider themselves “climate literate”
· Half do not believe they are well-equipped to fulfill their climate regulatory responsibilities
Deloitte Global’s first issue of its Frontier Topics for the Audit Committee series focused on climate change and the role of the audit committee. Surveying audit committees globally, Deloitte found that nearly 60% do not discuss climate on a regular basis and 47% do not consider themselves “climate literate.” As a result, half of the audit committees surveyed worldwide do not believe they are well-equipped to fulfill their climate regulatory responsibilities, the survey found.
Deloitte’s survey of audit committee members spanning 40 countries revealed several obstacles standing in the way, each of which points to a broader sense of uncertainty surrounding climate and sustainability in the boardroom and companies at large. The report also details potential solutions for audit committees struggling to help their organizations address climate change.
“The business community must address the urgent challenge of climate change. Through greater education and engagement, audit committees can help their organizations take more decisive climate action,” says Sharon Thorne, Deloitte Global Board Chair. “This means ensuring their organizations are assessing their own environmental risk profiles, establishing mitigation plans to reduce their carbon footprints, ushering in global ESG standards, and accurately reporting on their progress.”
Key obstacles to prioritizing climate
Deloitte Global’s survey tracked both internal and external challenges audit committees are facing when it comes to addressing climate change. The top internal obstacle cited by surveyed audit committee members was a lack of clear strategy (65%), followed by poor data quality, which can lead to a shortage of actionable insights for climate decision-making. Regarding external issues, 60% of respondents called out the lack of global reporting standards.
Deloitte Global’s research reveals that there is work to be done internally for organizations to prepare for the regulatory outcomes that could come to fruition as 42% of respondents say they are currently disappointed in the strength and speed of their organization’s climate response. The vast majority of respondents (70%) said that they have not completed a comprehensive climate change assessment, and as a result, financial statements in many cases do not reflect the consequences of this impact assessment. This indicates a clear need to accelerate corporate activity and prioritize climate challenges.
Recommendations moving forward
In the survey, respondents recommend the following top three needs for climate progress: improving climate education for audit committees (87%); ensuring good management information as part of regular reporting to the board (79%), and having internal alignment between the corporate strategy and the climate strategy (78%).
“While audit committees are beginning to address how assumptions about the future should be reflected in financial statements and risk assessments, there are steps that can be taken now to improve the decision-making process and put boards and their organizations on a successful track to respond to the climate crisis,” says Jean-Marc Mickeler, Deloitte Global Audit & Assurance Business Leader. “Deloitte recognizes the urgency around climate change and continues to invest in its capabilities to assist clients globally with the knowledge and resources to make effective climate-informed business decisions and disclosures.”Deloitte Global’s Frontier Topics for the Audit Committee series are available at global.corpgov.deloitte.com