Pass the GRI Sustainability Professionals ESRS-Professional Questions and answers with ValidTests

Thegoal of assurancein sustainability reporting is toconfirm the reliabilityof sustainability disclosures, ensuring that reported information onrisks, management strategies, and performance dataisaccurate and verifiable.

Key aspects ofsustainability assuranceinclude:

Evaluating the credibility of reported sustainability risksand how organizations manage them.

Assessing compliance with CSRD and ESRS assurance requirements.

Ensuring data integrity and alignmentwith financial and sustainability disclosures.

Enhancing investor confidencein an organization’s sustainability reporting​.

CSRD and ESRS Assurance Requirements (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, Section 5.2)- Specifies assurance requirements for sustainability reporting​.

EU Sustainable Finance Platform Report (2025)- Confirms assurance processes are necessary to enhance trust in sustainability data​.

Official References:

TheESRS Taxonomyacts as aframeworkfor tagging sustainability disclosures, ensuring data is structured, consistent, and comparable across organizations.

TheCSRD requires sustainability information to be reported in a digitally accessible format, making it available for both people and machines.

Under the CSRD, sustainability reports will eventually be uploaded to theEuropean Single Access Point (ESAP), centralizing public financial and non-financial information across the EU​.

ESRS as a "framework"– The ESRS taxonomy defines a structure that allows sustainability data to be categorized and tagged effectively​.

"Digitally accessible format"– The CSRD mandates reporting inmachine-readable formatssuch asXBRLto improve transparency and comparability​.

European Single Access Point (ESAP)– ESAP will serve as thecentralized EU platformfor sustainability and financial disclosures​.

Correct Sentence Completion:Explanation of the Selected Answer:References:

EU Taxonomy Regulation and CSRD Reporting Structure​

EFRAG Explanation on ESRS Digital Reporting​

2023/2772, various EFRAG guidance documents, and reports related to CSRD, ESRS, stakeholder engagement, double materiality, external assurance, and digital reporting Study guide References at the end of each question

Under the ESRS framework, effectiveinternal controlsfor assurance purposes must meet key characteristics to ensure reliability, traceability, and auditability.

(A) Documentation & Implementation:Internal controls must be formally documented, implemented as per the designated schedule, and consistently applied​.

(C) Testability by External Assurance Providers:Assurance providers must be able to verify the controls, test their effectiveness, and ensure compliance with CSRD assurance requirements​.

(B) Same Staff Performing & Assuring the Control:A fundamental principle of internal control is theseparation of dutiesto avoid conflicts of interest. The control must be performed by one team and assured independently​.

(D) No Need for Documentation:Proper documentation ismandatoryfor internal controls to enable traceability, testing, and regulatory compliance​.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, GOV-5:Risk management and internal controls over sustainability reporting, highlighting the necessity of internal control mechanisms​.

EFRAG Assurance Guidelines:Stipulating that documented controls must be verifiable and tested for external assurance​.

Correct Options Explained:Incorrect Options Explained:ESRS References:

Nature is indeed recognized as a "silent stakeholder" in the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). This term implies that, although nature cannot actively voice its concerns, it remains a critical component of sustainability reporting due to its fundamental role in sustaining life and economic activity. ESRS emphasizes that organizations must consider their impacts on nature, ecosystems, and biodiversity as part of their sustainability disclosures.

This recognition aligns with the concept ofdouble materialityembedded in the ESRS framework, which considers both the financial impact on an organization and the organization's impact on environmental and social matters. The ESRS explicitly integratesbiodiversity and ecosystems (ESRS E4)as a key topic, reflecting the need to account for the effects of business activities on nature, even if nature itself cannot actively advocate for protection.

Thesilent stakeholderconcept reinforces theduty of carethat organizations hold in assessing and mitigating their impacts on biodiversity, land use, pollution, and natural resources. This aligns with theUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)and theEU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, both of which emphasize the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems​.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772 of 31 July 2023(ESRS E4 - Biodiversity and Ecosystems)​.

EFRAG Guidance on Stakeholder Engagement– Highlights nature as an affected stakeholder in sustainability matters​.

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030– Emphasizes that economic activities must integrate ecosystem preservation and restoration​.

Official References:This confirms that the statement istrueunder ESRS standards.

TheEU Taxonomyand theESRS digital taxonomyserve different purposes in sustainability reporting:

EU Taxonomyis a classification system that identifiesenvironmentally sustainable economic activitiesand establishes criteria for determining their contribution to environmental objectives. It is primarily used to guide investment decisions and financial disclosures​.

ESRS Digital Taxonomyis a structureddigital frameworkthat ensures sustainability disclosures aremachine-readable, standardized, and comparableunder theCorporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)​.

Key Differences:Aspect

EU Taxonomy

ESRS Digital Taxonomy

Purpose

Classifies sustainable economic activities

Enables structured digital sustainability reporting

Scope

Environmental focus on investments & economic activities

Comprehensive reporting across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas

Users

Financial institutions, investors

Reporting entities, auditors, regulators

Regulation

UnderEU Taxonomy Regulation (2020/852)

UnderCSRD (Directive 2022/2464/EU)

References:

EU Platform on Sustainable Finance Report: Simplifying the EU Taxonomy​

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772​

ACSRD assurance engagementprimarily focuses onensuring compliance with the ESRSand theproper digital tagging of sustainability information. The elements included in the assurance scope are:

B. Compliance of the reporting with the relevant ESRS✅

Assurance engagements under the CSRDverify whether sustainability reports comply with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

Theassurance provider reviews disclosuresto ensure alignment withESRS requirements, includingdouble materiality assessments and mandatory data points​.

C. Compliance with the requirement to tag the sustainability reporting✅

CSRD requires that sustainability information bedigitally taggedusing theEuropean Single Electronic Format (ESEF)to ensuremachine readability and comparability​.

Assurance providers verify the correct application of this tagging requirement, ensuring consistency withXBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) standards.

ACSRD assurance engagement does not cover financial statements.

Financial audits are conducted separately, under theInternational Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or local GAAP requirements.

Sustainability assurance only applies tonon-financial sustainability disclosuresunderESRS​.

Why is A. Verification of the company's financial statements❌incorrect?Conclusion:Thescope of a CSRD assurance engagementincludes:✅Compliance with ESRS(B)✅Verification of digital tagging(C)❌Not financial statement audits(A)

Official Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, various EFRAG guidance documents, and CSRD-related references:

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, ESRS assurance scope​.

EU Sustainable Finance Platform Report (2025): Confirmation ofdigital tagging as part of CSRD assurance​.

ESRS 2 IRO-1 requires organizations to disclose their process for identifyingimpacts, risks, and opportunitiesand assess theirmateriality. This includes detailing whether and howaffected stakeholderswere consulted during the process. Sincerisks and opportunitiestypically stem fromimpacts, the process ofimpact materiality assessmentserves as a natural starting point before evaluating theirfinancial materiality.

Identification of Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities (IROs):

Organizations must disclose their methodology for identifying materialimpacts, risks, and opportunities.

These include bothactual and potential impactson people and the environment, considering short-, medium-, and long-term horizons​.

Consultation with Affected Stakeholders:

ESRS 2 IRO-1 requires disclosure of whether and how theconsultation with affected stakeholdersinfluenced the identification of material sustainability matters​.

Stakeholder engagement is crucial in determining the scope and severity of sustainability impacts.

Role of Impact Materiality:

Impact materiality assessmentprecedes the evaluation of risks and opportunities.

Since mostrisks and opportunitiesoriginate fromimpacts, impact materiality serves as thestarting pointfor assessing theirfinancial materiality​.

Financial Materiality Evaluation:

Financial materiality pertains to the extent that a sustainability matteraffects the undertaking’s financial position, performance, cash flows, or cost of capital.

It evaluates whether an impact or risk could reasonably be expected to have amaterial financial effecton the organization​.

"Impacts, risks, and opportunities"correctly defines the scope of ESRS 2 IRO-1.

"Affected stakeholders"are explicitly referenced as a crucial element in the disclosure process.

"Risks and opportunities"emerge from sustainability impacts, making impact materiality the logical starting point.

"Financial materiality"is the final step, determining the financial significance of sustainability risks and opportunities.

Why is B the Correct Answer?Thus, the correct sequence isB: impacts, risks, and opportunities; affected stakeholders; risks and opportunities; financial materiality.

Official Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, various EFRAG guidance documents, and CSRD-related references:

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, Annex I: ESRS 2 IRO-1 materiality assessment requirements​.

EFRAG Compilation of Explanations (January - November 2024): Explanation of ESRS 2 IRO-1 and its link to impact materiality​.

TheCorporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)replaced theNon-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD)to address itslimitationsin scope and reporting requirements. Below are the explanations for each option:

A. False– The NFRDdid notrequire all companies in the EU to include a non-financial statement. Instead, itapplied only to large public-interest entitieswith 500 or more employees.

B. True– The NFRD applied tolarge public-interest entities, includinglisted companies, banks, and insurance firms with more than 500 employees​.

C. False– The NFRDdid not mandate external assurancefor sustainability information. TheCSRD introduced mandatory assuranceat the EU level​.

D. False– The CSRDdid not replace the NFRD; rather, itexpanded and strengthened reporting requirements. TheNFRD was replaced by the CSRD, but not the other way around​.

E. True– TheCSRD was introduced to improve the scope and depth of sustainability reportingcompared to the NFRD. Itexpanded the number of entities required to report, standardized disclosures via ESRS, and introduced third-party assurance requirements​.

Key Differences Between CSRD and NFRDFeature

NFRD (Old Directive)

CSRD (New Directive)

Scope

Large public-interest entities (500+ employees)

All large companies + listed SMEs

Assurance

Not required

Mandatory external assurance

Disclosure Requirements

Limited sustainability disclosures

Comprehensive ESRS-based reporting

Reporting Standards

No standardized framework

ESRS-based mandatory framework

Application Date

In force since 2018

Applies from 2024 onwards

CSRD Directive (EU) 2022/2464– Assurance & Reporting Provisions​.

ESRS Compilation Explanations January - November 2024​.

Official References:

TheCorporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)significantly strengthens sustainability reporting and assurance requirements compared to theNon-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). The key shift introduced by CSRD is themandatory assurance of sustainability reports, which includesdefined standards, scope, and providers.

Key Differences Between CSRD and NFRD:Feature

NFRD (Previous Directive)

CSRD (New Directive)

Assurance Requirement

Voluntary

Mandatory

Who Can Provide Assurance?

Organizations could choose any provider

Member States decide between statutory auditors and independent assurance providers

Assurance Scope

Limited guidance

Defined ESRS-based scope

Assurance Level

No formal requirement

Limited assurance initially, transitioning to reasonable assurance by 2028

Reporting Scope

Limited to large public-interest entities

Expanded to all large companies and listed SMEs

Disclosure Framework

High-level requirements

Detailed ESRS framework with sector-specific standards

Mandatory Assurance:

Unlike the NFRD, the CSRDrequires sustainability reports to be assuredby an independent external provider.

The assurance process followsESRS standardsto ensure consistency​.

Defined Standards and Scope:

CSRD specifies thescope of assurance, focusing onmaterial sustainability disclosures, governance, andrisk disclosures.

TheEuropean Commissionis developing a standard methodology for assurance​.

Transition to Reasonable Assurance:

Initially,limited assuranceis required.

ByOctober 2028, the EU aims to transition toreasonable assurance, aligning sustainability assurance with financial audits​.

Option A: Incorrect – TheCSRD makes assurance mandatory, whereas theNFRD had a voluntary approach.

Option B: Incorrect – TheCSRD does not eliminate sustainability reporting assurance; it makes it morestructured and rigorous.

Key Provisions of the CSRD:Why Other Answers Are Incorrect:Thus, thecorrect answer is C:The CSRD introduces mandatory assurance for ESRS reporting, with defined requirements for scope, standards, and providers.

Official References:

CSRD Directive (EU) 2022/2464– Assurance Provisions​.

EU Platform on Sustainable Finance Report (February 2025)– Assurance and Compliance Guidelines​.

CEAOB Guidelines on Assurance of Sustainability Reporting (2024)– Limited Assurance Transitioning to Reasonable Assurance​.

EcoFurniture Inc. is performingStep B of its double materiality assessmentunder ESRS, which involves identifying and assessingimpacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs)from both animpact materialityandfinancial materialityperspective​.

During Step B, the organization must:

Compare entity-specific sustainability matters to ESRS 1 AR 16

Screening sustainability matters listed in ESRS 1 AR 16ensures that EcoFurniture Inc. identifies allpotential material topicsand aligns them with itsspecific sustainability context​.

Action:✅(A) is correct

Engage with affected stakeholders

Stakeholder engagementis a key requirement in the ESRSdouble materiality process, especially for industries with environmental and social impacts, such as deforestation risks in EcoFurniture's timber sourcing.

ESRS 2 IRO-1 explicitly states that stakeholder engagement is necessary tovalidate materiality assessments​.

Action:✅(B) is correct

Consider downstream impacts

ESRS mandates assessingboth upstream and downstreamsustainability impacts.Ignoring potential risks in the downstream value chain is not aligned with ESRS requirements.

Action:❌(C) is incorrect

Use scientific research to validate sustainability trends and risks

Theuse of scientific evidenceis an essential part of assessing sustainability matters.ESRS encourages leveraging research and external data to confirm industry-specific sustainability risks​.

Action:✅(D) is correct

Conclusion:EcoFurniture Inc. must integratestakeholder engagement, scientific research, and systematic comparison of sustainability matters to ESRS requirementsto ensure a robust Step B materiality assessment.Ignoring the downstream value chain is not permissibleunder ESRS.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772​

Compilation Explanations January - November 2024​

Official References: