The increased recognition of the need to integrate Environment Social and Governance (ESG) in day-to-day corporate operations has increased the need for ESG disclosure and reporting requirements in major entities and different sectors of the economy.
Over the past year, Kenya has seen increased momentum for ESG issues, with the publication of the Nairobi Securities Exchange ESG Disclosures Guidance Manual in November 2021. The Guidelines set are meant to improve and standardize ESG information reported by listed companies in Kenya and require compliance within one year from their date of publication.
Just a month earlier, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) trailblazed with the publication of a Guidance on Climate-Related Risk Management pushing the banking sector to the frontlines of driving Kenya towards a low carbon future.
The CBK Guidance outlined requirements that ensure banking institutions adapt to effectively integrate climate related financial risks in their management frameworks as well as business decisions and activities.
According to Clarice Wambua, Partner in the Environmental practice at commercial law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Kenya, banks will be required to entrench financial risk considerations in their governance systems; include climate change and environment-related financial risks into their existing financial management practices; and develop a disclosure approach for financial climate-related risks.
“This guidance has set out a roadmap for implementation that meets international standards within time-frames that take cognisance of the local context. Requirements may be changed as global best practices on climate risk management evolve, but at least we can begin the process of gradually adopting climate and environmental-related risk requirements.”
The Kenyan Insurance industry has also set up a Taskforce on ESG that will drive and support readiness of the insurance sector in managing ESG risks and in supporting green finance. “This aligns with developments early in 2021, when African insurance organisations signed the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance, committing to advance the assessment, management and disclosure of ESG and climate -related risks and opportunities across all lines of business in their insurance practice,” says Wambua.
Wambua added that one cannot underestimate the increasing validity and significance that ESG is playing in daily corporate operations. “I foresee that ESG disclosure and reporting requirements will soon become mandatory for more industries and entities as the ESG impact of economic activities gathers more traction.”
For Wambua, this is good news. “Mitigating the destructive impact of climate change for example, requires a prompt and objectively measured response at all levels of the economy. Industry can play a critical role to usher in this new low-carbon era as it is guided by state and global requirements, as well as market signals.”
By increasing levels of disclosure through the adoption of adequate and objective reporting measures, she believes it will fast track the transition to a greener economy and boost green investor confidence.
“Through integrated reporting, we can leave no stone unturned by taking everything into account from suppliers to customers to regulators to government, creditors, debtors and investors. There are numerous stakeholders with various interests, so we need to ensure that they are all catered for across the environmental, social, and governance spectrum.” continued the statement.
The current focus on economic recovery and growth behoves organisations to remember the fact that ESG considerations are no longer optional checkboxes. Wambua says they are pivotal to any entity vying for investors – especially international investors.
“It is now all systems go, Institutions must start to put in place the requisite teams, time and technology to achieve ESG compliance. Those who do it first, win the economic race. But if everyone does it, we win the human race. This is a global imperative and Kenya is committed to change,” concluded Wambua.
