ESRS-Professional ESRS Professional Certification Exam Question and Answers

Step A in thedouble materiality assessment processis theinitial stagewhere an organization establishes a foundational understanding of itsbusiness context, activities, and stakeholder relationships. This step is critical in identifying how the entity interacts with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters and lays the groundwork for further impact and financial materiality assessments.

Thedouble materiality conceptin the ESRS framework requires organizations to evaluate both:

Impact materiality– How an organization’s activities impact people and the environment.

Financial materiality– How sustainability matters influence the organization's financial position, performance, and cash flows.

Identifying the business environment:Understanding industry-specific sustainability challenges, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder expectations.

Recognizing affected stakeholders:Engaging internal and external stakeholders to determine which sustainability matters are relevant.

Defining dependencies and risks:Evaluating the organization’s dependencies on natural, social, and human capital, and how these can influence business outcomes.

Understanding sector and geographical relevance:Assessing which sustainability issues are most significant based on where the company operates.

Key Aspects of Step A in Double Materiality Assessment:Step A does not yet involve selecting specific disclosure requirements (Step B) or conducting a financial materiality assessment (Step C). Instead, it provides thecontextual frameworknecessary for subsequent steps in the materiality process​.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, ESRS 1, Section 3.1– Defines stakeholders' role in materiality assessment​.

EFRAG Compilation Explanations January - November 2024– Provides guidance on applying double materiality and the importance of Step A​.

EFRAG IG 1 Materiality Assessment, Chapter 2.2– Outlines Step A as the process of understanding business activities, stakeholders, and sustainability context​.

Official References:Thus, the correct answer isC. Understand the organization's context, activities, and stakeholders.

Adigital reporting platformunder ESRS is designed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of sustainability disclosures. It must enable seamless reporting and compliance monitoring through advanced digital features. The defining elements include:

(A) Structured data formats

Digital platforms must support structured formats likeXBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language), ensuringmachine-readability and interoperabilitywith financial reporting standards​.

(C) Interactive dashboards

Platforms often providevisualization tools and dashboardsto facilitate analysis and comparison of sustainability data across different periods and entities​.

(D) Real-time updates and compliance tools

Digital reporting solutions should offerreal-time data integrationto enable ongoing compliance tracking and alignment withevolving regulatory requirements​.

(B) Manual data entry processes

Manual entry isnot a characteristicof a digital reporting platform. Instead, digital platforms prioritizeautomation, integration, and structured data processingto improve efficiency and reduce errors​.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, ESRS 1, Section 8.1 & 9.2– Establishes digitalization and connectivity requirements for sustainability reporting​.

EFRAG Digital Reporting Guidelines (2024)– Defines structured data standards and compliance automation in ESRS reporting​.

Incorrect Option:Official References:

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,employee-related datasuch asheadcount, turnover, and health and safety statisticsare typically the responsibility of theHuman Resources (HR) department. HR is responsible for managing workforce metrics, diversity, inclusion, hiring, terminations, and employee well-being, including health and safety programs.

WhileHealth and Safety (H&S) teamsmay contribute data related to occupational safety and health incidents, the responsibility foraggregating and reportingon overall workforce statistics lies with HR. TheCompliance departmentensures legal and regulatory adherence but does not maintain core employee records, whileMarketinghas no role in employee-related data reporting.

ESRS S1-6:Characteristics of the undertaking’s employees, requiring disclosure of total headcount and workforce breakdown​.

ESRS S1-14:Health and Safety Metrics, detailing occupational safety measures, incidents, and employee well-being programs​.

EFRAG Implementation Guidance on Workforce Reporting, which confirms HR as the responsible entity for employee data aggregation​.

ESRS References:

Inline XBRL (iXBRL)is the digital reporting format required under theCorporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)to ensure standardized and machine-readable sustainability reporting.

It is required under CSRD for sustainability reporting

TheCSRD mandates the use of Inline XBRLfor sustainability reports, ensuring digital tagging for structured data submission, making informationeasier to analyze by regulators and investors​.

✅(A) is correct

It only applies to narrative disclosures, not numerical data

Incorrect.Inline XBRL applies to both numerical data (KPIs, metrics) and narrative disclosures, allowingstructured reporting across qualitative and quantitative sustainability information​.

❌(B) is incorrect

It makes reports both human-readable and machine-readable

True. Inline XBRL embeds machine-readable tags into a human-readable document, ensuringboth usability and compliance with digital reporting requirements​.

✅(C) is correct

It ensures that tags are embedded within a visually clear format

Correct. TheInline XBRL standard ensures that the digital tags do not alter the visual presentation of the report, maintaining clarity for human readers while allowing structured data extraction​.

✅(D) is correct

Conclusion:Inline XBRLis required under CSRD (A), makes reports both human-readable and machine-readable (C), and ensures a visually clear format (D). However, it applies to both narrative and numerical data, making (B) incorrect.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772​

Compilation Explanations January - July 2024​

Official References:

DuringStep Bof thedouble materiality assessment process, organizations mustidentify actual and potential impacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs). The ESRS framework recommends the following methods:

A. The list of sustainability matters in ESRS 1 AR 16✅

ESRS 1 Application Requirement (AR) 16provides acomprehensive reference listof sustainability matters to consider when identifying IROs.

This list includesenvironmental, social, and governance topicsaligned withEU sustainability objectives​.

C. Due diligence processes✅

ESRS requires organizations touse due diligence processesto identifynegative sustainability impacts.

Due diligence aligns with frameworks such as theOECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprisesand theUN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights​.

This ensures that potentialrisks and opportunitiesare assessed based oninternational sustainability standards.

D. Feedback from stakeholders✅

Stakeholders, includingemployees, suppliers, customers, and affected communities, providecrucial insightsinto sustainability impacts.

ESRSmandates engagement with affected stakeholdersas part of theIRO identification process​.

Financial materiality thresholds apply later in the process (Step C)when evaluating thefinancial impact of sustainability matters.

Step Bfocuses only on identifying IROs, makingfinancial thresholds irrelevant at this stage​.

Why is B. Financial materiality thresholds❌incorrect?Conclusion:Organizations should usethe ESRS 1 AR 16 sustainability matters list, due diligence processes, and stakeholder feedbacktoidentify IROsin Step B of the double materiality assessment.Financial materiality thresholds do not apply in this step.

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

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, ESRS 1, AR 16:List of Sustainability Matters for Identifying IROs​.

EFRAG Compilation of Explanations (January - July 2024): Confirmation thatdue diligence and stakeholder inputare part ofIRO identification​.

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:

Under the ESRS, engagement with affected stakeholders is a core element of due diligence. The outcome of the due diligence process informs the materiality assessment. The ESRS encourage further engagement with stakeholders to collect their input and feedback on the organization's conclusions regarding the material impacts, risks, and opportunities.

This sequence is supported by the official text of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772 and various ESRS-related documents. The standard emphasizes due diligence as astarting point for the materiality assessment process. The assessment then determines the organization's material impacts, risks, and opportunities, which is crucial for effective stakeholder engagement.

Due Diligence:The ESRS process starts with due diligence, as outlined in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, to identify relevant sustainability matters and affected stakeholders.

Materiality Assessment:The findings from the due diligence process are then used to inform the materiality assessment, as discussed in EFRAG's guidance documents.

Material Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities:Finally, the organization engages with stakeholders to review and refine its conclusions about material impacts, risks, and opportunities, as per the ESRS requirements.

References:

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772 of 31 July 2023 supplementing Directive 2013/34/EU​

EFRAG Guidance on Materiality Assessment in ESRS​​

ESRS Due Diligence Framework, as outlined in Compilation Explanations and Mapping Sustainability Matters with Disclosure Requirements​​

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ESRS 2 is a cross-cutting, sector-agnostic standard (Option A)

ESRS 2 appliesto all undertakings, regardless of sector or industry.

It establishesgeneral disclosuresthat cover governance, strategy, materiality, risks, and sustainability metrics​.

Certain ESRS 2 disclosure requirements are subject to a phase-in period (Option C)

Some disclosure requirements have been phased infor companies with fewer than 750 employees, allowing gradual adoption​.

For instance, disclosures related tobiodiversity (ESRS E4), workforce (ESRS S1-S4), and pollution (ESRS E2)can beomitted for the first 1-2 years, depending on company size​.

B. Reporting organizations don’t have to address all disclosure requirements in ESRS 2

This is incorrect becauseESRS 2 disclosures are mandatory for all reporting organizations. Only topical ESRS requirements depend on materiality assessments​.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, ESRS 2- Defines ESRS 2 as a sector-agnostic, cross-cutting standard​.

EFRAG Compilation Explanations (January–July 2024), Appendix C- Lists ESRS 2 disclosures with phase-in provisions​.

Incorrect Answer:Official References:

According to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772, stakeholders are defined as individuals or groups who can affect or be affected by the undertaking. The ESRS distinguishes between two main groups of stakeholders:

Affected stakeholders: These are individuals or groups whose interests are affected or could be affected – positively or negatively – by the undertaking’s activities and its direct and indirect business relationships across its value chain.

Users of sustainability statements: These include primary users of general-purpose financial reporting (e.g., existing and potential investors, lenders, and other creditors such as asset managers, credit institutions, and insurance undertakings) and other users, including the undertaking’s business partners, trade unions, social partners, civil society and non-governmental organizations, governments, analysts, and academics​.

Furthermore, engagement with affected stakeholders is a crucial aspect of the undertaking’s ongoing due diligence process and sustainability materiality assessment. This involves identifying and assessing actual and potential negative impacts to inform the materiality assessment process for sustainability reporting​.

Official References:

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772 of 31 July 2023 supplementing Directive 2013/34/EU on sustainability reporting standards​.

ESRS 1: General Requirements, Section 3.1 (Stakeholders and their relevance to the materiality assessment process).