CitySwitch: Introduction to Mandatory Climate Reporting - ASRS

We're excited to share the first webinar in our 3-part series focused on unpacking the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS). 

This webinar will provide an introduction to climate reporting and the ASRS – in particular the AASB S2 climate-related disclosures standard which came into effect as of January 01 2025. This will impact an estimated 6,000+ businesses across Australia over the next 3 years and beyond. 

In addition to those required to report under the ASRS, thousands more businesses will likely be indirectly affected because they supply goods and services to those required to report under the new legislation.

This introductory webinar will cover a range of important topics, including:

• an overview of our mandatory climate reporting campaign and the tools and resources being developed for you
• an introduction to mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, including the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework
• an overview of the key ASRS reporting requirements for large businesses and their impact on smaller businesses, including scope 3 emissions
• key upskilling requirements that will be needed for groups 1-3 of the reporting phases and SME’s supplying to these companies
• example team structures and resourcing requirements within groups 1-3 and SME’s supplying to these companies.

Following this webinar, we will run the following:

• Webinar 2 - Data Collection and Reporting, Wednesday 28 May
• Webinar 3 - Navigating the Reporting Process and Finalising Disclosures, Wednesday 04 June

If you would like to learn more about the ASRS, mandatory climate reporting at-large, and how your business could be impacted (whether large or small, directly or indirectly), then this webinar is not to be missed! 

We encourage all CitySwitch members (and non-members alike) to RSVP and join this important discussion.

For more information, contact Ifan Jones, CitySwitch program manager, ijones@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

About CitySwitch:

CitySwitch is Australia’s flagship decarbonisation program for office-based businesses. We help office-based businesses reduce their carbon emissions by mapping a pathway to net zero and connecting them with others on the journey.

A free program, CitySwitch is funded by the Cities of Sydney, Melbourne, North Sydney, Port Philip, Yarra and Ballarat.


Presenters: 

Abbie Freestone is a Director at Rewild Agency where she advises organisations on climate and wider ESG measurement, strategy, and reporting. She specialises in climate risk, resilience, and overarching decarbonisation strategies for a wide range of clients in sectors spanning the built environment, hospitality and tourism, agriculture, government, manufacturing, and education. Abbie is currently helping many clients to prepare for mandatory climate reporting under the ASRS. Over the last 18 months, Rewild have been working on AASB S2 practice runs, conducting pre-assurance gap analyses, climate scenario modelling, and upskilling teams on the requirements. Abbie is also a trained B Consultant and a certified ISO 14001 Lead Auditor.

Sophie Hutchinson is a Director at Rewild Agency and is a technical specialist in climate, wider ESG as well as Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD). She has over 15 years of consultancy experience across both Australia and the UK and currently leads Rewild's advisory team, focusing on projects in the built environment in particular. Sophie has an in-depth understanding of the mandatory climate reporting legislation, particularly the ASRS and AASB S2 standard as well as international regulations and voluntary climate risk and reporting standards. She brings practical insights to this topic and holds a wide range of related sustainability qualifications and accreditations.