1.1 本指南概述了适用于各种组织的环境、社会和治理（ESG）披露所使用的框架。 1.2 本指南讨论了ESG披露框架的历史和目的，以及与对披露中使用的信息的透明度和问责制的更大兴趣和更广泛要求相关的挑战。 1.3 本指南的重点是一系列ESG披露框架以及进行ESG披露的组织的监管背景，包括气候和社区问题。 1.4 本指南的目标是提高用户对ESG披露框架的理解，并概述但不取代联邦、州、部落和地方的监管要求以及披露指南。 本指南可用于可能没有披露监管要求或框架的情况，或用户希望进行自愿披露的情况。此外，当几个不同的披露要求适用于一个组织时，它也可以用于标准化工作。 1.5 本指南的组织结构如下: 部分 1. 范围 部分 2. 参考文件 部分 3. 术语 部分 4. 意义和用途 部分 5. ESG披露要求和指南概述 部分 6. ESG披露框架概述 部分 7. ESG披露的常见要素 部分 8. 数据源和度量 部分 9 重要性确定 部分 10 沟通方法和最佳实践 部分 11 关键词 附录X1 本指南的资源:网络链接 附录X2 州和市披露要求示例 附录X3 行业特定披露模板示例 附录X4 联邦环境标准数据库 附录X5 社会资源和治理标准 附录X6 面向消费者的ESG披露资源 附录X7 ESG披露资源:企业软件平台 附录X8 ESG评级概述 1.6 在开始ESG披露过程之前，组织应记录已识别和评估的信息和数据，澄清决策过程中考虑的专业判断因素，说明这些因素如何影响决策或行动，并记录相关技术政策决策。组织应验证ESG披露过程中使用的数据和信息，包括历史数据和当前数据，是否与ESG披露过程提出的问题和做出的决定相关，是否具有足够的数量和质量。 1.7 ESG披露应是适合特定请求、目的或目标受众的适当、相关和决策有用的披露。 1.8 本指南中讨论的ESG披露框架在ESG要素方面差异很大。例如，一些ESG框架只关注披露一组选定的环境因素，如监管排放。可以公开的ESG元件的更宽范围概述如下。 1.8.1 披露的环境部分可能侧重于一个组织对环境的影响——例如，其能源和水的投入以及污染的产出。它还可能关注与气候变化对公司、其供应链和价值链、其行业以及其设施和运营所在社区的影响相关的风险和机遇。 环境组成部分的关键要素可能包括碳足迹；资源消耗；资源枯竭；能源效率；可再生能源；温室气体排放；废物减少、回收、再利用和废物管理；污染防治；以及与环境正义有关的问题。 1.8.2 披露的社会成分可能侧重于组织与人和社会的关系——例如，多样性和包容性的机会和风险；人权；土著人民的权利；基于信仰的具体问题；本地和/或全球员工、客户、消费者和社区的健康和安全；公司对当地社区的投资；以及该组织如何在其设施、价值链和供应链中解决这些问题。 披露的社会组成部分的关键要素可能包括员工关系；客户与消费者关系；供应和价值链管理；工作场所健康和安全；人权；以及社区关系。 1.8.3 披露的治理部分可能侧重于组织的运行方式——例如，透明度和报告；道德准则顺从股东权利；以及董事会和/或高级管理团队的组成和作用。披露治理部分的关键要素可能包括组织结构；差异补偿商业伦理；报告；透明度疏忽通信；监管合规性；税收战略；政治行动（如游说和竞选捐款）；投资者关系；股东和利益相关者权利； 以及关于组织及其价值和供应链的机会和风险管理战略的决策。 1.9 本指南帮助用户浏览各种ESG披露框架。本指南的目的不是定义适合每个用户的技术决策或专业判断，而是提供有关现有决策框架的信息。 1.10 本指南认识到ESG披露相关主题的复杂性和多样性，并为一系列ESG披露应用程序提供技术支持。ESG因素越来越成为监管指导、消费者需求、投资者目标、学术研究和行业管理风险和实现回报最大化努力的焦点。 1.11 本指南概述了ESG披露要求和框架，并为组织进行披露提供了资源。 评估气候变化的潜在影响，或审查各组织所做决定的结果，或分析各组织对可能导致或不导致气候变化的技术进步的负面和正面影响所作的成本/效益决定，都超出了本指南的范围。 1.12 应就指定用于披露过程的信息和数据咨询指南用户的法律顾问，并评估其公开发布可能带来的合规影响（如遵守环境法律、法规以及许可和同意协议的条款或条件）。本次咨询应包括对ESC政策与信托义务一致性的审查。 1.13 本指南旨在补充而非取代现有的监管要求或指南。 ASTM国际（ASTM）指南不是规定；它们是基于共识的标准，指南用户可以在认为适当时遵循这些标准。 1.14 单位-- 以国际单位制（SI）单位表示的数值视为标准。参考:IEEE/ASTM SI 10国际单位制（SI）使用美国国家标准:现代公制。 1.15 本标准并不旨在解决与其使用相关的安全问题（如有）。本标准的使用者有责任在使用前制定适当的安全、健康和环境实践，并确定监管限制的适用性。 1.16 本国际标准是根据世界贸易组织技术性贸易壁垒委员会发布的《关于制定国际标准、指南和建议的原则的决定》中确立的国际公认的标准化原则制定的。 ====意义和用途====== 4.1 意图 本指南概述了适用于各种组织的环境、社会和治理（ESG）披露所使用的框架。本指南为用户提供了有关ESG披露框架历史、包括ESG披露的组成部分、这些披露的目标受众以及与此主题相关的挑战的信息。 4.2 如何使用信息-- 本指南旨在简要概述ESG披露框架和注意事项。鼓励本指南的用户查看本指南的章节以及本指南附录中提供的补充信息，其中包括示例模板和与ESG披露相关的关键主题的进一步讨论。 4.3 谁应该使用信息-- 本指南的预期用户可能包括各种各样的利益相关者，如使用、制造或销售产品的行业和公司；联邦、州和地方各级监管机构；顾问和供应商；消费者；投资者；学术研究人员和学生；非政府组织；以及社区组成部分。在过去的35年里，这一主题一直是企业、监管机构、消费者、评级机构和利益相关者越来越感兴趣的主题。 4.4 监管背景-- 本指南回顾了美国和国际上有关ESG披露的监管发展。本指南简要概述了ESG披露的监管发展和趋势。本指南的用户应了解适用于其运营、产品、服务、供应链和价值链的最新监管要求。 4.5 框架-- 本指南概述了美国和国际上的ESG披露框架。有几个自愿框架为ESG披露提供指导，如GRI、TCFD、价值报告基金会和利益相关者资本计量框架（由世界经济论坛和主要会计师事务所开发）。在美国，使用多种准则进行自愿、市场主导的披露的做法正在发展成为一种更标准但更灵活的方法。这与欧洲联盟形成了鲜明对比，欧洲联盟通过了具体的标准化指令。 4.6 专业判断-- 组织的ESG披露需要对所选ESG要素的方法进行专业判断，并与组织的实际做法保持一致，同时考虑许多其他因素。 关于ESG披露是如何使用选定ESG框架下制定的目标进行和评估的，解释应清晰、简洁，并有充分的文件记录。应对ESG披露的政策和程序进行记录，并将其作为组织相关实践的一部分。合规人员应了解组织的具体ESG相关实践。需要专业判断的因素应包括明确、有据可查的理由。 4.7 本指南并非旨在取代或取代联邦、州、地方或国际监管要求。本指南的用户应确认其工作所在司法管辖区的监管指南和要求。本指南可用于补充和支持此类要求。 本指南并不取代让合格人员参与ESG披露的必要性。

1.1 This guide provides an overview of frameworks used for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures applicable to a variety of organizations. 1.2 This guide discusses the history and purpose of ESG disclosure frameworks, as well as the challenges associated with the greater interest in and broader requirements for transparency and accountability in the information used in disclosures. 1.3 The focus of this guide is the array of ESG disclosure frameworks and the regulatory context for organizations making ESG disclosures including climate and community concerns. 1.4 The goal of this guide is to improve the users’ understanding of ESG disclosure frameworks and to outline but not to supersede federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory requirements, and guidelines for disclosures. This guide can be used in situations where there may not be a regulatory requirement or framework for disclosure, or where the user wishes to conduct voluntary disclosure initiatives. In addition, it can also be used to standardize efforts when several different disclosure requirements apply to an organization. 1.5 This guide is organized as follows: Section 1 Scope Section 2 Referenced Documents Section 3 Terminology Section 4 Significance and Use Section 5 Overview of ESG Disclosure Requirements and Guidelines Section 6 Overview of ESG Disclosure Frameworks Section 7 Common Elements of ESG Disclosures Section 8 Data Sources and Metrics Section 9 Materiality Determinations Section 10 Communications Methods and Best Practices Section 11 Keywords Appendix X1 Resources for this Guide: Weblinks Appendix X2 Example State and Municipal Disclosure Requirements Appendix X3 Example Industry-Specific Disclosure Templates Appendix X4 Databases for Federal Environmental Criteria Appendix X5 Resources for Social and Governance Criteria Appendix X6 Resources for Consumer Focused ESG Disclosures Appendix X7 Resources for ESG Disclosures: Enterprise Software Platforms Appendix X8 Overview of ESG Ratings 1.6 Before beginning the ESG disclosures process, organizations should document the information and data identified and evaluated, clarify the professional judgement factors considered during decision making and state how those factors influenced decisions or actions, and document the relevant technical policy decisions. The organization should verify that the data and information which are to be used in the ESG disclosures process, including historical data and current data, will be relevant to and of sufficient quantity and quality to answer the questions posed and the decisions made in the ESG disclosures process. 1.7 The ESG disclosures should be appropriate, relevant, and decision-useful disclosures suited to a particular request, purpose, or target audience. 1.8 The ESG disclosure frameworks discussed in this guide vary widely in ESG elements. For example, some ESG frameworks focus only on disclosure of a select set of environmental factors such as regulated emissions. The wider range of ESG elements that may be disclosed are summarized below. 1.8.1 The environmental component of the disclosures might focus on an organization’s impact on the environment—for example, its energy and water inputs and pollution outputs. It also might focus on the risks and opportunities associated with the impacts of climate change on or by the company, its supply chains and value chains, its industry, and the communities in which its facilities and operations reside. Key elements of the environmental component may include carbon footprint; resource consumption; resource depletion; energy efficiency; renewable energy; greenhouse gas emissions; waste reduction, recycle, reuse, and waste management; pollution prevention; and issues related to environmental justice. 1.8.2 The social component of the disclosures might focus on the organization’s relationship with people and society—for example, opportunities and risks for diversity and inclusion; human rights; the rights of Indigenous People; specific faith-based issues; health and safety of employees, customers, consumers, and communities, both locally and/or globally; company investment in its local community; and how such issues are addressed by the organization in its facilities and its value and supply chains. Key elements of the social component of disclosures may include employee relations; customers and consumer relations; supply and value chain management; workplace health and safety; human rights; and community relations. 1.8.3 The governance component of the disclosures might focus on as how the organization is run—for example, transparency and reporting; ethics; compliance; shareholder rights; and the composition and role of the board of directors and/or senior management team. Key elements of the governance component of disclosures may include organizational structure; diversity; compensation; business ethics; reporting; transparency; oversight; communications; regulatory compliance; tax strategy; political actions (such as lobbying and campaign contributions); investor relations; shareholder and stakeholder rights; and decision-making regarding opportunity and risk management strategy for the organization, and its value and supply chains. 1.9 This guide assists users in navigating the array of various ESG disclosure frameworks. It is not the intent of this guide to define the technical decisions or professional judgements appropriate for each user, but rather to provide information on the existing decision frameworks. 1.10 This guide recognizes the complexity and diversity of topics related to ESG disclosures and provides technical support for a range of ESG disclosure applications. ESG factors are an increasing focus of regulatory guidance, consumer demand, investor goals, academic research, and industry efforts to manage risk and maximize return. 1.11 This guide provides an overview of ESG disclosure requirements and frameworks and provides resources for organizations in making their disclosures. It is beyond the scope of this guide to evaluate potential impacts of climate change, or to review the outcomes of decisions taken by organizations, or to analyze the cost/benefit determinations made by organizations on the negative vs. positive impacts of technological advances that may or may not contribute to climate change. 1.12 The guide user’s legal counsel should be consulted regarding information and data designated for the disclosure process, which should be evaluated for compliance implications potentially associated with its public release (such as compliance with environmental laws; regulations; and terms or conditions of permits and consent agreements). Review of alignment of ESC policy with fiduciary duty should be included in this consultation. 1.13 This guide is intended to complement, not replace, existing regulatory requirements or guidance. ASTM International (ASTM) guides are not regulations; they are consensus-based standards that may be followed as deemed appropriate by guide users. 1.14 Units— The values stated in International System of Units (SI) units are to be regarded as the standard. Refer to: IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System. 1.15 This standard does not purport to address safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.16 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. ====== Significance And Use ====== 4.1 Purpose— This guide provides an overview of frameworks used for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures applicable to a variety of organizations. This guide provides users with information on the history of ESG disclosure frameworks, the components that comprise ESG disclosures, the target audience of these disclosures, and the challenges associated with this topic. 4.2 How to Use Information— This guide is intended to provide a brief overview of ESG disclosure frameworks and considerations. The users of this guide are encouraged to review the sections of this guide and the supplemental information provided in the Appendices to this guide which include example templates and further discussion on key topics relevant to ESG disclosures. 4.3 Who Should Use Information— The intended users of this guide may include a diverse range of stakeholders such as industries and companies that use, make, or sell products; regulators at federal, state and local levels; consultants and vendors; consumers; investors; academic researchers and students; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and community constituents. Over the past 35 years, this topic has been the subject of increasing corporate, regulatory, consumer, ratings agencies, and stakeholder interest. 4.4 Regulatory Context— This guide reviews regulatory developments regarding ESG disclosures in the U.S. and internationally. This guide provides a brief overview of regulatory developments and trends regarding ESG disclosures. Users of this guide should stay current on the regulatory requirements applicable to their operations, products, services, and supply and value chains. 4.5 Frameworks— This guide provides an overview of ESG disclosure frameworks in the U.S. and internationally. There are several voluntary frameworks that provide guidance for ESG disclosures, such as GRI, TCFD, the Value Reporting Foundation, and the Stakeholder Capital Metrics framework (developed by the World Economic Forum and the major accounting firms). In the U.S., the practice of voluntary, market-led disclosures using multiple guidelines is developing into a more standardized but flexible approach. This stands in contrast to the European Union where specific standardized directives have been adopted. 4.6 Professional Judgement— An organization’s ESG disclosures require professional judgement regarding approaches to the selected ESG elements, and their alignment with the organization’s actual practices, as considered alongside many other factors. Explanations should be clear, concise, and well documented regarding how ESG disclosures were made and evaluated using goals established under selected ESG frameworks. Policies and procedures that address ESG disclosures should be documented and part of the organization’s relevant practices. Compliance personnel should be knowledgeable about the organization’s specific ESG-related practices. Factors requiring professional judgement should include a clear, well documented rationale. 4.7 This guide is not intended to replace or supersede federal, state, local, or international regulatory requirements. Users of this guide should confirm the regulatory guidance and requirements for the jurisdiction in which they are working. This guide may be used to complement and support such requirements. This guide does not replace the need for engaging competent persons in ESG disclosure.