Check out our article on the agreement of new EU rules for ESG Ratings providers, featured on GRIP, Global Relay’s new digital information service on practical compliance and regulatory change.
The new rules come as part of the EU’s continuing goal to improve the credibility and transparency of ESG ratings. Changes include:
An extension to the transparency and integrity rules meaning firms who disclose ESG ratings as part of their SDFR marketing communications will now need to include information about the methodologies they use to reach those ratings, on their websites.
Increased authorization and transparency requirements meaning EU ratings providers must be authorized and supervised by ESMA.
Separation of E, S, and G ratings meaning ESG ratings providers will need to explain the composition of their ratings, for example whether E, S, and G are considered separately or in aggregation.
A new requirement for firms to explain whether they use the “financial materiality” or “double materiality” approach to ESG assessment, with the ultimate goal of encouraging more firms to adopt the more stringent double materiality approach.
A requirement for ESG ratings providers to demonstrate how they separate activities to avoid conflicts of interest.
For more information on this and other ESG matters, please get in touch.
Further Reading
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has told listed companies that balanced materiality assessments, connected disclosures and transparent targets will be the focus of its reviews of 2026 sustainability statements.
The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) is under way in Yerevan, Armenia. Running from 19-30 October, the conference marks the halfway point to the global biodiversity targets agreed in 2022, and will be the first time countries review their collective progress. This article covers progress so far, and how nature and biodiversity are relevant to investors.
In September 2026, the FCA confirmed a set of updates to its rules on climate disclosure for UK investment firms. This article summarises the main changes and set out what firms need to do to stay compliant with the updated climate rules.
Regulatory updates on SDR, SFDR, ESOS, PRI and more in the Danesmead Advisory October 2026 newsletter.
As we move through 2026 and beyond, firms are facing several important milestones across both the UK and EU sustainability regulatory landscape.
In this article, we review four key regulations (ESOS, SFDR, SDR and CSRD), providing a clear guide on how to comply, by when and how to get started.
The PRI has published a new guide designed to help hedge fund managers and investors navigate responsible investment in a way that reflects the realities of the sector.
The European Parliament has stated its negotiating position on SFDR 2.0 This article explains the areas likely to shape the final rules and the practical steps asset managers should consider now.
The FCA's Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) sustainability entity-reporting rules extend to a wider cohort of UK asset managers and build on TCFD. Find out if you’re in scope and how to comply.
ESOS Phase 4 will place greater emphasis on action, requiring large UK organisations to demonstrate progress against previous energy-saving commitments and explain where measures have not been delivered. This article explains what businesses need to do to comply.