The data challenge and technological impact of ESG

Nowadays, it's almost impossible to open a newspaper without encountering an article on 'sustainability'. Whether it's in the context of the financial services industry, the broader economy, or society as a whole, sustainability has become a critical issue. In recent years, it has gained significant traction and is now recognised as a necessity rather than just a trend.

Over the past decade, the focus on environmental issues has grown exponentially, resulting in various global commitments and initiatives aimed at transforming current institutional, economic, and financial models.

This training addresses the complexities and challenges of managing data within the context of ESG reporting. With increasing regulatory expectations such as SFDR, CSRD, and the EU Taxonomy, financial institutions must develop robust technological solutions to manage ESG data collection, analysis, and reporting effectively. This course will provide an understanding of the technological demands and challenges related to ESG data.

By the end of this training, participants will:

• gain an understanding of the regulatory expectations around ESG data, including SFDR, CSRD, and other reporting standards;
• learn about the key data challenges faced in ESG reporting, including data collection, quality, and integration;
• understand the technological requirements and solutions for effective ESG data management and reporting;
• develop strategies for navigating the complexities of ESG data aggregation, analysis, and disclosure.

Introduction to ESG data requirements

• Overview of the regulatory requirements for ESG data, including SFDR, CSRD, and ISSB standards.
• Key data points required for ESG disclosures and the challenges in data sourcing.

Data collection and quality challenges

• Identifying challenges in collecting accurate and reliable ESG data.
• Approaches to ensure data quality, consistency, and comparability across entities.

Technological solutions for ESG data

• Overview of technology's role in addressing ESG data challenges.
• Tools and platforms for data management, automation, and reporting.

Practical implementation and case studies

• Case studies showcasing best practices for ESG data management.
• How organisations can integrate technology to enhance their ESG reporting capabilities.

This training is coordinated by Michael Horvath and Julien Jacqué, Partners at PwC Luxembourg.

Michael has acquired a strong financial and regulatory audit as well as advisory background and significant experience leading projects in the asset management sphere.

In the recent past, Michael has been particularly involved in various regulatory projects related to the implementation of the EU regulatory framework for sustainable finance (i.e. SFDR, taxonomy regulation, CSRD) at entity and product level. Michael is involved in various other regulatory projects for clients, from DORA, AML/CFT regulation over CSSF circular 18/698 to MICA.

Julien is the EMEA Sustainability in Finance Transformation Leader at PwC and is actively engaged in PwC EMEA’s CSRD Centre of Excellence. With over 11 years of consulting experience, he currently oversees PwC LU’s Sustainability Reporting and Transformation services.

Julien holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Corporate Finance and has provided extensive support to clients in the implementation of data and technology solutions. Over the past few years, he has assisted both financial and corporate clients in their sustainability journey, spanning strategy, transformation, and reporting. Julien possesses both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in ESG regulations such as CSRD, EU Taxonomy, EU ETS, and CBAM.