GHG and Carbon Accounting
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions inventories prepared under the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1, with documented methods and verification-ready records.
Key benefit: An emissions baseline you can report, verify and reduce
Sustainability, ESG & Climate
ESG Advisory
Build ESG disclosures that investors, lenders and regulators can trace back to reliable data and clear governance.
Credible ESG disclosures backed by traceable data
Overview
ESG advisory is professional support that helps an organisation identify its material environmental, social and governance topics, collect reliable data on them, and disclose performance in line with recognised frameworks. It covers materiality assessment, data controls, sustainability reporting under standards such as GRI and IFRS S1/S2, responses to investor and lender questionnaires, and the policies and governance that make ESG commitments credible.
Saudi companies face growing ESG expectations from several directions at once. Listed companies refer to the Saudi Exchange ESG Disclosure Guidelines; lenders and investors send detailed questionnaires; international customers ask suppliers for sustainability data; and Vision 2030 has placed sustainability firmly on the board agenda. The common difficulty is rarely a lack of intent but a lack of structure: data sits in different departments, definitions differ between sites, and nobody owns the final numbers. ESG advisory brings these pieces into one process with clear scope, ownership and evidence.
Our work starts with materiality, because a report that covers everything says little. We assess which topics matter most to your business and stakeholders, using a double materiality lens where the reporting framework calls for it, and translate them into indicators with defined calculation methods. We then build the data collection process: templates, owners, review steps and an evidence trail for each figure. Where IFRS S1 and S2 are relevant, we map existing disclosures against their requirements on governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets, and identify what is missing.
The outcome is a reporting process you can repeat each year rather than a one-off document. Disclosures are drafted from reviewed data, cross-referenced to the chosen framework, and supported by a policy set and governance structure that show who oversees ESG at board and management level. Greenhouse gas figures are taken from your emissions inventory, and climate targets from your decarbonisation plan, so the ESG report stays consistent with the technical work behind it. This also prepares the ground for external assurance if you choose to pursue it.
When you need this service
You may need this service when:
- You are preparing your first sustainability or ESG report and need a defensible structure.
- A bank, investor or fund has sent an ESG questionnaire or due diligence request.
- Your company is listed or planning to list and is reviewing Saudi Exchange ESG guidance.
- Customers or a parent company ask for ESG data in their supplier assessments.
- You want to assess your readiness for IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 sustainability disclosures.
- ESG data is spread across departments with no clear owners, definitions or review process.
What we deliver
01
Materiality assessment
Stakeholder input, impact and financial significance scoring, and a prioritised list of material topics with the rationale documented for reporting and assurance purposes.
02
ESG data framework
Indicator definitions, calculation methods, data owners, collection templates and review controls, so each reported figure can be traced to its source evidence.
03
Framework gap analysis
A comparison of your current disclosures against GRI, IFRS S1/S2 or Saudi Exchange guidance, showing gaps, priorities and the effort needed to close them.
04
ESG or sustainability report
Drafted report content, data tables and a framework content index, written for your audience and consistent with your other public disclosures.
05
Investor and lender questionnaires
Prepared responses to ESG questionnaires, ratings requests and due diligence lists, drawn from your reviewed data and reusable for future requests.
06
ESG policies and governance
Draft ESG policy, board and management oversight roles, committee terms of reference and reporting lines that show how ESG is governed in practice.
Our approach
Scoping
We confirm reporting purpose, audience, framework, organisational boundary and reporting period, and agree what the first reporting cycle should realistically achieve.
Materiality
We review your business, sector and peers, engage internal and external stakeholders, and score topics to agree a prioritised list of material topics.
Data design
We define indicators and calculation methods, assign owners, issue collection templates and set review and approval steps for each data point.
Collection and review
We collect data, check it for completeness and consistency, follow up on anomalies and record the evidence behind each figure.
Reporting
We draft disclosures, data tables and the content index, then revise them with your management team until the report is ready for approval.
Improvement
We document lessons from the cycle and set out the improvements needed for the next report or for external assurance.
Deliverables
| Deliverable | Format | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Materiality assessment report | Report with materiality matrix and topic rationale (PDF) | End of materiality phase |
| Framework gap analysis | Gap register with priorities and actions (Excel + PDF summary) | Early in the engagement |
| ESG indicator and data dictionary | Definitions, calculation methods and owners (Excel) | Data design stage |
| Data collection templates and evidence log | Templates and evidence register (Excel) | Before data collection |
| ESG or sustainability report draft | Editable report text, data tables and content index (Word + PDF) | Reporting stage |
| Questionnaire response pack | Completed responses with supporting references (Excel/Word) | As requests arise |
| ESG policy and governance documents | Draft policy and committee terms of reference (Word) | Governance stage |
Regulatory context
- Saudi Exchange ESG Disclosure Guidelines for listed issuers
- GRI Standards for impact-focused sustainability reporting
- IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 (ISSB) for sustainability-related and climate-related financial disclosures
- GHG Protocol for the emissions figures included in ESG reports
- Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative as national context for sustainability commitments
Requirements vary by activity, location and permit conditions. We confirm the applicable requirements for your project at the start of every engagement.
Industries served
Frequently asked questions
Is ESG reporting mandatory in Saudi Arabia?
Requirements depend on your company type, listing status and the expectations of your investors and lenders. The Saudi Exchange has published ESG Disclosure Guidelines for listed companies, and disclosure expectations continue to develop. Rather than rely on general statements, we review the requirements and requests that apply to your organisation at the start of the engagement and confirm them with your legal and investor relations teams where needed.
Which framework should we report against?
It depends on who reads the report. GRI suits a broad stakeholder audience and focuses on your impacts on the economy, environment and people. IFRS S1 and S2 focus on sustainability and climate information useful to investors. Listed companies also consider Saudi Exchange guidance. Many organisations combine frameworks, for example GRI for impact disclosures and IFRS S2 for climate. We recommend an approach based on your audience, obligations and data maturity.
What is a materiality assessment and why does it matter?
A materiality assessment identifies the ESG topics that are most significant for your business and stakeholders. It determines what your report covers and what you measure, so effort is not spent on topics that matter little while important ones are missed. Frameworks such as GRI require a documented materiality process, and investors increasingly ask how material topics were selected. We document the method so it can be explained and repeated.
How long does a first ESG report take?
Timing depends on the scope, the number of sites, the framework and how ready your data is. A first report usually takes longer than later cycles because data definitions, owners and controls are being set up for the first time. We agree a realistic plan during scoping, with milestones for materiality, data collection, drafting and approval, and we flag early any data gaps that could affect the timeline.
Can you help us prepare for external assurance?
Yes. We design the data process with assurance in mind: documented calculation methods, clear data owners, review steps and an evidence trail for each reported figure. Before an assurance engagement, we can review your data and documentation against what an assurance provider is likely to request and help close gaps. The assurance itself is carried out by an independent provider, which keeps the process credible.
Related services
Net Zero Advisory
Decarbonisation pathways, science-based target setting, abatement cost analysis and a net-zero roadmap aligned with Saudi Arabia's 2060 net-zero target.
Key benefit: A costed, prioritised path to lower emissions
Sustainability Advisory
Sustainability strategy, policies, targets and KPIs, governance and roadmap, integrated into day-to-day operations and project delivery.
Key benefit: Sustainability goals embedded in how the business operates
Related insights
Building your first GHG inventory: Scope 1, 2 and 3 explained
A practical guide to a first corporate GHG inventory under the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1: boundaries, scopes, data, emission factors and verification.
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