The New UK Sustainability Reporting Standards Are Here
The wait is finally over. On February 25, 2026, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) officially unveiled the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS S1 and S2). This marks a pivotal shift in the UK’s journey toward a greener economy, aligning national disclosure requirements with the global baseline set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
What are the UK SRS S1 and S2?
The new standards are designed to provide a “single language” for sustainability, ensuring that investors can compare companies accurately.
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UK SRS S1 (General Requirements): This provides the overarching framework. It requires companies to disclose all sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could reasonably be expected to affect their cash flow or access to finance over the short, medium, and long term.
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UK SRS S2 (Climate-related Disclosures): This is a deeper dive into climate-specific metrics. It focuses on physical risks (like asset damage from extreme weather) and transition risks (like the cost of moving to low-carbon technology).
Key Differences and Implementation
While based on international rules, the UK version includes specific amendments. For instance, the government has removed the “effective date” clause, allowing individual regulators like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to set their own timelines. Currently, the FCA is consulting on making these disclosures mandatory for listed companies starting January 1, 2027 (covering the 2026 financial year).
What This Means for You
Whether you are a listed giant or a private company within a large supply chain, the “voluntary” status of these standards is temporary. Through the government’s Modernising Corporate Reporting (MCR) programme, the net is widening.
Go Green Now’s suggested Action Step: Conduct a “Gap Analysis” now.
Compare your current data collection against the UK SRS requirements to identify where your reporting falls short.
Contact us for all of your sustainability reporting needs.