Internationalisation of the Sustainability Code
The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) is contributing to the international debate with its experience of introducing the Code. Its aim is to position the Sustainability Code’s structure as a model for further national adaptations.
For several years now, the RNE has been liaising closely with a wide range of players at international level as regards sustainability reporting. Back in 2014, for instance, it joined forces with the French government and the Greek QualityNet Foundation to invite senior figures from industry, politics and civil society throughout Europe to a workshop in Brussels in connection with Directive 2014/95/EU. At the event, approximately 70 delegates from ten countries discussed the future of sustainability reporting in the light of the EU Directive on the disclosure of non-financial information.
National adaptations
Then, in 2016, came the first national adaptation of the Code in Greece, which was followed three years later by a Turkish version. The Code team is constantly engaged in discussions with other EU and non-EU countries as well concerning other possible adaptations.
International award for the Code
In 2019, the United Nations Concerence on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) commended the Sustainability Code for its outstanding contribution to transparent corporate sustainability with the “ISAR Honors Award 2019”, highlighting in particular the way in which it enhances the comparability and quality of reporting. ISAR (International Standards of Accounting and Reporting) ) is the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, the United Nations’ central unit dealing with accounting and corporate governance matters. ISAR reviews developments in the field of international reporting and promotes best practices for corporate governance. Within the context of the 2030 Agenda, ISAR contributes to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through enhanced transparency and sustainability standards for companies.
Translations
In connection with the establishment of the Global Forum for National SDG Advisory Bodies, the Sustainability Code was translated into English, French, Chinese, Russian and Spanish in the course of 2020. An Arabic translation will follow. For its implementation within Europe, the Code has so far also been translated into Greek, Czech and Romanian. A European network of stakeholders is discussing what contribution the Code could make to a sustainable business model in Europe.
Greek Sustainability Code
Developed by the Greek NGO QualityNet Foundation in 2016, the Greek Sustainability Code is the first complete national adaptation of the Code. In 2018, building on the Greek Sustainability Code, Greece’s most sustainable companies were acknowledged for the first time at the “Sustainability Performance Directory” event in Athens.
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Turkish Sustainability Code
In April 2019, the Turkish Centre for Sustainable Production, Research and Design (SÜRATAM) launched its own sustainability code in conjunction with the German Code office. On the initiative of SÜRATAM, Turkish stakeholders are currently discussing how best to adapt the Code to national specifics.
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