Sustainability has become a central part of business strategy, with companies navigating new regulations and practices to stay compliant and competitive. In an insightful podcast episode, hosts Dave and Lysandra sit down with Greg Carli, a global leader in sustainability, resilience and ESG at GHD, to discuss the Canadian sustainability disclosure standards. As these standards come into play, companies need to understand not just the compliance side, but how they can leverage these changes for business growth and efficiency.

Aligning Canadian and global standards

The episode kicks off with Greg explaining the new Canadian sustainability disclosure standards and their alignment with the International Sustainability Standards Board. This global alignment aims to promote transparency and consistency in sustainability-related disclosures, making it easier for companies to meet both domestic and international requirements.

But why does this matter? As Greg highlights, understanding this alignment is critical for businesses operating globally or seeking to maintain transparent sustainability practices. The conversation touches on how these global standards offer a unified framework, helping companies communicate their sustainability efforts effectively across borders and industries.

Understanding what needs to be disclosed

One of the key takeaways from the episode is Greg’s breakdown of the types of information businesses are expected to disclose under the new standards. He outlines three main focus areas:

• Governance: How a company's sustainability policies and risks are managed internally, including oversight by boards and leadership teams.
• Strategy: How sustainability is integrated into the overall business strategy, including long-term planning and risk management.
• Climate-related financial risks: How the financial impacts of climate change are addressed, with companies needing to evaluate and disclose these risks as part of their broader financial strategy.

These areas offer a starting point for companies looking to make sense of the new requirements. However, Greg stresses that disclosures shouldn’t be seen as just a compliance exercise—they are an opportunity to reflect on and refine business strategies for greater sustainability impact.

Turning compliance into business opportunities

The podcast takes an interesting turn as Greg discusses the opportunities that come with compliance. Rather than viewing these standards as simply more paperwork, businesses can use them to innovate and drive growth.

Greg explains how adopting sustainable practices early on can lead to increased operational efficiency, cost savings and improved stakeholder trust. The discussion emphasizes the idea that by integrating these practices into their business models, companies can unlock new opportunities and position themselves as leaders in sustainability.

Curious about how to transform compliance into a competitive advantage? Greg provides examples of how companies that proactively disclose their sustainability efforts often attract more investors, build stronger customer loyalty and even tap into new markets.

Navigating the challenges of disclosure requirements

Of course, implementing sustainability disclosures isn't without its challenges. The episode dives into the practical difficulties businesses face, from gathering the right data to aligning sustainability efforts across departments. Greg shares actionable insights on how companies can overcome these hurdles, suggesting steps like early planning, cross-functional collaboration and leveraging technology to streamline the disclosure process.

If you're a business leader wondering how to prepare for these new standards or thinking about the resources needed to implement them effectively, Greg’s tips offer a valuable roadmap.

Final takeaways: Leveraging sustainability as a growth driver

The episode wraps up with an important message: sustainability disclosure isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s an opportunity for growth and innovation. Greg encourages businesses to start early, adopt these standards as part of their strategic planning, and see the bigger picture: sustainability can be a key driver for long-term success.

If you're looking to understand the evolving landscape of sustainability standards and how to turn them into a strategic advantage for your company, this podcast is a must-listen. Tune in for practical advice, industry insights, and a fresh perspective on how Canadian sustainability disclosure standards can propel your business forward.

Speakers

• Gregory Carli: Executive advisor, leads the sustainability, resilience and ESG practice within GHD’s advisory team. Carli oversees the strategic integration of sustainability and resilience principles into a broad range of client solutions across GHD’s market segments of water, transportation, environment, property and buildings, and energy. Carli’s focus areas include ESG integration, climate risk management and sustainable infrastructure. Carli brings over 25 years of experience providing innovative solutions to clients throughout North America and globally in his role as executive advisor and formerly as a leader in the EHS+S practice. Prior to joining the advisory team, Carli led GHD’s due diligence team in North America and brings extensive transaction experience, including GHD’s work for a major container terminal transaction in North America. He has completed numerous sell-side and buy-side assessments for corporates, private equity firms, investment banks and debt providers, and has provided advice in many jurisdictions around the world.
• David Arkell: President and CEO of 360 Energy
• Lysandra Naom: Executive producer of The 360 On Energy and Carbon Podcast