The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the UK regulator for auditors, accountants and actuaries, announced today the publication of International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (UK) 5000, “General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements,” a new standard aimed at ensuring quality and consistency for practitioners in carrying out assurance engagements for sustainability reporting.

The publication of the new standards comes as the UK government is considering whether to introduce mandatory sustainability reporting requirements for some companies, and follows the launch of a series of sustainability disclosure-related consultations by the UK government earlier this year, focused on areas including exposure drafts of new UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) and climate-related transition plan requirements, as well as a consultation regarding the development of a voluntary registration regime for the providers of assurance of sustainability reporting.

According to the FRC, the new standard forms a UK version of the global benchmark standard for sustainability assurance, developed by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). The IAASB published the finalized version of its standard in November 2024, designed for use across multiple sustainability reporting standards and frameworks, including those issued by the EU, ISSB, GRI, ISO and others.

The FRC said that the new standard is intended for voluntary use by UK assurance providers, adding that the standard will help assure the credibility of UK sustainability reporting, supporting more informed investment decision-making and enhance the UK’s attractiveness of the UK as a leading destination for sustainable finance.

Mark Babington, Executive Director of Regulatory Standards at the FRC said:

“The release of ISSA (UK) 5000 marks a significant step in establishing a consistent framework for sustainability assurance in the UK. It reflects our commitment to internationally aligned standards and supports the growing demand for high-quality, assured sustainability information which users can trust.”

Click here to access the standard.