Sustainability Reporting

Over the past few weeks, annual results and annual reports have been landing across the market. As always, we take a very keen interest in the narrative and focus of these and, this year, one thing stands out: many companies are making sustainability and climate less prominent in their external storytelling than they did in recent years.

With the international climate debate increasingly overshadowed, it can easily look like the energy transition is stalling. But from what we see in day-to-day work with clients, that conclusion doesn’t hold. In many sectors, the transition is becoming structurally embedded: for example through long-term renewable power contracts and clearer transition expectations in financing and supply chains. Such developments make it increasingly irreversible.

We understand the struggle many organisations are navigating right now: how to stay credible and transparent on sustainability while the public conversation is more polarised, expectations are shifting, and the risk of misinterpretation is real. In this context, choosing to be less vocal in the media, and focusing on “say less, do more”, can be a sensible instinct.

But quieter public messaging shouldn’t mean quieter stakeholder communication.

If you are progressing on transition goals, we strongly believe firms should consider the following:

• Keep the right people closely informed: employees, investors, lenders, customers, partners, regulators and local communities.
• Provide direct, factual updates on tangible proof points such as milestones, trade-offs and next steps. These build credibility – which has become especially important when the public debate is noisy.

At CDR, we help clients find the right balance: fewer, more precise claims, clearer reporting, and direct stakeholder updates that reflect real progress.

We’re curious to know how others are approaching this in 2026: are you shifting from broad narratives to more stakeholder-specific updates? What are you choosing to say less about publicly, and how are you keeping stakeholders informed? Do get in touch if you’d like to hear more about what we are doing to support our clients.

Stefan Simons, Director