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ARTICLE · 06 MARCH 2026

Australia's Uptake Of ISSB: ESG Standard Setting In A Multipolar World

A&O Shearman
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Malaysia is among the countries advancing adoption of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards.

AustraliaEnvironment
Goran Galic
Goran Galic
Fraser Cull
Fraser Cull
Jasmine Gal
Jasmine Gal
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The global approach to sustainability reporting is in flux. There is no single, settled approach: some jurisdictions are pressing ahead with mandatory regimes while others are stepping back under political and market pressure.

Malaysia is among the countries advancing adoption of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards. By contrast, the European Union, whose Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has been criticized for its scope and extraterritorial reach, has moved to simplify its rules through an Omnibus reform package. Yet, even as regulatory approaches perge, sustainability information is increasingly central to economic analysis and investment decisions. Australia has opted for a calibrated path.

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