Preparing for Climate-Related Disclosures
Scott Song
September 24, 2024
In this Q&A, Scott shares the benefits of taking a proactive approach to disclosures, the first step every company should take, and what attendees will take away from his session.
What are the benefits of being proactive on climate disclosures?
The primary benefits of being proactive on climate disclosures are:
- Enhancing sustainability reporting credibility and transparency and ensuring regulatory compliance
- Strengthening organizational risk management capability
- Increasing investors’ and stakeholders’ confidence and the company’s reputation
- Setting a clear and well-defined sustainability strategy and objectives
Identify the climate-related regulations and reporting frameworks they are required and/or plan to comply with, and then conduct a comprehensive gap assessment against those climate-related reporting regulations, standards, and frameworks. The results will help the organization set a foundational, prioritized action plan for disclosure preparation.
What will people who attend your session walk away with?
The goal is to have the audience walk away with a blueprint and roadmap for preparing for climate-related disclosures, supplemented by practical, climate-related disclosure experiences shared by panelists as well as those in the audience.
What are you looking forward to most about FORUM24 and your session?
I’m looking forward to having open dialogues with other attendees on our sustainability reporting journeys and exchanging ideas and best practices as we navigate the rapidly changing sustainability reporting space together.
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Join Scott and other EHS and Sustainability leaders from around the country at FORUM24 to share real-world experiences, proven strategies, and key lessons learned to advance the success of your organization. >> View full program
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About the Author
Scott Song
CBRE Group Inc.
Scott Song is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) executive with both financial and non-financial reporting experience. In his role as the ESG Controller at CBRE Group Inc., Scott leads the design, development and implementation of CBRE’s ESG reporting framework and ESG controls and processes. He provides oversight over CBRE’s ESG reporting and disclosures. Prior to joining CBRE, Scott spent 12 years at Ernst & Young LLP in various global roles in sustainability and climate change consulting and financial services assurance and advisory practice in the U.S., Netherlands and Germany. In his ESG consulting role, Scott helped organizations successfully develop and transform their ESG strategies, stakeholder engagement, as well as their internal and external disclosures to further align with companies’ visions, strategies, stakeholders expectations and regulatory requirements. In 2022, Scott was invited by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) to serve as an advising member on UN PRB assurance guidance.
Through his tenure in the financial reporting space, Scott had specific expertise in assurance, advisory and risk management services to financial services organizations, with a focus on banks, REITs, investment banks, alternative asset managers and broker dealers. He had extensive experience in financial statement audits based on U.S. GAAP and IFRS, internal control reporting, SSAE18 SOC1 assessment, ISAE 3402 reporting, U.S. SEC independence risk management, and U.S. PCAOB regulatory and European AIFM compliance.
Scott received Master of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from The College of William and Mary and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Sport Management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Scott holds an active CPA license in Virginia and a CFA ESG Investing Certificate. Additionally, Scott received a Certificate in Sustainability Strategies from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In his spare time, Scott also serves as a board member at Joseph’s House, a non-profit organization offering end-of-life care for individuals with terminal illness experiencing homelessness in Washington D.C.
Through his tenure in the financial reporting space, Scott had specific expertise in assurance, advisory and risk management services to financial services organizations, with a focus on banks, REITs, investment banks, alternative asset managers and broker dealers. He had extensive experience in financial statement audits based on U.S. GAAP and IFRS, internal control reporting, SSAE18 SOC1 assessment, ISAE 3402 reporting, U.S. SEC independence risk management, and U.S. PCAOB regulatory and European AIFM compliance.
Scott received Master of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from The College of William and Mary and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Sport Management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Scott holds an active CPA license in Virginia and a CFA ESG Investing Certificate. Additionally, Scott received a Certificate in Sustainability Strategies from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In his spare time, Scott also serves as a board member at Joseph’s House, a non-profit organization offering end-of-life care for individuals with terminal illness experiencing homelessness in Washington D.C.