Section 296A — Corporations Act 2001: Contents of annual sustainability report

Basic contents (1) The sustainability report for a financial year consists of: (a) the climate statements for the year; and (b) any notes to the climate statements; and (c) any statements required under subsection (5); and (d) any notes to the statements mentioned in paragraph (1)(c) required under subsection (5); and (e) the directors’ declaration about the statements and the notes. Climate statements (2) Subject to section 296B, the climate statements for the year are the climate statements in relation to the entity required by sustainability standards made for the purposes of this subsection. Notes to climate statements (3) A sustainability report must include the following notes to the climate statements: (a) any disclosures required under subsection (4); (b) any notes, required by sustainability standards made for the purposes of this paragraph, in relation to: (i) the preparation of the climate statements; or (ii) anything included in the climate statements; or (iii) other matters concerning environmental sustainability; (c) notes containing any other information necessary to ensure that the climate statements and notes together make the disclosures required by section 296D. (4) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, require a sustainability report to include specified disclosures in relation to: (a) the preparation of the climate statements; or (b) anything included in the climate statements. Other statements and notes (5) For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(c) and (d), the Minister may, by legislative instrument, require a sustainability report to include: (a) statements relating to financial matters concerning environmental sustainability; and (b) notes to the statements. Directors’ declaration (6) The directors’ declaration is a declaration by the directors as to whether, in the directors’ opinion, the substantive provisions of the sustainability report are in accordance with this Act, including: (a) section 296C (compliance with sustainability standards etc.); and (b) section 296D (climate statement disclosures). (7) The declaration must: (a) be made in accordance with a resolution of the directors; and (b) specify the date on which the declaration is made; and (c) be signed by a director. Note: Section 1228 deals with directors’ resolutions for CCIVs.