SSBJ Sustainability Disclosure Standards (Application, General, Climate)

Japan implements EPR through a stack of product-specific recycling laws, with manufacturers and importers funding take-back and recycling for packaging (JCPRA), large home appliances (AEHA), small electronics, end-of-life vehicles (JARC) and batteries (JBRC). MOE and METI jointly oversee the system, with consumers and retailers each carrying defined collection roles.

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

Containers and Packaging Recycling Act fully effective 2000 (PET 1997); Home Appliance Recycling Act effective 1 April 2001; ELV Recycling Act fully effective 1 January 2005; Small Home Appliance Recycling Act effective 1 April 2013; amended Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources in force 1 April 2026, with recycled-plastic plans applying from the first business year starting on or after 1 October 2026 (first plans due by end of September 2027)

Covered entities

Manufacturers, importers and users of containers and packaging (PET, glass, paper, plastic); manufacturers of four covered home appliances (TVs, fridges, washing machines, ACs); small appliance producers; vehicle manufacturers; battery producers. From April 2026, producers of plastic containers and packaging at 10,000 metric tons or more (excluding food packaging other than PET bottles, and medicines), automobiles at 10,000 units or more, and ACs, TVs, fridges and washing machines at 50,000 units or more must file recycled-plastic use plans and annual reports; manufacturers of mobile batteries, smartphones and heated tobacco devices carry take-back and recycling duties

Australia has adopted ISSB-aligned sustainability standards. AASB S2 (climate) is mandatory for entities within Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act and is phased in across three groups from 2025 to 2027. AASB S1 (general sustainability) is voluntary. ASIC administers the regime and has published guidance in RG 280.

Enforcement

AASB S1: voluntary. AASB S2: mandatory under Corporations Act 2001 for in-scope entities.

Effective date

Financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2025 (Group 1), 1 July 2026 (Group 2) and 1 July 2027 (Group 3). AASB S2025-1 amendments apply to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, with early application permitted.

Covered entities

Entities that must prepare annual financial reports under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act and meet a s292A threshold. Group 1: at least two of consolidated revenue of AUD 500m or more, consolidated gross assets of AUD 1bn or more, and 500 or more employees; or NGER registered corporations in groups that meet the s13(1)(a) NGER threshold. Group 2: at least two of revenue of AUD 200m or more, assets of AUD 500m or more, and 250 or more employees; all other NGER registered corporations; and registered schemes, RSEs and retail CCIVs with assets of AUD 5bn or more. Group 3: at least two of revenue of AUD 50m or more, assets of AUD 25m or more, and 100 or more employees.

UK SRS S1 and S2 are the UK government's endorsed versions of IFRS S1 and S2, published on 25 February 2026 for voluntary use. Voluntary users can apply the Scope 3 and non-climate reliefs with no time limit. The FCA has consulted on listing rules that would make UK SRS S2 climate reporting mandatory for listed companies, with Scope 3 emissions and UK SRS S1 non-climate reporting on a comply-or-explain basis.

Enforcement

Voluntary at publication. FCA proposes mandatory UK SRS S2 for listed issuers (Scope 3 and broader sustainability on comply-or-explain).

Effective date

Voluntary use: no effective date (entities apply the standards when they choose). FCA proposal, subject to the final policy statement: rules in force 1 January 2027 for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027; using the transitional reliefs, Scope 3 reporting from periods beginning on or after 1 January 2028 and UK SRS S1 non-climate reporting from periods beginning on or after 1 January 2029.

Covered entities

Any entity (voluntary). The FCA proposal covers issuers in the commercial companies (UKLR 6), non-equity and non-voting equity shares (UKLR 16), transition (UKLR 22), secondary listing (UKLR 14) and depositary receipts (UKLR 15) categories. No mandate yet for unlisted companies.

CSSB issued final CSDS 1 and CSDS 2 on 18 December 2024, aligned with IFRS S1 and S2 with extra transition reliefs. The standards are voluntary. The CSA paused its mandatory climate disclosure rulemaking on 23 April 2025. In April 2026 the CSSB proposed CSDS 2 amendments matching the ISSB's IFRS S2 amendments: limiting Scope 3 Category 15 to financed emissions, allowing an industry classification other than GICS, and allowing other GHG measurement methods or GWP values where a jurisdictional authority or exchange requires them.

Enforcement

Voluntary

Effective date

Standards effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025, for entities that choose to apply them (with transition reliefs). Voluntary; no mandatory reporting date exists.

Covered entities

Any Canadian entity (voluntary). CSA paused work on mandatory rule citing global developments.

HKICPA published HKFRS S1 and HKFRS S2 on 12 December 2024, fully aligned with IFRS S1 and S2. The Hong Kong SAR Government's December 2024 Roadmap sets out the phased path to mandatory adoption for publicly accountable entities.

Enforcement

Voluntary at HKICPA level. The Hong Kong SAR Government's roadmap (10 December 2024) sets out phased mandatory adoption for publicly accountable entities.

Effective date

Annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 August 2025

Covered entities

Any Hong Kong entity (voluntary). Mandatory phased rollout per government roadmap.

In December 2023, Bangladesh Bank issued a circular mandating IFRS S1 and S2 disclosures by all banks and financial institutions it regulates, with limited assurance required from the second year of reporting.

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

Annual reports for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2024

Covered entities

Listed and non-listed banks and finance companies regulated by Bangladesh Bank, including foreign banks and finance companies operating in Bangladesh