ESRS E3
WATER AND MARINE RESOURCES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Objective
Interaction with other ESRS
Disclosure requirements
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– |
ESRS 2 General disclosures |
Impact, risk and opportunity management
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— |
Disclosure Requirement related to ESRS 2 IRO-1 – Description of the processes to identify and assess material water and marine resources-related impacts, risks and opportunities |
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-1 – Policies related to water and marine resources |
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-2 – Actions and resources related to water and marine resources |
Metrics and targets
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-3 – Targets related to water and marine resources |
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-4 – Water consumption |
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-5 – Anticipated financial effects from water and marine resources-related impacts, risks and opportunities |
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Appendix A: |
Application Requirements |
|
– |
ESRS 2 General disclosures |
Impact, risk and opportunity management
|
— |
Disclosure Requirement related to ESRS 2 IRO-1 – Description of the processes to identify and assess material water and marine resources-related impacts, risks and opportunities |
|
— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-1 – Policies related to water and marine resources |
|
— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-2 – Actions and resources related to water and marine resources policies |
Metrics and targets
|
— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-3 – Targets related to water and marine resources |
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-4 – Water consumption |
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— |
Disclosure Requirement E3-5 – Anticipated financial effects from water and marine resources-related risks and opportunities |
Objective
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1. |
The objective of this Standard is to specify Disclosure Requirements which will enable users of the
sustainability statement
to understand:
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|
2. |
This Standard sets out Disclosure Requirements related to water and marine resources . With regard to “water”, this standard covers surface water and groundwater . It includes disclosure requirements on water consumption in the undertaking’s activities, products and services, as well as related information on water withdrawals and water discharges . |
|
3. |
With regard to “ marine resources ”, this standard covers the extraction and use of such resources, and associated economic activities. |
Interaction with other ESRS
|
4. |
The topic of water and
marine resources
is closely connected to other environmental sub- topics such as climate change,
pollution
,
biodiversity
and circular economy. Thus, to provide a comprehensive overview of what could be material to water and marine resources, relevant Disclosure Requirements are covered in other environmental ESRS as follows:
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5. |
The undertaking’s impacts on water and marine resources affect people and communities. Material negative impacts on affected communities from water and marine resources -related impacts attributable to the undertaking are covered in ESRS S3 Affected communities. |
|
6. |
This Standard should be read in conjunction with ESRS 1 General requirements and ESRS 2 General disclosures. |
Disclosure requirements
ESRS 2 General disclosures
|
7. |
The requirements of this section should be read in conjunction with and reported alongside the disclosures required by ESRS 2 chapter 4 Impact, risk and opportunity management. |
Impact, risk and opportunity management
Disclosure Requirement related to ESRS 2 IRO-1 – Description of the processes to identify and assess material water and marine resources-related impacts, risks and opportunities
|
8. |
The undertaking shall describe the process to identify material impacts, risks and opportunities and shall provide information on:
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Disclosure Requirement E3-1 – Policies related to water and marine resources
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9. |
The undertaking shall describe its policies adopted to manage its material impacts, risks and opportunities related to water and marine resources (72). |
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10. |
The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to enable an understanding of the extent to which the undertaking has policies that address the identification, assessment, management and/or remediation of its material water and marine resources -related impacts, risks and opportunities . |
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11. |
The disclosure required by paragraph 9 shall contain the information on the policies the undertaking has in place to manage its material impacts, risks and opportunities related to water and marine resources in accordance with ESRS 2 MDR-P Policies adopted to manage material sustainability matters. |
|
12. |
The undertaking shall indicate whether and how its
policies
address the following matters where material:
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Disclosure Requirement E3-2 – Actions and resources related to water and marine resources
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15. |
The undertaking shall disclose its water and marine resources-related actions and the resources allocated to their implementation. |
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16. |
The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to enable an understanding of the key actions taken and planned to achieve the water and marine resources -related policy objectives and targets . |
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17. |
The description of the actions and resources shall follow the principles defined in ESRS 2 MDR-A Actions and resources in relation to material sustainability matters. In addition to ESRS 2 MDR-A, the undertaking may specify to which layer in the mitigation hierarchy an action and |
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18. |
Resources can be allocated to:
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|
19. |
The undertaking shall specify actions and resources in relation to areas at water risk , including areas of high-water stress . |
Metrics and targets
Disclosure Requirement E3-3 – Targets related to water and marine resources
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20. |
The undertaking shall disclose the water and marine resources-related targets it has set. |
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21. |
The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to enable an understanding of the targets the undertaking has adopted to support its water and marine resources-related policies and address its material water and marine resources-related impacts, risks and opportunities. |
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22. |
The description of the targets shall contain the information requirements defined in ESRS 2 MDR-T Tracking effectiveness of policies and actions through targets. |
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23. |
The disclosure required by paragraph 20 shall indicate whether and how its
targets
relate to:
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24. |
In addition to ESRS 2 MDR-T, the undertaking may specify whether
ecological thresholds
and entity-specific allocations were taken into consideration when setting
targets
. If so, the undertaking may specify:
|
|
25. |
The undertaking shall specify as part of the contextual information, whether the targets it has set and presented are mandatory (required by legislation) or voluntary. |
Disclosure Requirement E3-4 – Water consumption
|
26. |
The undertaking shall disclose information on its water consumption performance related to its material impacts, risks and opportunities. |
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27. |
The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to provide an understanding of the undertaking’s water consumption and any progress by the undertaking in relation to its targets. |
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28. |
The disclosure required by paragraph 26 relates to own operations and shall include:
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29. |
The undertaking shall provide information on its water intensity : total water consumption in its own operations in m3 per million EUR net revenue (76). |
Disclosure Requirement E3-5 – Anticipated financial effects from material water and marine resources-related risks and opportunities
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30. |
The undertaking shall disclose the anticipated financial effects of material water and marine resources-related risks and opportunities. |
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31. |
The information required by paragraph 30 is in addition to the information on current financial effects on the entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows for the reporting period required under ESRS 2 SBM-3 para 48 (d). |
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32. |
The objective of this Disclosure Requirement is to provide an understanding of:
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33. |
The disclosure shall include:
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Appendix A
Application Requirements
This appendix is an integral part of the ESRS E3. It supports the application of the disclosure requirements set out in this standard and has the same authority as the other parts of the Standard.
ESRS 2 GENERAL DISCLOSURES
Impact, risk and opportunity management
Disclosure Requirement related to ESRS 2 IRO-1 – Description of the processes to identify and assess material water and marine resources-related impacts, risks and opportunities
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AR 1. |
When conducting a
materiality
assessment on environmental subtopics, the undertaking shall assess the materiality of water and marine resources in its own operations and its upstream and downstream value chain, and may consider the four phases below, also known as the LEAP approach:
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AR 2. |
The materiality assessment for ESRS E3 corresponds to the first three phases of this LEAP approach, the fourth phase addresses the outcome of the process. |
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AR 3. |
The processes to assess the materiality of impacts, risks and opportunities shall consider the provisions in ESRS 2 IRO-1 Description of the processes to identify and assess material impacts, risks and opportunities, and IRO-2 Disclosure Requirements in ESRS covered by the undertaking’s sustainability statement. |
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AR 4. |
The sub-topics related to water and marine resources covered by the
materiality
assessment include:
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AR 5. |
In phase 1, to locate where there are areas at water risk, and areas where there is an interface with
marine resources
that could lead to material impacts and
dependencies
in its own operations and along its upstream and downstream value chain, the undertaking may consider:
|
|
AR 6. |
The undertaking shall consider river basins as the relevant level for assessment of locations and combine that approach with an operational risk assessment of its facilities and the facilities of suppliers with material impacts and risks. |
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AR 7. |
The undertaking shall consider the criteria for defining the status of water bodies according to the relevant Annexes of Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive) as well as the guidance documents provided for implementation of the Water Framework Directive. The list of guidance documents can be accessed under the European Commission’s Environment home page. |
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AR 8. |
In phase 2, to evaluate its impacts and
dependencies
for each priority location identified under AR 5, the undertaking may:
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AR 9. |
For the identification of water and marine resources -related dependencies , the undertaking may rely on international classifications such as the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES). |
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AR 10. |
When identifying its marine resources -related dependencies , the undertaking shall consider if it depends upon key marine resources-related commodities, including but not limited to gravels and seafood products. |
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AR 11. |
Marine resources are defined according to their use by human societies and must be considered in relation to the pressure they are subject to. Some of the pressure indicators are presented in other ESRS, namely microplastics and emissions to water in ESRS E2 and plastic waste in ESRS E5. |
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AR 12. |
Examples of
marine resources
dependencies
which may be considered by the undertaking are:
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AR 13. |
In Phase 3, to assess its material
risks
and
opportunities
based on the results of Phases 1 and 2, the undertaking may :
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AR 14. |
The undertaking may rely on primary, secondary or modelled data collection or other relevant approaches to assess material impacts, dependencies , risks and opportunities, including Commission Recommendation 2021/2279 on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations (Annex I – Product Environmental Footprint; Annex III – Organisation Environmental Footprint). |
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AR 15. |
When providing information on the outcome of the
materiality
assessment, the undertaking shall consider:
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Disclosure Requirement E3-1 – Policies related to water and marine resources
|
AR 16. |
The policies described under this Disclosure Requirement may be integrated in broader environmental or sustainability policies covering different subtopics. |
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AR 17. |
When disclosing information under paragraph 9, the undertaking may disclose whether its
policies
:
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AR 18. |
The undertaking may also disclose information about
policies
which:
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Disclosure Requirement E3-2 – Actions and resources related to water and marine resources policies
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AR 19. |
When disclosing information required under paragraph 15, the undertaking shall consider the actions , or action plans, contributing to address the material impacts, risks and opportunities identified. Useful guidance is provided by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). |
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AR 20. |
Considering that water and marine resources are shared resources which may require collective actions , or action plans, involving other stakeholders , the undertaking may provide information on those specific collective actions, including information on other parties (competitors, suppliers , retailers, customers, other business partners, local communities and authorities, government agencies…) and specific information on the project, its specific contribution, its sponsors and other participants. |
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AR 21. |
When providing information on capital expenditures, the undertaking may consider expenditures related, for example, to stormwater drain rehabilitation, pipelines, or machinery used to manufacture new low water-use products. |
Metrics and targets
Disclosure Requirement E3-3 – Targets related to water and marine resources
|
AR 22. |
If the undertaking refers to ecological thresholds when setting targets , it may refer to the guidance provided by the Science-Based Targets Initiative for Nature (SBTN) in its interim guidance (Initial Guidance for Business, September 2020). It may also refer to any other guidance with a scientifically acknowledged methodology that enables the setting of science-based targets by identifying ecological thresholds and, if applicable, organisation-specific allocations. Ecological thresholds can be local, national and/or global. |
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AR 23. |
The undertaking may provide
targets
relating to:
|
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AR 24. |
If the undertaking provides targets on withdrawals, it may include water withdrawal from polluted soils and aquifers, and water withdrawn and treated for remediation purposes. |
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AR 25. |
If the undertaking provides targets on discharges , it may include water discharges to groundwater such as reinjection to aquifers, or water returning to a groundwater source via a soakaway or a swale. |
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AR 26. |
The targets may cover its own operations and/or its upstream and downstream value chain. |
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AR 27. |
The undertaking may specify whether the target addresses shortcomings related to the Substantial Contribution criteria for Water and Marine Resources as defined in the Commission delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852. Where the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) criteria for Water and Marine Resources as defined in delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 10(3), Article 11(3), Article 13(2), Article 14(2), and Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 are not met, the undertaking may specify whether the target addresses shortcomings related those DNSH criteria. |
Disclosure Requirement E3-4 – Water consumption
|
AR 28. |
The undertaking may operate in various areas at water risk . When disclosing information under paragraph 28 (b), the undertaking shall include such information only for those areas that have been identified as material in accordance with ESRS2 IRO-1 and ESRS2 SBM-3. |
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AR 29. |
When disclosing contextual information on water consumption performance required by paragraph 26, the undertaking shall explain the calculation methodologies and more specifically the share of the measure obtained from direct measurement, from sampling and extrapolation, or from best estimates. |
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AR 30. |
The undertaking may provide information on other breakdowns (i.e., per sector or segments). |
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AR 31. |
When disclosing information required by paragraph 29 the undertaking may provide additional intensity ratios based on other denominators. |
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AR 32. |
The undertaking may also provide information on its water withdrawals and water discharges . |
Disclosure Requirement E3-5 – Anticipated financial effects from material water and marine resources-related risks and opportunities
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AR 33. |
The undertaking may include an assessment of its related products and services at risk over the short-, medium- and long-term, explaining how these are defined, how financial amounts are estimated, and which critical assumptions are made. |
|
AR 34. |
The quantification of the anticipated financial effects in monetary terms under paragraph 39(a) may be a single amount or a range. |
( 61 ) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive) (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1).
( 62 ) Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19).
( 63 ) Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 135).
( 64 ) Source: IFC Performance Standard 6, 2012.
( 65 ) This information supports the information needs of financial market participants subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 because it is derived from an additional indicator related to principal adverse impacts as set out by indicator #7 in Table II of Annex I of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288 with regard to disclosure rules on sustainable investments (‘Investments in companies without water management policies’).
( 66 ) This information supports the information needs of financial market participants subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 because it is derived from an additional indicator related to principal adverse impacts as set out by indicator #8 in Table II of Annex I of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288 with regard to disclosure rules on sustainable investments (‘Exposure to areas of high water stress’).
( 67 ) This information supports the information needs of financial market participants subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 because it is derived from an additional indicator related to principal adverse impacts as set out by indicator #12 in Table II of Annex I of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288 with regard to disclosure rules on sustainable investments ( ‘Investments in companies without sustainable oceans/seas practices’).
( 68 ) This information supports the information needs of financial market participants subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 because it is derived from an additional indicator related to principal adverse impacts as set out by indicator #6.2 in Table II of Annex I of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288 regarding disclosure rules on sustainable investments (‘Water usage and recycling’, 2. Weighted average percentage of water recycled and reused by investee companies).
( 69 ) This information supports the information needs of financial market participants subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 because it is derived from an additional indicator related to principal adverse impacts as set out by indicator #6.1 in Table II of Annex I of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288 with regard to disclosure rules on sustainable investments (‘Water usage and recycling’, 1. Average amount of water consumed by the investee companies (in cubic meters) per million EUR of revenue of investee companies).