Workiva Global Post-election Findings Indicate Executives Will Push Forward on Sustainability Despite Regulatory Outcomes

Eight in 10 executives will proceed with climate disclosures regardless of the 2024 elections results or political developments within their country, according to a survey

 

NEW YORK– December 19, 2024— Business leaders remain committed to transparency in reporting and addressing inflation, regulatory changes, and sustainability-related disclosures, according to a new Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) survey of 1,600 global leaders.  

Key findings

Irrespective of the results of the 2024 elections or political developments within their country, 85% of executives will move forward with climate disclosures as mandated by regulations. This is driven by the financial value of assured integrated reporting:  97% of all executives agree that integrated financial and ESG data helps them identify performance gaps that enhance financial growth opportunities.

  • No plans to alter emission disclosure strategies: Climate reporting remains a priority, with 85% of executives who were intending to disclose greenhouse gas emissions moving forward with disclosures irrespective of any political developments within their country. Additionally, 83% will disclose climate-related risks and 82% will disclose material impacts of climate-related risks.
  • Regardless of location, executives around the world anticipate regulation will expand: More than half of U.S. executives foresee new or expanded regulations in the next year. In the United Kingdom alone, 60% of respondents expect new or expanded regulations. This expectation is even higher in Brazil, with 78% respondents agreeing to this sentiment, and 80% of respondents agreeing in Singapore. 
  • In addition to local changes to ESG disclosure requirements, the CSRD continues to be embraced globally by business leaders and investors alike. Of those surveyed who did not need to comply with the mandate, 75% still intend to align their reporting with the mandate to some degree. Ninety-six percent of institutional investors agree that regulated company disclosures regarding sustainability, like the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), enable investors to make more informed investment decisions—an increase from last year’s 92%. 

"After 70+ national elections worldwide, a powerful shift is underway. Leaders are no longer just reacting—they're proactively building resilience and adaptability into their strategies,” said Mandi McReynolds, Vice President of Global ESG and Chief Sustainability Officer for Workiva. “At the heart of this transformation, our 6,000+ global customers are crafting dynamic business data and reporting models that thrive amidst economic and geopolitical change. It's clear: the interplay of business performance, social impacts, and technology is not just shaping outcomes, it's driving real, sustainable value." 

The survey highlights the factors most likely to impact business reporting over the next two years. Inflation and interest rates top the list (38%), followed closely by legislation and policy changes (35%).

A deeper exploration of these insights will be featured in Workiva’s 2025 Executive Benchmark Survey, set for release in February 2025. 

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About Workiva

Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) is on a mission to power transparent reporting for a better world. We build and deliver the world’s leading cloud platform for assured integrated reporting to meet stakeholder demands for action, transparency, and disclosure of financial and non-financial data. Workiva offers the only unified SaaS platform that brings customers’ financial reporting, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), & Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data together in a controlled, secure, audit-ready platform. Our platform simplifies the most complex reporting and disclosure challenges by streamlining processes, connecting data and teams, and ensuring consistency. Learn more at workiva.com.

 

 

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