Climate transition guidance needs investor-friendly resources, says CA ANZ

Following the government’s release of voluntary guidance on climate‑related transition planning for companies on 24 August 2026, CA ANZ and signatories in a joint statement welcomed the government taking this step in line with the Sustainable Finance Roadmap, encouraging companies to disclose transition plans to maintain transparency.

“We welcome the Australian Government taking this step in line with the Sustainable Finance Roadmap. This guidance will help strengthen organisations’ preparedness and support Australia’s emissions reduction targets and broader transition to a net zero economy,” the statement read.

While it commended the guidance as a valuable foundation, CA ANZ and the signatories stressed that further targeted resources are crucial to guide investors in their own transition planning.

“Maintaining momentum is critical to turn guidance into tangible economic outcomes, and we are ready to assist the Australian Government and organisations to take further action,” it read.

The statement also encouraged the government to ensure that the policies it develops further enable corporate action on climate transition.

Further government support will unlock investments in the technologies that are required to realise transition plans of organisations, it said, and the deployment of private capital that makes this happen.

With Australia among the few jurisdictions that have issued local guidance on climate-related transition planning, CA ANZ and the signatories commended the collaborative approach to developing its guidance, which the bodies said aims to ensure interoperability with global frameworks and tailor it to the Australian context.

In the statement, CA ANZ and the signatories stressed the importance of transition planning in giving organisations an opportunity to prepare for, invest in and compete in a net zero economy to support Australia’s long-term economic resilience. It said the guidance can facilitate good practice in transition planning and help entities report under AASB S2 and prepare their climate-related mandatory disclosures.

“Climate-related transition planning is the ongoing, internal strategic process through which organisations identify, assess and respond to climate-related risks and opportunities, and deliver on any climate ambitions they have. Planning supports organisations to identify actions, effectively direct capital and contribute to building a strong, net zero, climate-resilient economy,” the statement read.

“We note that as Australia moves through the transition, more clarity on the expectations of regulators, investors and other stakeholders may be required. We also note growing market demand for complementary sector-specific guidance.”

CA ANZ and the signatories urged entities to use the guidance, which increases transparency to further strengthen policy reform.

“We strongly encourage the uptake of transition planning and [take] full advantage of this guidance in that process. This can support business resilience and competitiveness in a transitioning economy.”

“We also encourage the disclosure of transition plans to increase transparency, assist capital deployment from investors and signal where policy reform could support progress.”