Climate disclosure software · four rules, four outputs
Climate disclosure software
Climate disclosure software produces a climate-related disclosure in the shape a specific rule requires.
In the UK there are four such rules, each with a different status, so this page reads the software job against each one in turn.
It ranks nothing and has tested no product.
Status, stated exactly
Four UK climate rules, and the status of each
Law, comply or explain, law for trustees, and voluntary.
Module 01 / 04
Companies Act CFD: law
Sections 414CA–414CB, in the strategic report.
Module 02 / 04
UK SRS S2: comply or explain
For listed companies under PS26/19 from 2027.
Module 03 / 04
Pension trustees: law
SI 2021/839 for large schemes.
Module 04 / 04
IFRS S2: voluntary in the UK
Unless another jurisdiction requires it.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
The Companies Act climate-related financial disclosures are in sections 414CA and 414CB, as inserted by SI 2022/31 (Companies Act s.414CB).
Listed companies in UKLR 6, 14, 15, 16 and 22 report against UK SRS on a comply-or-explain basis for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027 (FCA PS26/19).
Trustees of in-scope occupational pension schemes must publish a TCFD-aligned climate report within seven months of each scheme year-end (SI 2021/839).
Companies Act
What the Companies Act climate disclosures ask software to hold
Eight disclosures, mostly judgement, in the strategic report.
Module 01 / 04
Who
Traded, banking, insurance and AIM companies with 500+ employees, and high-turnover companies.
Module 02 / 04
What
Eight disclosures in s.414CB(2A)(a)–(h).
Module 03 / 04
Omission
Allowed for (e)–(h) only, with a reasoned explanation.
Module 04 / 04
Where
The strategic report.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
Section 414CA sets the scope, including high-turnover companies with turnover over £500m and more than 500 employees (Companies Act s.414CA).
Omission is permitted only for disclosures (e) to (h), and only with a reasoned explanation, so software has to hold the reasoning as well as the numbers.
UK SRS S2
What UK SRS S2 asks climate reporting software to produce
Gross emissions, location-based Scope 2, transition plan information and resilience.
Module 01 / 04
¶29(a)
Gross Scope 1, 2 and 3 under the 2004 Corporate Standard.
Module 02 / 04
Scope 2
Location-based required; no dual reporting requirement.
Module 03 / 04
¶14(a)(iv)
Information about any transition plan, with assumptions and dependencies.
Module 04 / 04
¶22
Climate resilience of the strategy.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
UK SRS S2 asks for absolute gross emissions measured under the 2004 GHG Protocol Corporate Standard (UK SRS S2 ¶29(a)).
It requires location-based Scope 2 and information on contractual instruments, while the GHG Protocol requires both methods where instruments exist (GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance).
Carbon credits are never deducted from the reported gross figure.
PS26/19
Comply or explain, in a tool
Each requirement needs one of three states, not a tick box.
Module 01 / 04
Disclosed
The requirement is met in full.
Module 02 / 04
Explained
What is missing, why, and what is being done.
Module 03 / 04
Relief
One year without Scope 3; two years without non-climate S1.
Module 04 / 04
Statements
Location, assurance and, for some categories, transition plans.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
The made rules ask a listed company to disclose, or say what is missing, why, and what it is doing about it (PS26/19 Appendix 1).
The listing rules for UKLR 6, 16 and 22 also carry a transition-plan statement; UKLR 14 stops at assurance.
Pension trustees
Climate reporting software for pension trustees
Mostly third-party data, four metrics and a publication deadline.
Module 01 / 04
Scope
£5bn+ from October 2021, £1bn+ from October 2022, master trusts and CDC schemes.
Module 02 / 04
Metrics
At least four, including absolute emissions and portfolio alignment.
Module 03 / 04
Scenarios
First year, then at least every three scheme years.
Module 04 / 04
Deadline
Seven months after each scheme year-end.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
DWP’s statutory guidance asks for at least four metrics and scenario analysis at least every three scheme years (DWP).
TCFD
What a "TCFD software" label means now
The TCFD disbanded in 2023; test the tool against the rule you report under.
Module 01 / 04
Disbanded
12 October 2023.
Module 02 / 04
Successor
IFRS S2 and UK SRS S2.
Module 03 / 04
UK rules
CFD and pension rules were written in TCFD-aligned terms.
Module 04 / 04
Test
Against the rule, not the label.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
The FSB said the TCFD’s October 2023 status report was its final task and the Task Force would be disbanded (FSB).
Approvals
Does anyone approve climate disclosure software?
No regulator approves software; owner lists cover one programme each.
Module 01 / 04
Regulators
The FCA, DBT and the Pensions Regulator set disclosures, not tools.
Module 02 / 04
GHG Protocol
Built on GHG Protocol review closed until further notice.
Module 03 / 04
CDP
Accredited solutions providers for CDP only.
Module 04 / 04
Tagging
IFRS taxonomy files exist; tagging depends on the jurisdiction.
Read the detailed guidance and evidence
The IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Taxonomy provides tags for IFRS S1 and S2 but creates no tagging duty itself (IFRS Foundation).
Frequently asked
Questions people ask
What is climate disclosure software?
Software that collects the data behind a climate-related disclosure, calculates the metrics, holds the judgements on risks, scenarios and transition plans, and produces the report in the shape a rule requires.
Which climate disclosure rules apply in the UK?
The Companies Act climate-related financial disclosures, UK SRS S2 on a comply-or-explain basis for listed companies from 2027, and pension trustee climate reporting under SI 2021/839.
IFRS S2 is voluntary in the UK.
Is UK SRS S2 mandatory?
No. Under FCA PS26/19 it applies to listed companies in five listing categories on a comply-or-explain basis.
Is there approved climate reporting software?
No UK regulator approves software, and the GHG Protocol’s Built on GHG Protocol review service is closed until further notice.
What is the best climate disclosure software?
There is no neutral ranking.
The best tool is the one that produces the outputs of the rule you report under, from your own data, with the evidence trail.
Prepare the evidence
Climate disclosure software: from a requirement to a reporting pack
Use this preparation sequence alongside the detailed requirements on this page.
An editorial workflow, not a statutory schedule.
- Stage 0101
Reporting specification
Write the reporting boundaries and required outputs before evaluating a platform.
- Stage 0202
Evidence sample
Ask the vendor to demonstrate a representative import and calculation.
- Stage 0303
Method control
Inspect factor versions, estimates, permissions and change history.
- Stage 0404
Reporting export
Test the export against the required disclosures and existing reporting systems.
- Stage 0505
Review trail
Check whether a reviewer can follow a result back to its source record.
- Stage 0606
Commercial record
Record only the features, scope and prices the vendor actually commits to.
Read the applicable instrument: Companies Act 2006, section 414CA
A practical brief
An evidence pack, with a clear review trail
Ask for a pack that lets the next reviewer retrace the scope decision, follow the evidence and understand the limitations.
This describes a useful handover; it does not certify compliance or establish that a vendor or adviser delivers it.
Module 01 / 04
Applicability record
Write down the entity, reporting route and relevant period, including why the route applies.
Module 02 / 04
Evidence register
Attach each reported figure or statement to its source, method, version and limitations.
Module 03 / 04
Review trail
Name the preparer, reviewer, open questions and decisions taken before publication.
Module 04 / 04
Usable handover
Retain the working files and unresolved actions so the next reporting cycle can reuse the evidence.
View the preparation diagram
- Prepare01
Create the traceable pack
Keep the input records, calculation files and narrative together.
- Challenge02
Resolve questions before publication
Record the assumptions challenged and any limitations still unresolved.
- Retain03
Make the next cycle reproducible
Keep the approved version and the actions carried forward.
Continue your research
Related guides, one question at a time
Sources
Primary sources
Every figure, date and status on this page traces to the instrument’s owner.
Secondary commentary is never the source for a number.
- LegislationCompanies Act 2006, section 414CA
- LegislationCompanies Act 2006, section 414CB
- LegislationSI 2022/31
- FCAPS26/19
- FCAPS26/19 (PDF)
- DBTUK SRS S2
- DBTUK SRS S1
- LegislationSI 2021/839
- DWPStatutory guidance for trustees
- FSBTCFD final status report, October 2023
- GHG ProtocolCorporate Standard
- GHG ProtocolScope 2 Guidance
- GHG ProtocolGuidance Built on GHG Protocol
- CDPFind accredited solutions providers
- IFRS FoundationIFRS Sustainability Disclosure Taxonomy