Key UK SRS dates and milestones
The proposed-mandatory dates depend on the FCA Policy Statement
The dates shown above for the Effect track are proposed, not yet legally binding. They depend on the FCA's autumn 2026 Policy Statement on CP26/51.
UK SRS itself contains no effective date clauses.
Those come from the FCA for SRS compliance companies1, or from future Government consultation for private companies3.
For the complete regulatory framework underlying these timelines, see our UK SRS regulations guide.
The standards published 25 February 20262 are available for voluntary adoption immediately.
For the complete publication timeline and context, see UK SRS 2026 publication details.
Complete UK SRS implementation timeline
Comprehensive timeline from publication through voluntary adoption to full mandatory compliance
From consultation to compliance
The path from DBT standards to mandatory reporting. Each milestone links to its primary source.
What happens when CP26/5 is finalised
The FCA's CP26/5 consultation1 closed on 20 March 2026.
The Policy Statement, expected autumn 2026, will confirm or modify the proposed rules before they come into force on 1 January 20271.
The 1 January 2027 effective date applies to accounting periods beginning on or after that date — not to reports published after that date1.
This means that a company with a December year-end first reports for the period 1 January 2027 to 31 December 20272, with that report published in spring 2028.
When the first mandatory reports appear
| Financial year-end | First proposed-mandatory period | First report published (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 December | 1 Jan 2027 to 31 Dec 2027 | Spring 2028 (March–April) |
| 31 March | 1 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2028 | Summer 2028 (June–August) |
| 30 June | 1 Jul 2027 to 30 Jun 2028 | Autumn 2028 |
| 30 September | 1 Oct 2027 to 30 Sep 2028 | Winter 2028–29 |
For a typical FTSE 350 company with December year-end, this gives an 18-month window from publication (February 2026)2 to first report.
The FCA's CP26/5 cost-benefit analysis estimated approximately 500 listed companies would be in scope1 — see who must comply with UK SRS for the entity-level test, and the UK SRS deadline page for dates by entity type.
Most of that window goes to data systems, materiality assessment2, scenario analysis, and assurance preparation under ISSA (UK) 50004.
The Scope 3 transitional treatment
FCA CP26/51 proposes who must comply can omit Scope 3 emissions in their first year of mandatory reporting under the S2 climate standard (paragraphs 3.9 and 8.6 of CP26/51).
From accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2028, Scope 3 reporting moves to comply-or-explain across all 15 GHG Protocol7 categories where material. The GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard7 defines the 15 categories that must be assessed.
This recognises the data challenges in value chain emissions reporting while maintaining disclosure expectations1.
The UK SRS S2 standard2 mirrors this phasing from its parent IFRS S26.
S1 and S2 Integration Timeline
S1 Foundation Elements (2027)
Materiality definitions, value chain scope, and financial connectivity apply immediately with S2 because S2 cannot operate without them
S2 Climate Focus (2027)
Complete four-pillar climate reporting including governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics & targets
Scope 3 Enhancement (2028)
Value chain emissions across 15 GHG Protocol categories move from relief to comply-or-explain
S1 Broader Sustainability (2029)
General sustainability disclosures beyond climate move to comply-or-explain for listed companies
UK SRS S1 timeline
The conceptual foundation elements of S1 standard2 — definitions of materiality, scope of value chain, financial-statement connectivity — apply from January 2027 alongside UK SRS S2 because S2 requirements cannot be applied without them.
UK SRS S1 was published on 25 February 2026 alongside S22.
The broader general sustainability disclosures move to comply-or-explain from January 2029 under FCA CP26/51 (paragraph 3.11).
The Government response to consultation confirmed this phased approach3.
This creates a logical implementation timeline sequence: climate first (SRS S2), then broader sustainability (SRS S1)2, with foundational concepts applying throughout.
The UK SRS standards are grounded in the Companies Act 20065 framework for strategic report disclosures.
What each phase actually asks companies to disclose is summarised in UK SRS requirements; every page in this cluster is indexed from the UK SRS hub.
Timeline Implementation Checklist
Voluntary adoption phase (Now - 2027)
Begin voluntary UK SRS S1/S2 application to test systems and build capability before mandatory requirements
Policy Statement monitoring (Autumn 2026)
Track FCA Policy Statement for final mandatory dates, scope, and any modifications to CP26/5 proposals
S2 mandatory preparation (2027)
Complete climate reporting implementation including governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics
Scope 3 readiness (2028)
Prepare for comply-or-explain Scope 3 disclosure across material GHG Protocol categories
S1 broader sustainability (2029)
Implement general sustainability disclosures beyond climate on comply-or-explain basis
Assurance engagement
Plan ISSA (UK) 5000 assurance provider engagement and trial assurance processes
Frequently asked questions
When does UK SRS become mandatory?
UK SRS S2 is proposed mandatory for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, under FCA CP26/51 paragraph 3.7.
The FCA's final Policy Statement is expected autumn 20261 (paragraph 1.11).
UK SRS itself contains no effective date clauses — the standards were published by DBT on 25 February 20262.
Is UK SRS available now?
Yes, for voluntary use.
The standards were published by DBT on 25 February 20262 and are available immediately for voluntary adoption.
Proposed mandatory application for listed companies is subject to the FCA's CP26/5 proposals1.
The Government response to the consultation confirmed the standards are suitable for voluntary adoption from the date of publication3.
What is the Scope 3 carve-out?
FCA CP26/51 (paragraphs 3.9 and 8.6) proposes that companies can omit Scope 3 emissions in the first year of proposed mandatory reporting.
From accounting periods beginning 1 January 2028, Scope 3 moves to comply-or-explain across all 15 GHG Protocol7 categories where material. The GHG Protocol defines the 15 Scope 3 categories7 that must be assessed under this requirement.
When are the first proposed mandatory reports published?
For companies with December year-ends — typical for FTSE 350 — the first proposed mandatory accounting period begins 1 January 2027 and the first report typically publishes in spring 20281.
Year-ends in March, June, or September produce later first reports through 2028 and into 2029.
The FCA's CP26/5 Annex 2 cost-benefit analysis1 estimated approximately 500 companies would be in scope.
When does UK SRS S1 become mandatory?
Under CP26/51 (paragraph 3.11), UK SRS S12 (broader sustainability) moves to comply-or-explain for accounting periods beginning 1 January 2029.
The conceptual foundation elements of S1 — materiality definitions, value-chain scope, financial-statement connectivity — apply from January 2027 alongside S22.
How does ISSA (UK) 5000 fit the timeline?
The FRC published ISSA (UK) 5000, the UK sustainability assurance standard, on 12 November 20254.
It becomes effective on 15 December 20264, giving assurance providers time to align with the new framework before UK SRS S2 proposed mandatory disclosures begin.
