UK SRS in one paragraph
UK SRS — the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards — is the UK's adoption of the global sustainability disclosure baseline developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).1
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) published SRS S1 (general sustainability) and SRS S2 (climate) on 25 February 2026.
The standards incorporate six UK-specific amendments to the underlying IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 standards.1
In other words, UK SRS are the UK sustainability disclosure standards — the UK's name for the ISSB-based disclosure regime.
The FCA proposes making UK SRS S2 proposed mandatory reporting for listed companies in UKLR categories 6, 14, 15, 16, and 22 from accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027 under consultation paper CP26/5.2
For in-depth UKSRS implementation guidance, visit UKSRS — uksrs.org.uk — the primary UK Sustainability Reporting Standards reference.
Who published UK SRS, and when
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) published UK SRS S1 and S2 on 25 February 2026 alongside the government response to its June 2025 consultation on the exposure drafts.1
209 consultation responses informed the final standards.1
The two standards — UK SRS S1 and UK SRS S2
UK SRS S1: General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information.
The framework standard.1
Establishes materiality, four pillars architecture, connectivity principle, disclosure architecture across all material sustainability topics.
UK SRS S2: Climate-related Disclosures.
Applies S1's framework specifically to climate risks and opportunities.1
Requires Scope 3 emissions disclosure, climate scenario analysis, and climate transition plans disclosure.
No UK SRS S3. Only these two standards have been published. UK SRS S3
does not exist and no development timeline has been announced by DBT.1
The four-pillar TCFD structure
The latest market signals on UK SRS preparedness.
UK sustainability reporting standards framework
UK SRS inherits the TCFD architecture and extends it across all material sustainability topics through four disclosure pillars.
Both follow the TCFD-derived UK SRS pillars architecture (Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, Metrics and Targets).3
See S1 standard, S2 climate standard, and TCFD pillars for detailed coverage.
How UK SRS relates to IFRS S1 and S2 — the six amendments
UK SRS S1 and S2 are the UK's national adoption of the global IFRS S1 and S2 standards developed by the ISSB.3
They incorporate SIX verified UK-specific amendments — correcting the common "four" misattribution still found in many sources including the live legacy site.1
| Amendment | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SASB references | References changed from "shall" to "may" | Optional industry guidance |
| 2. Effective dates removed | No fixed effective date in standards | FCA/DBT set timing independently |
| 3. Compliance statement provisions | Paragraphs E3/E4/E6 added | UK-specific compliance framework |
| 4. Delayed reporting relief removed | No lag permitted vs financial statements | Strengthened connectivity principle |
| 5. Financed emissions flexibility | Paragraph B59A added for financial institutions | Sector-specific relief |
| 6. ISSB December 2025 amendments | GHG methodology updates incorporated | Latest ISSB developments included |
See UK SRS vs IFRS S1/S2 for full amendment details.
How UK SRS fits in the broader regulatory landscape
UK SRS sits alongside three other UK regimes that companies may also need to apply:1
- SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting) — mandatory since 2019
- ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) — four-yearly energy audits
- TCFD-aligned Listing Rules — currently in force, replaced by S2 from 2027
SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting)
Mandatory since 2019 for companies meeting the two-of-three test (£36m turnover, £18m balance sheet, 250 employees).1
Covers Scope 1, Scope 2, and a defined Scope 3 reporting subset.
ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme)
Four-yearly mandatory energy audit; Phase 4 deadline 5 December 2027.1
Administered under SI 2014/1643 as amended by SI 2023/1182.
TCFD-aligned Listing Rules
Currently in force; will be replaced by S2 requirements for SRS compliance listed companies from 1 January 2027.2
Internationally, UK SRS is one of 37 jurisdictions adopting or moving to ISSB standards per the IFRS Foundation's September 2025 jurisdictional tracker.7
The EU operates a different regime — CSRD with ESRS standards — using double materiality (UK SRS uses single financial materiality consistent with all ISSB-based standards).
For the complete landscape overview, see broader sustainability reporting landscape and our comprehensive ESG reporting requirements UK guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published UK SRS?
When does UK SRS become mandatory?
What is the difference between UK SRS S1 and UK SRS S2?
How many UK amendments are there to IFRS S1 and S2?
Does UK SRS use double materiality like CSRD?
Which companies must apply UK SRS?
Can companies adopt UK SRS voluntarily before the mandatory date?
What is FCA CP26/5?
How does UK SRS interact with SECR and ESOS?
Is assurance required for UK SRS disclosures?
What is a UK SRS transition plan?
Where can I find the UK SRS standards?
UK SRS S1 vs UK SRS S2
UK SRS comprises two distinct but interconnected standards.
S1 sets the foundational requirements; S2 specifies climate-specific requirements that build on S1's foundation.
| Standard | Scope | Application timing |
|---|---|---|
| UK SRS S1 | General sustainability-related financial disclosures | Comply-or-explain from 1 January 2029 |
| UK SRS S2 | Climate-specific disclosures | Mandatory from 1 January 2027 (proposed) |
S2 cannot be applied without S1's conceptual foundation — definitions of materiality, scope of value chain, and financial-statement connectivity.
This is why S1's foundational elements apply from January 2027 alongside S2, even though the broader S1 sustainability disclosures don't move to comply-or-explain until January 2029.
Who must comply with UK SRS
SRS standards apply initially to who must comply in five UK Listing Rules categories — the most significant UK companies by market capitalisation.
The FCA's CP26/5 proposes proposed mandatory reporting across these five categories:
In-scope UK Listing Rules categories
UKLR 6
Commercial companies — the primary category for most UK-listed equity issuers
UKLR 14
Secondary listings — overseas companies with secondary LSE listings
UKLR 15
Depositary receipts
UKLR 16
Non-equity shares and non-voting equity shares
UKLR 22
Transition category — companies that moved from the previous Standard segment
Private company inclusion remains under consultation.
The Government has confirmed that compliance requirements for private companies will be addressed through the Modernising Corporate Reporting programme via amendments to the Companies Act 2006.
A consultation is expected later in 2026, with proportionate requirements and size thresholds to be developed.
For detailed scope determination including thresholds and edge cases, see who must comply.
Implementation timeline
UK SRS follows a phased implementation timeline: voluntary reporting now, UK SRS S2 proposed mandatory from January 2027, supply chain emissions enhanced from January 2028, UK SRS S1 comply-or-explain from January 2029.
From consultation to compliance
The path from DBT standards to mandatory reporting. Each milestone links to its primary source.
For the complete chronology including all milestones, see UK SRS timeline.
UK-specific amendments
UK SRS is the UK endorsement of IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 with six categories of UK-specific amendments.
The substance and structure of the global baseline remain; the amendments address UK regulatory environment, proportionality choices, and UK-specific mechanisms.
Modifications to the IFRS baseline
SASB references changed from "shall" to "may"
Makes industry-specific guidance optional rather than mandatory
Effective dates removed from standards
Allows FCA/DBT to set implementation timing independently
UK compliance statement provisions added
Paragraphs E3/E4/E6 create UK-specific compliance framework
Delayed reporting relief removed
No lag permitted between sustainability and financial statements
Financed emissions flexibility for financial institutions
Paragraph B59A provides sector-specific relief
ISSB December 2025 GHG methodology updates incorporated
Latest ISSB developments included in UK standards
For detailed treatment of where UK SRS diverges from the global baseline, see UK SRS vs IFRS S1 and S2.
International alignment
UK SRS is part of a global movement toward consistent sustainability disclosure.
Over 40 jurisdictions are adopting ISSB-aligned standards, allowing investors to compare sustainability information across markets while individual jurisdictions retain regulatory sovereignty.
Governance disclosures lead readiness; metrics and value-chain emissions remain the principal gaps.
The UK's choice to endorse IFRS S1 and S2 (rather than develop a fully bespoke framework) means UK-listed companies can meet both UK obligations and international investor expectations through a single reporting framework.
The six UK-specific amendments preserve necessary UK regulatory characteristics without breaking comparability with the global baseline.
UK SRS also integrates with the related UK assurance framework ISSA (UK) 5000, published by the FRC on 12 November 2025 and effective 15 December 2026.
This gives assurance providers time to align with the new framework before proposed mandatory UK SRS S2 disclosures begin.
Getting ready for UK SRS
Discovery
- Download and review UK SRS S1 and S2
- Map current TCFD disclosures to UK SRS requirements
- Identify data and process gaps
Planning
- Build Scope 3 data infrastructure (12-18 months)
- Engage assurance providers under ISSA (UK) 5000
- Establish governance structures
Implementation
- Deploy data collection systems
- Train finance and sustainability teams
- Run pilot reporting cycles
Reporting
- Complete materiality assessment
- Generate climate and sustainability metrics
- Obtain limited assurance
