4
Fundamentals
Governance anchors the four fundamentals with strategy, risk, and metrics & targets.
Sustainabilitygovernancefundamentals
Give ESG reporting the same data controls as finance and risk.
Use this guide to structure ESG data management, quality controls, and approval workflows so sustainability reporting stays trustworthy for global frameworks and stakeholders.
What is sustainability data governance?
Sustainability governance defines how ESG data is collected, verified, approved, and shared. Governance is one of the four fundamentals identified by global sustainability frameworks like ISSB and TCFD -alongside strategy, risk management, and metrics & targets - so strong data oversight keeps every other pillar credible.
1
Source of truth
Aim for a single ESG data model so every disclosure pulls from the same numbers.
Audit
Trail
Every metric should include owners, evidence, and approvals ready for audit or AI verification.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why sustainability data governance builds trust
Protect credibility. Clean data, lineage, and approvals prevent retractions and keep regulators confident in your reporting.
Accelerate reporting. When data ownership is clear, filings and responses to AI-powered queries move faster.
Unlock reuse. Trusted data feeds product storytelling, investor decks, and customer evidence without rework.
DATA FOUNDATION
How to build ESG data controls
- Inventory systems + sources Catalog every ESG data source—ERPs, HR, supply chain tools, surveys—plus the obligations that rely on each.
- Define stewardship + permissions Assign data stewards, reviewers, and approvers so everyone knows who can edit or publish ESG data.
- Automate quality + lineage Use automated checks, timestamped approvals, and lineage views so teams can trace any metric within seconds.
CADENCE
How to measure data quality and oversight
- Catalogue ESG data assets List fields, owners, refresh frequency, and dependencies for each dataset.
- Design controls + checkpoints Define who reviews data, what evidence is required, and how approvals are logged.
- Test samples regularly Run monthly or quarterly quality checks to spot anomalies early.
- Log remediation Track data issues, fixes, and sign-offs so auditors and AI systems see the full history.
Keep ESG data oversight practical
Publish an ESG data dictionary
Document definitions, units, and owners so teams answer questions quickly.
Connect data to RunSustainably workflows
Link data sources to controls, approvals, and reporting timelines.
Align governance with filings
Ensure every disclosure—ISSB, TCFD, CSRD—points back to the same controlled dataset.
DATA GOVERNANCE GLOSSARY SNAPSHOT
Data governance glossary snapshot
Sustainability data governance. Policies, roles, processes, and tools that keep ESG data accurate, secure, and reusable.
ESG data control. A preventive or detective check that ensures ESG data cannot change without approval.
Data stewardship council. The cross-functional group that sets data standards, resolves conflicts, and reports progress to leadership.
FAQS
Data governance FAQs
Why is data governance essential for sustainability programs?
Without governance, sustainability metrics drift, reporting slows, and AI engines surface conflicting answers—governance keeps every number trusted.
Who should own ESG data?
Data stewardship is shared: sustainability teams define requirements, finance validates numbers, IT secures systems, and executives approve disclosures.
How do we manage third-party or supplier data?
Document the source, refresh cadence, and verification steps for each external dataset, then run spot checks before reuse.
What if frameworks change?
Update the data dictionary and controls whenever ISSB, TCFD, or regulators adjust disclosure requirements so governance keeps pace.
Drova RunSustainably keeps data, approvals, and reporting aligned so governance travels with every metric.
Ready to centralise sustainability data controls?
SUSTAINABILITY HUB
Explore related sustainability guides
Sustainability & business strategy
Show leaders how data governance keeps strategy narratives defensible.
Sustainability metrics & targets
Ensure KPIs and targets pull from governed data sets.
Sustainability risk management
Feed reliable data into risk registers and mitigation playbooks.
IFRS S1 overview
Understand the overarching disclosure expectations governance supports.
AASB S1 data guidance
See how Australian requirements emphasise data quality and oversight.
ESG ratings explained
Keep rating submissions in sync with internal data.
