Climate Risk Identification and ESRS E1 Disclosures: Evidence from a Climate Reporting Readiness Index

This paper examines how the identification of climate risks relates to the declared scope of disclosures under the ESRS E1 standard, growing regulatory pressure, and potential inconsistencies between internal risk assessment and external reporting. It introduces a composite measure, the Climate Reporting Readiness Index (CRRI), which combines three elements: risk identification, declared disclosures, and the consistency between them. The study is methodological in scope and aims to propose a generalizable measurement framework. The results show a statistically significant negative association between the extent of risk identification and the scope of declared disclosures, indicating that broader internal recognition of climate risks does not necessarily translate into broader declared reporting. Differences between identified risks and disclosures are also observed, suggesting that reported information does not fully correspond to the scope of identified risks. Transition risks are identified more frequently than physical risks. Analysis of specific disclosures shows that the identification of transition risks is associated with a lower probability of declaring information on transition plans and policies, while no robust statistically significant relationship is found between physical risks and disclosures of financial effects. The findings highlight the practical need to strengthen the alignment between internal climate risk identification processes and external ESRS E1 disclosure practices, as these processes may remain partially disconnected in organizational practice. The proposed index provides a diagnostic tool for companies seeking to improve reporting processes, regulators monitoring preparedness for ESRS E1 implementation, and stakeholders assessing the credibility and maturity of climate-related disclosures.