ESG Reporting in the Energy Sector: Economic Insights from Poland’s Coal-Dependent Economy

The Polish energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by decarbonization targets and the implementation of the European Union’s sustainability governance framework, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards and the EU Taxonomy Regulation. These policy instruments aim to align corporate behavior, capital allocation, and risk management with long-term sustainability and climate objectives, particularly in energy systems characterized by high carbon intensity. This study examines how ESG reporting requirements are perceived by professionals involved in ESG reporting in Poland’s energy sector and how they are expected to influence economic performance and investment decisions. The analysis is based on survey data from 43 entities. Although the sample size is limited, it covers the key energy-sector entities in Poland, providing a comprehensive sector-level perspective. Non-parametric statistical tests, binary and ordinal logit models, principal component analysis, Kendall’s tau correlations, and cluster analysis are used to assess perceived economic benefits, compliance capacity, and cost-related challenges associated with ESG reporting. The results indicate that ESG reporting is perceived as an economically relevant instrument improving transparency and supporting the integration of environmental performance into investment and strategic decision-making. At the same time, respondents identify significant economic barriers, including high administrative costs, regulatory complexity, and legal uncertainty, particularly affecting carbon-intensive entities.