The future of ESG assurance - Panel discussion: The CSRD, the role of AI and technology

The ESG assurance landscape has evolved considerably in recent years, reflecting increased regulatory pressure, especially in Europe, with the advent of the CSRD. As a result, the demand for ESG assurance services is soaring However, ESG assurance is still a relatively new field, and most companies struggle to prepare for ESG audits due to inadequate data structures, scattered data, and a lack of standardization. And this creates hurdles for auditors too. In this webinar, we will explore the potential of new technologies, and in particular Artificial Intelligence, to tackle some of these challenges, and help businesses and auditors get ready for ESG assurance. With: Carmen Auer - Partner Sustainability Services at BDO Germany Patrick Hegarty - VP EMEA at AssuranceLab Tomas van der Heijden - CEO & Co-Founder at Briink Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and about Briink 06:34 Panelists intro 13:08 How has the ESG assurance field evolved over time? 15:36 Main difference between financial assurance and ESG assurance, and challenges 18:52 AssuranceLab's multi-framework approach to non-financial auditing 24:38 The CSRD and its relevance for ESG assurance 29:06 Dealing with data standardization in the assurance process 33:41 How can AI help with the assurance process? 37:26 How BDO is thinking about AI integration in the ESG assurance process 39:17 How can technology support smaller businesses in becoming assurance-ready? 45:16 Dealing with misconceptions about AI in highly regulated fields 49:36 Challenges and opportunities in the ESG assurance field 54:50 Q&A