In a commentary by SMU Professor of Accounting (Practice) and Director of Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) and Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) programmes Wang Jiwei, SMU Associate Professor of Accounting, Lee Kong Chian Fellow and Co-Director (Academic Research) of the School of Accountancy Research Centre (SOAR) Holly Yang, and SMU Dean of School of Accountancy and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Accounting Zhang Liandong, they suggested that delaying climate disclosure requirements for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 2025 to 2030 could weaken Singapore’s sustainable finance leadership, despite regulators saying the extension would help smaller firms build environmental, social and governance (ESG) capacity. They warned that the uneven response across companies signalled a two-speed ESG economy that risks reducing reporting to a compliance exercise and widening gaps between large firms and SMEs, potentially undermining investor confidence and Singapore’s competitiveness as neighbouring markets move ahead with mandatory International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)-aligned disclosures.
