Implementation of ESG provisions in the domestic legal environment and related supervisory issues with regard to the Regulatory Authority for Regulated Activities

Abstract

The “ESG” abbreviation means “environmental, social, governance”. Three areas where companies are required to report so that the public can monitor non-financial risks and opportunities. I have identified the Paris Agreement as the starting point for the presentation of the relevant legislation, followed by an examination of the various EU directives (NFRD and SRD II) and regulations (CTBR, SFDR, Taxonomy Regulation), leading to an analysis of the most recent directive, the CSRD. This Directive is intended to revolutionize ESG regulation and has been transposed by the Hungarian legislator as the so-called “ESG Act”. The substantial amount of rules imposed on companies did not create a new public authority responsible for implementing and monitoring the provisions, but designated an existing one, The Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities, to carry out the tasks. Thus, the ESG Board was established within the organization to effectively fulfill the tasks of the public authority under the legislation.