Limited Assurance for ESG Disclosures: What It Means and How to Prepare

As ESG and Sustainability reporting becomes more regulated, companies are now facing a new layer of scrutiny: limited assurance. In Singapore, this is no longer a distant concept. Under the climate reporting roadmap and SGX guidelines, limited assurance will be phased in, starting as early as FY2027 for large listed issuers.

But what does limited assurance really mean? And more importantly, how should companies prepare?

What Is Limited Assurance in ESG Reporting?

Limited assurance is a form of third-party verification that offers moderate confidence in the accuracy and completeness of your ESG disclosures. While not as rigorous as reasonable assurance (like a full financial audit), it still requires evidence, documentation, and transparency in how data is prepared and reported.

In practice, your assurance provider will review the processes, controls, and data underlying your ESG disclosures, particularly climate data like Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The goal is to confirm that the information is plausible, traceable, and consistent with supporting evidence.

Why Singapore Companies Need to Take It Seriously Now

Even if your company’s timeline for limited assurance is still a few years away, preparation must begin well in advance. Why?

• Assurance readiness takes time. You’ll need to build systems for collecting and organising ESG data, establish audit trails, and document assumptions.
• You need data maturity. Companies can’t afford to wait until the year of assurance to clean up their reporting practices.
• Regulators expect proactive planning. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and SGX have made it clear: the future of ESG disclosures includes verification and assurance.

What to Do Now: A Preparation Checklist

Here are key steps every Singapore business should consider today:

1. Structure Your ESG and Sustainability Data Early: Begin capturing data in formats that are consistent and traceable. This means setting up systems that log evidence, sources, and responsible owners. Speeki’s platform is designed with assurance in mind, with backend audit logs and internal tracking features that support structured documentation and evidence gathering behind the scenes
2. Focus on Material Topics: Not every ESG topic will require assurance at first. Focus on climate-related disclosures aligned with ISSB S2, especially Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and understand which metrics are most material to your industry.
3. Engage Cross-Functional Teams: Assurance isn’t just a sustainability team issue. Finance, compliance, HR, and procurement all play a role in delivering credible data. Start aligning your teams now around data ownership and quality standards.
4. Document Assumptions and Calculation Methods: Auditors need to understand how your numbers were generated. Whether you're estimating Scope 3 emissions or tracking social metrics, clearly outline your methodologies. Speeki offers tools and guidance to help capture this level of transparency.
5. Choose an Assurance Partner Early: Whether you're working with a traditional audit firm or a specialised ESG assurer like Speeki Guardian®, early engagement can help you identify gaps and expectations well in advance of your first assured disclosure.

How Speeki Helps with Assurance Readiness

Assurance isn’t just about having the right data – it’s about presenting it clearly, consistently, and with confidence. That’s where Speeki comes in. Our platform is built with assurance in mind, offering:

• Structured data collection aligned with regulatory frameworks
• Audit logs and data ownership governance
• Metrics data collection
• Speeki Guardian®, our limited assurance service tailored to ESG and sustainability disclosures

By embedding these features directly into your ESG workflow, Speeki helps Singapore businesses move from compliance to confidence, ready for assurance from Day One.

Limited assurance will soon be an expectation, not a differentiator. The good news? Companies that start now will have a head start in credibility, investor confidence, and regulatory alignment.

With the right tools, processes, and partners, limited assurance becomes less of a burden and more of a strategic advantage.

Contact us and let’s discuss.