A major aspect of this shift will be the adoption of Sustainability Reporting Standards (SRS) based on the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) frameworks, which will replace the current Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) regime. These developments are part of the UK’s broader carbon-neutral strategy, which aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

The new SRS will require companies to disclose their sustainability and climate-related risks in a comprehensive manner. The standards, which include the ISSB’s IFRS S1 and S2 frameworks, will focus on general sustainability and climate-specific disclosures, ensuring companies report on both physical and transition climate-related risks. This shift will provide stakeholders with greater transparency on how sustainability impacts financial performance, aligning with the UK’s broader ESG agenda. 

For asset managers, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will introduce Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) starting December 2025. This will include a labelling system for funds marketed to retail investors, such as “sustainability focus” or “impact,” ensuring that asset managers comply with specific ESG criteria and provide clear reporting on the sustainability characteristics of their products. Large asset managers will also need to meet entity-level disclosure requirements, and these will replace existing TCFD reporting obligations. 

In addition to the new reporting standards, the UK government is focusing on anti-greenwashing regulations. The FCA’s anti-greenwashing rules will apply to all communications made by authorized firms about the sustainability of their products, ensuring that claims are transparent and accurate. Furthermore, the government is consulting on introducing a UK Green Taxonomy to guide sustainable investments, complementing global frameworks like the EU Taxonomy. 

These developments reflect the UK’s commitment to integrating ESG factors into financial markets, reinforcing the importance of sustainability in investment strategies and supporting the country’s long-term carbon-neutral goals. Asset managers must stay alert to these evolving regulations, ensuring compliance with the emerging ESG landscape. 

Sources: 

https://www.debevoise.com/insights/publications/2025/01/key-uk-esg-developments-for-asset-managers-in-2025 

https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2025/01/uk-eu-investment-management-update-january-2025 

https://sustainablefutures.linklaters.com/post/102jra3/sustainable-finance-regulation-in-the-uk-and-eu-whats-coming-up-in-2025