How to Secure Sustainability Reporting Budget from Your CFO

For many sustainability and ESG professionals, one of the biggest hurdles in advancing climate and sustainability initiatives is securing internal budget, especially when it comes to reporting and compliance across multiple frameworks.  

While some sustainability reporting requirements are mandatory, others—like voluntary frameworks such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)—are increasingly seen as strategic investments. The challenge? Making that case to your CFO in a way that resonates with their priorities: risk, return and long-term value.  

Here are three practical ways to build a compelling business case for sustainability reporting budget while speaking your CFO’s language.  

Table of contents

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• 1. Frame Sustainability Reporting as a Risk Management Tool
• 2. Connect Reporting to Strategic Business Goals
• 3. Emphasize Efficiency Through the Right Tools
• Final Thought: Speak in Outcomes, Not Acronyms

1. Frame Sustainability Reporting as a Risk Management Tool

CFOs are deeply attuned to risk, and sustainability reporting is fundamentally about identifying and managing both climate-related and broader ESG risks. From physical risks like extreme weather to transition risks such as regulatory shifts, reputational damage and supply chain disruption, reporting frameworks help organizations assess their exposure and plan accordingly.  

By positioning sustainability reporting as a tool for enterprise risk management, you can show how it supports financial resilience and operational continuity. Highlight how climate and ESG risks are increasingly material to investors, insurers and regulators, and how structured reporting provides a proactive way to respond.  

Tip: Reference how your reporting aligns with globally recognized frameworks like TCFD, EU CSRD, and IFRS S1 and S2, which are becoming embedded in financial and regulatory standards globally.  

2. Connect Reporting to Strategic Business Goals  

Sustainability reporting isn’t just about compliance, it’s about competitiveness. Many organizations use it to demonstrate leadership, meet investor expectations and strengthen their brand reputation.  

If your company has public ESG goals, net-zero targets or is preparing for regulations like the EU CSRD or California’s SB 253 and SB 261, sustainability reporting can serve as a bridge between ambition and accountability. It also supports better decision-making by surfacing data that can inform strategy across departments from procurement to product development.  

Tip: Show how sustainability reporting can unlock access to capital, improve ESG ratings or meet supplier and customer requirements. These outcomes directly support business growth.

3. Emphasize Efficiency Through the Right Tools

One of the most common objections to sustainability reporting is the perceived time and resource burden. But with the right systems in place, the process becomes significantly more manageable.  

A well-designed reporting solution can streamline data collection, reduce manual effort and ensure consistency across reporting cycles. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of errors and enhances data quality.  

Tip: Focus on the operational efficiency and cost savings that come from using a centralized, scalable platform for climate disclosure.