How we research, write, and verify.
ESG and climate regulation evolves quickly. Our published content reflects current understanding at the date of publication — not perpetual truth. This policy describes how we source claims, attribute work, and update articles when the underlying facts change.
Scope of published content
ESGweise publishes three types of content on this site:
- Insights — methodology notes, regulatory analysis, and commentary on GCC sustainability practice. Written by ESGweise principals and named guest contributors.
- Case studies — anonymised summaries of client engagements. Specific by methodology and result; anonymous by confidentiality.
- News and announcements — engagements signed, partnerships launched, training delivered, and recognitions received.
None of the above constitutes regulated financial, legal, tax, audit, or investment advice. Engagement-specific scoping, contracted deliverables, and signed reports are the only artefacts on which clients should act. The audit reports we issue in partnership with TÜV Rheinland are governed by the standards of that engagement — not by this site.
Sourcing standards
When we cite a fact, a regulation, a framework requirement, or a market figure, the source should be one of the following, in order of preference:
- Primary regulator — official publications, gazette notices, circulars, or signed guidance from the relevant authority (CBUAE, SCA, SAMA, CMA, QFMA, CBB, MOCCAE, etc.)
- Primary standard-setter — direct text from IFRS Foundation (ISSB), GRI, TCFD, GHG Protocol, IAASB, ISO, or equivalent body
- Peer-reviewed academic or institutional research — IEA, IPCC, NGFS, IIF, central bank working papers, or refereed journals
- Corporate disclosures — annual reports, sustainability reports, or filings made under regulatory disclosure regimes (ADX, DFM, Tadawul, QSE, Bahrain Bourse, MSX, Boursa Kuwait)
Secondary sources (consulting firm reports, news articles, industry blogs, social media posts) are not cited as primary evidence for technical or regulatory claims. Where they appear, they provide context only and are clearly framed as such.
Author attribution
Every article carries a named author. Anonymous publishing is not used. Where guest contributors have written, their byline is theirs alone — ESGweise publishes the work but does not assume the views as its own unless explicitly noted in editorial commentary.
The principal author for most content is Sumit Agarwal, Founder and Principal Consultant. Sumit holds 17+ years of practice across carbon markets, climate finance, ESG advisory and assurance, and EPC delivery, with credentials including PMP, GRI Standards, TCFD, MSCI ESG, and SCR (Sustainability and Climate Risk by GARP).
Updates and corrections
Articles carry a publication date. When the underlying facts change — a regulation is amended, a framework is revised, a market figure is restated — we update the article and add an "Updated" date alongside the original. We do not silently revise prior conclusions.
If we publish a factual error, we correct it. If a reader identifies one, write to [email protected] with a citation to the primary source, and we will investigate within five business days. Material corrections carry an editor's note explaining what changed and why.
Conflicts of interest
ESGweise is an advisory firm. We are paid by the clients we serve — including those occasionally named in our content with their permission. We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or in-kind benefit in exchange for editorial coverage. We do not publish content on behalf of a third party as if it were our own analysis.
Where an article discusses a regulator, framework, or methodology that ESGweise also delivers services on (which is most of them), the relationship is structural — not undisclosed. ESGweise builds its public credibility on the same standards on which it advises clients. Readers should treat our content as informed by practice, not as a disinterested third-party review.
YMYL — Your Money or Your Life
ESG, climate risk, and sustainability disclosure are increasingly regulated domains. Decisions made on the basis of this content can materially affect a company's regulatory standing, investor relationships, and financial outcomes. Treat published guidance accordingly:
- Verify current regulatory requirements with the relevant authority before acting
- Engage qualified professionals for engagement-specific scoping and execution
- Do not rely on a single source — including this one — for material disclosure decisions
- Where a published article appears to conflict with current regulator guidance, the regulator's guidance prevails
AI-generated content
ESGweise does not publish unedited AI-generated content. Where AI tools are used as part of our research or drafting workflow, a named human author reviews, verifies, and rewrites the output before publication. The author is accountable for the published text — its accuracy, attribution, and judgements — as if the AI had not been involved.
Languages and translation
The site is published primarily in English. Where Arabic-language content is offered, it is translated by a sustainability-fluent translator and reviewed against the published terminology used by GCC regulators and major audit firms. Arabic terminology for regulatory institutions follows the institution's own published form (e.g., "هيئة الأوراق المالية والسلع" for the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority).
Contact for editorial matters
Corrections, source disputes, and content concerns: [email protected] with subject line "Editorial — [topic]". We acknowledge receipt within two business days and respond substantively within five.