Materiality & stakeholder impact · Working
Severity
Also called: impact severity
ELI5
The scale, scope and remediability of a negative impact under a stated framework.
Used in conversation
“Can we separate the target for severity from measured performance?”
Pitch context
You will see “Severity” in sustainability reports, impact decks, climate plans and assurance materials when the discussion reaches materiality & stakeholder impact.
Why it matters: In materiality & stakeholder impact, different calculation boundaries, periods or accounting treatments can change the number and the decision.
Caution
Calculation, recognition and disclosure can vary by accounting framework, company policy and reporting context.
Connected terms
- ImpactThe search label “severity” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 4
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- IFRS Foundation / International Sustainability Standards Board — IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 Sustainability Disclosure StandardsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- GHG Protocol — Standards and GuidanceSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- International Organization for Standardization — ISO Net Zero Guidelines and related workSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16