January was a crazy month on LinkedIn for what I can only term “CSRD lament.” As the first CSRD reports were published, some sustainability professionals wrote about the upcoming simplification of CSRD as if they were on the end of a bad breakup. If you feel this way, I hope this letter brings you some comfort. I found it on the steps of a building in Brussels.

Dear CSO,

Remember when we first met? You were sitting at your desk and you looked, I don’t know, just so passionate about your work driving impact. It was inspiring!

I knew deep down that we could help each other. You with your ideals and me with a framework to share your data. It was an uphill battle to convince you that we both needed comparable data to support financing our engagement, but you knew I would win out in the end.

Our courtship seemed to last years, didn’t it? Our friends in the US spent so much money on their engagement, but it’s all crumbling down around them now, isn’t it?

Unfortunately, like them, I think our relationship has run its course. I like to think that I’ve empowered you to think about your metrics in ways you never even considered and that you’ve grown, but only time will tell, and I’m afraid I won’t be there to watch it. 

Could I have been wrong to burden you with this introspection? Was I too strong in insisting that you share your deepest, darkest information and ask your friends to do the same? After all, I never meant to strain those relationships.

I’ve seen your passion for the work wane over time, and with it my love. I suppose it’s my own fault, as I’ve taken you from the meaningful work and buried you in accounting. The endless numbers haunt me so, and I release you from them.

I hope you find the impact you’re looking for, and I’m sure you will find a much simpler framework soon. As for me, I’m going to take out my Compass and see where it takes me.

Love, CSRD

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