NIS A-1

NIS A-1 is the conceptual framework of the Normas de Información de Sostenibilidad (NIS), the Mexican sustainability information standards. Issued in May 2024 by the Consejo Mexicano de Normas de Información Financiera y de Sostenibilidad (CINIF), it sets out the principles and guidelines that underpin the whole set of NIS, much as a conceptual framework underpins accounting standards.

NIS A-1 does not impose specific disclosures by itself. Instead, it defines the foundations on which the individual NIS are built: what sustainability means, the objective of sustainability reporting, the qualitative characteristics the information must have, and the overall structure of the standards.

What NIS A-1 establishes

• Definition of sustainability: the capacity of present generations to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, across three dimensions: economic growth, environmental care and social wellbeing.
• Objective of the information: to provide useful sustainability information to the users of an entity's reports, primarily investors and other providers of capital.
• Qualitative characteristics: usefulness is the fundamental characteristic, achieved through relevance and faithful representation as essential qualities, supported by comparability, verifiability, timeliness and understandability.
• Structure of the NIS: how the framework standards (series A) relate to the standards that set out specific disclosure requirements.

How NIS A-1 fits with global standards

The NIS were designed to be consistent with the international baseline set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). As a result, NIS A-1 is conceptually aligned with the approach of IFRS S1 (general sustainability disclosure) and IFRS S2 (climate disclosure), helping Mexican entities prepare information that international investors can compare. It also complements the country's financial reporting framework, the Normas de Información Financiera (NIF).

Who it applies to and when

The NIS apply to entities that prepare sustainability information in Mexico. The standards take effect for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2025, with early adoption permitted. Adoption is being driven both by investor demand and by the broader implementation of ESG strategies in Mexican companies.

Why NIS A-1 matters

• A common language: it gives Mexican entities a shared basis for preparing credible, comparable sustainability information.
• Preparation for the future: aligning early with NIS A-1 anticipates market and regulatory expectations and eases interoperability with global standards.
• Foundation for specific standards: understanding the framework makes it easier to apply standards such as NIS B-1, which sets out environmental disclosures including carbon footprint and energy consumption.

NIS A-1 is the cornerstone of sustainability reporting in Mexico, setting the concepts and quality criteria that all other NIS rely on. At Manglai we help companies measure their carbon footprint and prepare their sustainability reporting in line with frameworks such as the NIS and the ISSB standards. Discover how Manglai can help you.