Standards-setting bodies, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), have announced a significant strategic partnership to unify global standards for greenhouse gas emissions measurement and reporting. This collaboration seeks to harmonise their existing greenhouse gas standards and co-develop new carbon accounting standards.
The partnership addresses the fragmentation of standards and policies, which has been a barrier to effective climate action. By establishing a unified global language for emissions accounting, the initiative aims to streamline processes for companies, enhance consistency for policymakers, and reduce the overall burden of measurement and reporting.
Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General of ISO, stated that the partnership marks a new era for the carbon accounting landscape, with both organisations sharing a vision to advance climate action efficiently and simplify the task for all stakeholders.
ISO, established in 1947, is a global network of leading standardisers dedicated to developing international standards that support innovation and address global challenges. The GHG Protocol was founded in 1997 by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to create comprehensive global frameworks for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors.
The GHG Protocol’s standards are integrated into major global sustainability reporting frameworks, including the IFRS Foundation’s ISSB standards and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the CSRD regulation.
Emmanuel Faber, Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), welcomed the partnership, emphasising that consistent and comparable carbon data is crucial for informed capital allocation decisions by investors worldwide.
The agreement will merge the organisations’ current greenhouse gas standards, such as the ISO 1406X series and the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting, Scope 2, and Scope 3 standards, into harmonised, co-branded international standards. Additionally, ISO and GHG Protocol plan to develop a joint product carbon footprint standard to meet the increasing demand for detailed value chain data to guide decarbonisation efforts.
Geraldine Matchett, Steering Committee Chair of GHG Protocol, highlighted that the partnership establishes a new mechanism for long-term collaboration, demonstrating a commitment to reducing complexity in international standards and developing core frameworks for meaningful climate action across stakeholder groups.
