In a significant step toward global harmonization of climate reporting, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol has expanded its Independent Standards Board (ISB) to include five of the world’s leading sustainability standard-setters—CDP, EFRAG, GRI, ISSB, and SBTi—as non-voting observers.
While these organizations won’t have formal voting power, they will play a strategic advisory role, shaping the future of GHG Protocol standards and revisions. The initiative aims to improve coordination across frameworks, helping companies navigate increasingly complex disclosure expectations from regulators and investors.
The collaboration addresses a critical market need: more consistent and interoperable GHG accounting methodologies. As corporations face pressure to disclose credible emissions data and set science-aligned climate targets, alignment between standards is essential for reducing reporting burdens and enhancing data comparability across jurisdictions.
“This alignment will create material benefits for corporates seeking to set and achieve climate targets by creating a more streamlined process across programmes,” said Alexander Bassen, Chair of the Independent Standards Board.
The presence of CDP, EFRAG, GRI, ISSB, and SBTi on the board reinforces the central role of the GHG Protocol in shaping global climate disclosure practices and reflects a growing consensus around unified standards. For companies, this development signals a more cohesive path forward in sustainability reporting—anchored in transparency, comparability, and strategic alignment with emerging climate regulations.
