background image

ISO, Greenhouse Gas Protocol to Align on Carbon Accounting Rules

author image

By illuminem briefings

· 3 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol have announced plans to align their carbon accounting standards
The move aims to harmonize terminology, measurement, and reporting frameworks, addressing longstanding fragmentation in corporate greenhouse gas disclosure
The new joint framework is expected to simplify reporting for governments and companies, especially those operating across jurisdictions

🔭 The context: Until now, carbon reporting has been fragmented across multiple standards, including the ISO 1406x series, GHG Protocol, CDP, and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures
GHG Protocol’s framework is already widely adopted, used by 97% of S&P 500 companies reporting to the CDP in 2023
However, varying methodologies and terminologies have created confusion and hindered comparability across disclosures — complicating both regulatory oversight and investor decision-making

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Unified carbon accounting standards can significantly enhance the credibility, transparency, and effectiveness of climate disclosures, ensuring emissions are measured consistently across sectors and borders
This alignment could enable better benchmarking toward net-zero goals and accelerate climate finance by giving investors the reliable data needed to allocate capital effectively
However, environmental groups warn that harmonization must not come at the expense of stringency or transparency

⏭️ What's next: While no timeline has been announced for the completion of the joint standard, the ISO and GHG Protocol emphasized the need for inclusivity and scientific rigor in the process
Civil society and environmental experts are calling for public access to the standards and safeguards against greenwashing
If successful, the alignment could serve as a foundational layer for future regulatory disclosure regimes worldwide, including those currently evolving in the EU, U.S., and Asia-Pacific

💬 One quote: “This raft of ideas and solutions has been an inevitable and welcome response to the climate crisis, but has also morphed into a landscape of competing tools and targets.” — Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, ISO

📈 One stat: 97% of S&P 500 companies reporting to CDP in 2023 used the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework.

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

Click for more news covering the latest on corporate sustainability

Did you enjoy this illuminem voice? Support us by sharing this article!
author photo

About the author

illuminem's editorial team, providing you with concise summaries of the most important sustainability news of the day. Follow us on Linkedin, Twitter​ & Instagram

Other illuminem Voices


Related Posts


You cannot miss it!

Weekly. Free. Your Top 10 Sustainability & Energy Posts.

You can unsubscribe at any time (read our privacy policy)