Climate standards within the purview of GRI have been revised to promote a closer alignment with those defined by the ISSB.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Revises Climate Change and Energy Standards
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has announced updates to its climate change and energy standards, effective from January 2027, with a pilot programme set to begin at the end of 2025. These revisions aim to enhance transparency and align with various sustainability reporting standards, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, European standards, and the IFRS sustainability disclosure standards set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
The updated GRI standards, known as GRI 102, include a section on incorporating a just transition and a transition plan for climate change mitigation. This section emphasizes the importance of considering the social impacts on local communities, workers, Indigenous peoples, and nature during the transition to renewable energy sources.
In addition, GRI 102 now requires companies to disclose information on carbon credits, increasing transparency around their use. This includes details about any cancelled credits and the locations where such credits were purchased.
Companies can report their emissions reductions for all aspects of the supply chain (known as scope 1, 2, and 3) separately or combined under the new GRI standards. This allows for a more comprehensive view of a company's carbon footprint.
The interoperability between the GRI and ISSB standards will enable companies to provide climate-related information to investors and a broader range of stakeholders in an efficient manner. This means that companies can meet their reporting needs and disclose key information about climate-related risk using both sets of standards.
First introduced 25 years ago, the GRI standards are one of the most widely used voluntary reporting methods, with around 14,000 companies worldwide using GRI standards, and 65% of them using its climate and energy standards. The revised standards are expected to further enhance the utility and relevance of the GRI standards in the fight against climate change.
This page was last updated on June 27, 2025. For more information, companies are encouraged to visit the GRI website.
