Climate standards revised by GRI to match up more closely with ISSB guidelines

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has announced a collaborative effort with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Foundation to align their updates on climate and energy-related standards by 2027. This move aims to streamline reporting for companies and provide clear, consistent information on climate-related risks.

The updated GRI standards, known as GRI 102, will include a variety of sections. Companies can report their emissions reductions for all aspects of the supply chain (scope 1, 2, and 3) separately or combined. A new section has been included on carbon credits to increase transparency around their use, including any credits that are cancelled and providing information around where such credits were purchased.

GRI 102 also includes a section on incorporating just transition as well as a transition plan for climate change mitigation. It will report on the impact of local communities, workers, Indigenous people, and nature, taking into account a just transition. A separate update, GRI 103, includes disclosures on energy efficiency and transitioning to renewables.

The standards will also require companies to disclose climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and progress. They will need to provide information on their climate-related risks and opportunities, as well as their strategies for managing these risks.

This alignment with the ISSB will mean that companies need only one set of greenhouse gas emissions disclosures to meet both GRI and ISSB standards. The interoperability will allow companies to provide information about their climate-related impacts, risks, and opportunities in an efficient manner.

Sue Lloyd, vice-chair of the ISSB, stated that this alignment will provide information to investors and a broader range of stakeholders. Around 14,000 companies around the world use GRI standards, with 65% using its climate and energy standards.

The first GRI climate change standard was introduced 25 years ago and is one of the most widely used voluntary reporting methods. The updates come into effect in January 2027, with a pilot programme before the end of 2025. This page was last updated on June 27, 2025.

The updates also align with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the European sustainability reporting standards. With this alignment, companies can use both GRI and ISSB standards to meet their reporting needs and disclose key information about climate-related risk. The new updates from GRI align with the IFRS sustainability disclosure standards set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).