International Space Station (ISS) Bodies Fail to Include EU and US in their Standards Profiles

The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is witnessing a surge in its global acceptance, with many countries adopting or considering the implementation of its standards.

Emmanuel Faber, the chair of the ISSB, recently stated that the adoption of ISSB standards strengthens a jurisdiction's access to capital and trade. This sentiment is echoed by Sue Lloyd, vice chair of the ISSB, who expressed hope that the amendments to the omnibus proposal would preserve the interoperability between ISSB standards and the EU's sustainable reporting rules.

In the United States, there is still strong investor interest in sustainability information, including the use of ISSB standards. Some US states, such as California and New York, have already implemented rules requiring emissions disclosures and reference the ISSB standards. However, pending legislation in Illinois, New Jersey, and Colorado would require climate reporting, but it is currently unclear if they would be compliant with ISSB standards. Notably, the US has pulled back from its own climate reporting rules, with the US Securities and Exchange Commission leaving the International Sustainability Standards Board. As a result, no national climate reporting rules are currently in place in the US.

On the other hand, the European Union (EU) commission has committed to reducing the number of data points in a way that would enhance interoperability with global standards, including ISSB standards. The EU member states collectively adhere to climate goals under the European Green Deal and Paris Agreement, aiming for substantial greenhouse gas reductions and environmental reporting aligned with EU-wide strategies. As of June 16, 2025, there is no publicly available specific list naming which EU member states have implemented or are planning to implement national environmental reporting according to the International Sustainability Standards of the ISSB.

The ISSB has published 17 jurisdictional profiles, including Ghana, Bangladesh, Brazil, Malaysia, Chile, Hong Kong, and Australia, to provide transparency about the adoption of ISSB standards. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation has announced that 36 jurisdictions have adopted or are in the process of adopting the ISSB standards. The adoption of ISSB standards is particularly noticeable in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where the standards are being adopted or considered by more countries.

The profiles also include countries that are still developing their regulatory adoption of ISSB standards, such as China, Canada, the UK, Japan, Costa Rica, Switzerland, and others. This global uptake of ISSB standards signifies a significant step towards standardised sustainability reporting, fostering transparency and accountability in corporate practices worldwide.

International Space Station (ISS) Bodies Fail to Include EU and US in their Standards Profiles