The Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the International Organization for Standardization have announced plans to develop a single, harmonized global standard for corporate greenhouse gas accounting.
The consolidated standard will bring together the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, Scope 3 Standard and the developing Actions and Market Instruments framework with ISO 14064-1. A consolidated public consultation is expected in the second quarter of 2027. The publication of the final joint standard is expected in the fourth quarter of 2028.
What Is the New GHG Protocol–ISO Corporate Standard?
The proposed standard aims to create a common global foundation for organizations measuring, managing and reporting corporate greenhouse gas emissions.
It will consolidate the following existing and developing standards:
The new standard is expected to use a two-part structure, supported by additional implementation guidance. By combining the two widely used corporate GHG accounting systems, GHG Protocol and ISO aim to reduce duplication, improve interoperability and provide more consistent emissions information across markets and jurisdictions.
Organizations can review the detailed scope and development process in the official GHG Protocol–ISO Standard Development Plan.
When Will the Consolidated GHG Standard Be Published?
The current development timeline includes two major milestones:
| Milestone | Expected timeline |
|---|---|
| Consolidated draft standard and public consultation | Q2 2027 |
| Publication of the revised joint corporate standard | Q4 2028 |
The timeline may change if GHG Protocol and ISO determine that pilot testing or further consultation is required during the standard-development process.
This means companies do not need to apply a new consolidated standard immediately. Current reporting requirements and existing GHG accounting methodologies remain relevant while the joint standard is being developed.
What Did the Scope 2 Consultation Find?
GHG Protocol has also published the results of its consultation on proposed changes to Scope 2 accounting. The consultation received nearly 1,100 responses from stakeholders across 56 countries.
The feedback showed differing views on how renewable electricity purchases and other energy procurement arrangements should be reflected in corporate emissions inventories. Stakeholders also expressed strong interest in:
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GHG Protocol’s Technical Working Group and Independent Standards Board will now consider whether multiple reporting approaches may be needed to reflect different objectives and theories of change.
The revised Scope 2 proposals will form part of the consolidated draft standard expected in Q2 2027. Companies can review the Scope 2 consultation executive summary and the complete consultation findings.
What Is the Proposed Multi-Statement GHG Reporting Model?
GHG Protocol has also shared preliminary feedback on its Actions and Market Instruments workstream.
The workstream is exploring a multi-statement reporting model that would require different types of climate information to be presented separately rather than combined into a single emissions figure.
The proposed structure would distinguish between:
This structure aims to make it clearer what has been measured, which methodology has been used and what type of environmental claim the information supports. Preliminary feedback showed support for the multi-statement model, a market-based inventory and a separate statement covering the GHG impacts of corporate actions.
Until the detailed requirements are finalized, GHG Protocol recommends that organizations choosing to adopt this approach report physical emissions, market-based emissions and the impact of climate actions separately, without netting one category against another.
Does the Announcement Change Current GHG Reporting Requirements?
The announcement does not itself introduce a new mandatory disclosure requirement.
Regulators, target-setting initiatives and disclosure programs will continue to determine which GHG reporting elements companies must apply for compliance or target-setting purposes. The consolidated standard aims to support greater alignment between these different reporting systems. Individual jurisdictions and programs will decide how the standard is incorporated into their requirements.
Companies should therefore continue following the standards and regulatory requirements currently applicable to them while monitoring the 2027 consultation and subsequent implementation guidance.
What Should Companies Do Now?
Although the final joint standard is not expected until 2028, organizations can begin strengthening their GHG reporting foundations. Reporting teams should:
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Organizations using ESG reporting software should also ensure that their reporting systems can accommodate evolving calculation methods without losing historical data, approvals or audit evidence.
How EcoActive Supports Governed GHG Reporting
EcoActive is an AI-native financial and ESG disclosure management platform that helps sustainability and finance teams manage emissions information within a connected, governed disclosure process.
Its GHG emissions calculator supports Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 calculations, while centralized workflows connect emissions data with methodologies, supporting evidence, reviews and disclosure outputs.
As GHG accounting standards evolve, EcoActive enables organizations to maintain traceability across reporting periods, manage methodology changes and support continuous audit and assurance readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What standards will the GHG Protocol and ISO consolidate?
The joint standard will consolidate the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, Scope 3 Standard and Actions and Market Instruments workstream with ISO 14064-1.
When will the new global corporate GHG standard be released?
A consolidated draft is expected to enter public consultation in Q2 2027. The final joint corporate standard is currently expected to be published in Q4 2028.
Will companies need to change their GHG reports immediately?
No. The joint standard is still under development. Companies should continue applying their existing accounting standards and applicable regulatory requirements while monitoring the consultation process.
What is multi-statement GHG reporting?
Multi-statement reporting separates physical emissions, market-based emissions and the wider emissions impact of corporate actions. The purpose is to improve transparency and prevent different types of climate information from being combined into one potentially misleading figure.
Why is the GHG Protocol–ISO consolidation important?
The consolidation aims to reduce fragmentation between major GHG accounting systems, improve consistency and create a more interoperable global foundation for corporate emissions reporting.
