In the world of climate action, standards are the foundation.
They provide the structure behind how companies measure, report, and manage their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), the fragmentation of standards and policies has long been a barrier to driving more effective climate action.
To address this challenge, ISO and GHG Protocol have announced a landmark partnership to unify their standards and co-develop a new global framework for GHG measurement and reporting. The objective is to create a harmonized global language for emissions accounting — simplifying processes for companies, improving consistency for policymakers, and reducing reporting burdens.
Why this matters
Founded in 1947, ISO is a global network of standard setters supporting innovation and solutions to global challenges. Its ISO 1406X family is widely recognized for environmental management, covering GHG quantification, monitoring, and verification. For example, ISO 14064 provides methodologies for emissions inventories at organizational and project levels, often used in third-party verification and government regulation.
Established in 1997, the GHG Protocol was launched by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Its Scope 1, 2, and 3 standards have become the common language of corporate GHG accounting, with nearly all S&P 500 companies reporting to CDP using the GHG Protocol. Its frameworks are also integrated into the ISSB standards and the EU’s European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) regulation.
For decades, companies and governments have faced a fragmented landscape. ISO has leaned toward regulatory and assurance contexts, emphasizing audit rigor, while GHG Protocol has led in voluntary disclosures and investor reporting. Their parallel use, though complementary, has created duplication, inconsistency, and higher compliance costs.
The new agreement consolidates these frameworks into a co-branded portfolio that will reshape the foundations of global carbon accounting.
The unified system is expected to deliver:
- A unified framework combining ISO 1406X and GHG Protocol’s Corporate, Scope 2, and Scope 3 standards.
- Product-level coverage, through a joint Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) standard, meeting demand for granular value chain data to guide decarbonization.
- A three-layer scope, spanning corporate, product, and project-level accounting — a panoramic standard system.
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Reduced costs and complexity, with one global language lowering compliance burdens while ensuring comparable data for policymakers and investors alike.
Voices from the field
Sergio Mujica, ISO Secretary-General, called the partnership a turning point:
“ISO is proud to announce this landmark partnership with GHG Protocol. Both ISO and GHGP share a vision to efficiently advance climate action and simplify the task for all stakeholders. This is a new era for the carbon accounting landscape, and both organizations are thrilled to be working together.”
Emmanuel Faber, Chair of the ISSB, welcomed the move for its financial significance:
“The ISSB welcomes this development which will augment the globally accepted baseline for greenhouse gas accounting. Consistent, comparable carbon data is essential for investors globally, enabling informed capital allocation decisions.”
What happens next
The ISO–GHG Protocol partnership has been hailed as a milestone, but the process of integration has only just begun.
Existing standards will remain in effect until the new harmonized framework is published, and no timeline has been set. A phased rollout is expected, balancing international credibility with practical usability for companies.
If successful, the collaboration could deliver what the climate community has long sought: a common global language for carbon accounting.
At GreenPowerHub, we see this as more than a technical update. It is a turning point that will reshape how companies, governments, and investors interact and report climate data — a foundation for accelerating the global transition toward net zero.
About GreenPowerHub
GreenPowerHub is a leading digital marketplace for trading renewable energy certificates, including Guarantees of Origin (GOs), serving stakeholders across Europe and global markets. By facilitating transparent, efficient trading and providing actionable market intelligence, GreenPowerHub empowers energy producers, suppliers, and consumers to participate in the energy transition and achieve their sustainability goals.
Reference: ISO and GHG Protocol announce strategic partnership to deliver unified global standards for greenhouse gas emissions accounting