The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) have announced a landmark partnership aimed at unifying their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting and reporting standards.
The agreement will see ISO’s 1406X family of standards combined with the GHG Protocol’s widely used Corporate Accounting and Reporting, Scope 2 and Scope 3 standards into a set of co-branded, harmonised international benchmarks. The move is designed to simplify emissions reporting, improve comparability for policymakers and investors, and ease the burden on companies navigating multiple frameworks.
As part of the collaboration, the two organisations will also develop a new joint product carbon footprint standard, reflecting the growing demand among businesses for more detailed value-chain data to inform decarbonisation strategies.
Sergio Mujica, ISO’s Secretary General, said the deal signalled “a new era for the carbon accounting landscape”, adding: “ISO is proud to announce this landmark partnership with GHG Protocol, which drives forward an ambition that enables co-creation, resulting in a harmonised portfolio of standards.”
Geraldine Matchett, Chair of the GHG Protocol Steering Committee, described the deal as a “historic agreement” that would reduce complexity and enhance collaboration: “Harmonising corporate, product and project-level GHG accounting standards is key. With users top of mind, this partnership establishes a new mechanism for long-term collaboration, demonstrating our commitment to reducing complexity in the field of international standards.”
The move responds to long-standing calls for greater alignment, including from the B7 business coalition and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Emmanuel Faber, ISSB Chair, welcomed the initiative, noting that “consistent, comparable carbon data is essential for investors globally”.
The partnership also earned praise from climate leaders ahead of COP30. Dan Ioschpe, COP30 High-Level Champion, said it was a “critical step toward greater climate accountability”, while Clara Barby, Senior Partner at Just Climate, highlighted its importance in giving investors “the credibility and simplicity the market needs”.
ISO standards already underpin regulation in multiple jurisdictions, while GHG Protocol standards remain the foundation of corporate disclosure initiatives worldwide. By integrating these frameworks, the organisations aim to deliver technically rigorous, policy-relevant and user-friendly standards, helping accelerate the transition to net zero across regions and sectors.
Experts from both sides will now work through a joint technical process to produce the harmonised standards, which are expected to form a cornerstone of global decarbonisation efforts.
