The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has announced a major expansion of its Jurisdictional Working Group—now renamed the Jurisdictional Adopters Working Group—to accelerate global coordination on the adoption and implementation of ISSB Standards.
The announcement was made by ISSB Chair Emmanuel Faber at the ISSB Symposium in London, which brought together delegates from over 45 jurisdictions to discuss the next phase of sustainability disclosure implementation.
Faber said the enlarged working group will serve as a multilateral forum for regulators and policymakers, enabling dialogue on how ISSB Standards can operate as a “global passport” for sustainability-related disclosures. The initiative aims to reduce market fragmentation, ease the reporting burden for companies, and promote consistent, comparable information for investors across borders.
“The ISSB Standards are being firmly established as the global baseline, covering around 40 per cent of global capital markets,” said Faber. “We are committed to maximising the benefits ISSB Standards offer. The expansion of the Jurisdictional Adopters Working Group responds to jurisdictions’ needs for forums, tools and resources supporting the effective use of ISSB Standards as the global passport.”
The move reflects the growing momentum among around 40 jurisdictions that have signalled plans to adopt or align with ISSB Standards. The expanded Working Group will help these jurisdictions coordinate passporting arrangements, allowing reports prepared under ISSB Standards to be accepted across markets—with flexibility to address jurisdiction-specific conditions.
By harmonising sustainability disclosure frameworks, the group seeks to lower compliance costs, minimise duplication, and enhance efficiency for preparers. It will also act as a platform to identify and resolve emerging cross-border implementation challenges.
Alongside the expansion, the ISSB unveiled a new Jurisdictional Rationale Guide and accompanying tool, outlining the objectives motivating adoption—from strengthening capital markets to improving investor decision-making and cost efficiency for preparers.
The establishment of the expanded working group marks a crucial step in transforming ISSB Standards from a global baseline into a globally interoperable framework, enabling smoother integration of sustainability disclosures within financial reporting systems worldwide.
