The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the IFRS Foundation have strengthened their partnership to create a comprehensive and seamless sustainability reporting system. Building on their 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, this collaboration aims to optimize how GRI and ISSB Standards can be used together to meet the information needs of both investors and a broader range of stakeholders. 

This enhanced collaboration will facilitate reporting on an organization’s impacts, risks, and opportunities, including those arising from the organization’s impacts. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) are committed to identifying and aligning common disclosures that address information needs under their respective standards. An initial outcome will involve a methodology pilot based on the recently published GRI 101 Biodiversity Standard and the ISSB’s upcoming project on Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Ecosystem Services. 

Despite their close cooperation, the ISSB and the GSSB will continue to make decisions independently, following their established standard-setting due processes, including public consultation on any proposed amendments to their respective standards. 

Erkki Liikanen, Chair of the IFRS Foundation Trustees, emphasized the importance of ensuring compatibility and interconnectedness between the standards to reduce duplication and complexity in sustainability disclosures. Eelco van der Enden, CEO of GRI, highlighted the goal of increasing transparency and achieving consistent and clear sustainability reporting. Carol Adams, Chair of the GSSB, noted the collaboration’s aim to enhance disclosures on significant impacts and sustainability-related risks and opportunities, with a focus on biodiversity. 

Emmanuel Faber, ISSB Chair, stated that this advanced collaboration with GRI would strengthen the ISSB’s work in meeting the information needs of capital markets. The partnership will enable companies to apply both ISSB and GRI Standards seamlessly, facilitating reporting to a broader range of stakeholders. 

The ISSB will continue to focus on meeting investors’ information needs about sustainability-related risks and opportunities. In contrast, the GSSB will address a broader range of stakeholders’ needs concerning organizations’ significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people. 

Sources: 

https://www.ifrs.org/news-and-events/news/2024/05/gri-and-ifrs-foundation-collaboration-to-deliver-full-interoperability/ 

https://www.ez-xbrl.com/news/gri-ifrs-seamless-sustainability-reporting/