The sustainability reporting landscape is shifting fast. With increasing scrutiny from regulators, investors, and the public, organisations are under pressure to deliver disclosures that are not only accurate but also aligned across frameworks. In response, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has unveiled two major updates to its GRI standards: GRI 102: Climate Change and GRI 103: Energy. These revamped GRI sustainability reporting standards aim to bring greater consistency, accountability, and interoperability to corporate sustainability reporting worldwide.
GRI 102: Climate Change – From emissions to just transitions
Replacing parts of GRI 305 and GRI 201, GRI 102: Climate Change introduces a comprehensive approach to emissions disclosure, climate risk management, and just transition. It reinforces alignment with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) and supports organisations in setting and tracking science-based targets.Â
Importantly, it expands reporting beyond emissions to include impacts on workers, communities, and vulnerable groups, marking a more holistic evolution in GRI reporting standards. New requirements include transition plan disclosures, use of GHG removals and carbon credits, and fossil fuel phase-out commitments. This reflects a wider shift: GRI standards are now about operational integrity and not just environmental data.Â
Interoperability with SBTi, IFRS and EU frameworks
One of the most significant aspects of the 2025 update is interoperability. GRI 102 is now closely aligned with:
- The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Corporate Net Zero Standard.
- The IFRS S2 climate disclosure standard from the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
- The EU’s ESRS E1 standard, through collaboration with the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG).
This alignment enables companies to use the Global Reporting Initiative standards alongside financial and regulatory disclosures. It streamlines compliance for businesses managing reporting obligations across jurisdictions and frameworks, significantly enhancing the efficiency of GRI sustainability reporting standards.
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GRI 103: Energy – A new focus on future impact
The updated GRI 103: Energy standard supersedes GRI 302 and provides more in-depth insights into energy consumption, renewable sourcing, and energy-related emissions. New disclosures require reporting on value chain energy impacts, energy intensity, and forward-looking energy transition strategies.Â
It supports organisations in demonstrating how energy policies contribute to a decarbonised economy. This upgrade ensures that GRI sector standards reflect current expectations for operational transparency and climate responsibility.
Final thoughts – What this means for businessesÂ
The updated GRI standards signal a new chapter in corporate sustainability reporting. With increased alignment across global frameworks, these changes may simplify compliance, but they also raise the bar on transparency and accountability.Â
Organisations now face growing pressure to produce consistent, credible data on emissions, energy use, and the social impacts of their transition plans. Meeting these expectations will demand internal capability. Teams must understand how to interpret and apply GRI reporting standards, engage with frameworks like SBTi, IFRS S2, and ESRS E1, and translate disclosures into strategic decision-making.Â
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