Topic Standard Project for Pollution
Standard(s) for reporting on pollution
Project Update
In March 2024, the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) approved a new Topic Standard project for pollution. In October 2024 the Pollution Working Group has been approved by the GSSB.
The Pollution Working Group brings together stakeholders from all over the world, representing the 5 GRI Constituencies and relevant pollution-related expertise. It will work on the development of pollution-related disclosures. The drafts are expected to be ready for comment in Q1 2026.
The project will follow the GSSB's Due Process Protocol. Get familiar with the GSSB Terms of Reference for more details.
The importance of this Standard
Pollution of air, water and soil significantly impacts the environment, biodiversity, human health and quality of life. For example according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2019”. Another example is that 16% of China’s soil is polluted, and there are approximately three million potentially polluted sites in the European Economic Area and the West Balkans. A healthy soil is important for agriculture and biodiversity, but it is also better at storing carbon dioxide (CO2).
Global organizations are every day more committed to reducing pollution, and reporting by businesses plays a key role as well. The new Topic Standard will provide disclosures facilitating reporting of emissions into air, soil, and water, including management strategies for emissions and response to critical incidents.
Read the project proposal for more information.
About this project
The project includes the revision of the following disclosures:
- Disclosures 305-6: Emissions of Ozone-depleting Substances (ODS), from GRI 305: Emissions 2016;
- Disclosures 305-7: Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Oxides (SOx), and other significant air emissions, from GRI 305: Emissions 2016;
- Disclosure 306-3: Significant Spills, from GRI 306: Effluents and Waste 2016.
It will however look at pollution more broadly, to reflect the latest internationally agreed best practices, and relevant intergovernmental instruments. Two overarching themes have been identified: emissions to air, soil and water, and critical incident management.
March
GSSB approval of the project proposal
October
Appointment of the Pollution Working Group, Bios available under Related documents
September 2024 – December 2025
Content development by the Technical Committee
January 2026
GSSB approval of the set of draft Standards for public exposure
May 2026 – December 2026
Analysis of public comments and revision of draft(s) with the Technical Committee
December 2026
GSSB approval of the Standard(s)
Related documents
| GRI Topic Standard Project for Pollution _Working Group Terms of Reference | file | 24 Jun 2024 | English | 582 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standard Project for Pollution_PWG_CandidateApplicationForm | file | 24 Jun 2024 | English | 206 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standard Project for Pollution _Project proposal | file | 14 Mar 2024 | English | 491 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standard Project For Pollution_Elaborated Scope | file | 01 Nov 2024 | English | 487 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standard Project for Pollution_Working Group Members | file | 03 Dec 2024 | English | 3.7 MB |
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