*One global carbon accounting standard by 2028*
It’s been announced that Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and International Organizations for Standardization (ISO) will launch a single, unified standard by 2028.
This is the harmonisation we’ve been waiting for. And it won’t be without friction.
What this means in practice:
1. One language for carbon emissions
No more translating between GHG Protocol scopes and ISO 14064 clauses. One framework = better comparability, fewer errors.
2. Less reporting burden
For corporates, suppliers, and especially SMEs. One set of requirements, one audit trail, one story for investors and customers.
3. More credibility
ISO brings formal standardisation and accreditation. GHG Protocol brings the calculation methodology the market already trusts. Together, they close the gap between rigor and usability.
4. Clearer policy alignment
Governments and regulators can point to one global benchmark instead of two parallel systems.
The drawbacks we need to plan for:
1. Transition cost + complexity
3 years sounds long. It isn’t. Companies will need to re-map inventories, retrain teams, update software, and re-baseline targets. That’s real time and money.
2. Risk of “lowest common denominator”
Merging two approaches means compromise. Some may worry we lose GHG Protocol’s flexibility or ISO’s strict governance in the process.
3. Implementation lag
A standard is only as good as adoption. Assurance bodies, software providers, and regulators all have to move in sync, or we get confusion during the switchover.
4. SME support gap
SMEs benefit most from simplicity, but they’re also least resourced to adapt. Without guidance, tools, and capacity building, this could widen the reporting gap.
We have until 2028. That’s our window to get this right.
For those of us helping organisations measure, report, and reduce: let’s use this time to influence the draft, pilot early, and make sure the standard works for both multinationals and the suppliers in their value chain.
The fragmented era of carbon accounting is ending. The era of consistency is starting — if we build it well.
