ISO and GHG Protocol merge their carbon accounting frameworks in a landmark move that could reshape how businesses measure and report greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) have revealed plans to merge their corporate carbon accounting frameworks into a single co-branded global standard. The unified framework will integrate Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, Actions and Market Instruments (AMI), and ISO 14064-1 standards, creating one globally recognised methodology for emissions reporting. The announcement comes at a time when nearly 40 jurisdictions have adopted or announced mandatory sustainability reporting aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), all of which reference the GHG Protocol.

As governments tighten climate disclosure regulations and businesses face increasing compliance requirements, the new framework aims to simplify reporting, improve transparency, and accelerate global decarbonisation.

A Major Overhaul of Global Carbon Accounting

The partnership between ISO and GHG Protocol represents one of the most significant changes to corporate carbon accounting in over a decade.

• According to GHG Protocol Chief Executive Tim Mohin, carbon accounting standards are no longer just technical guidelines; they now influence policy, investment decisions and international trade.
• The proposed framework will combine the widely used Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions standards with ISO’s corporate greenhouse gas accounting standard into a single jointly governed system.
• Businesses will also report under the Actions and Market Instruments (AMI) approach, which introduces three separate disclosures: actual emissions produced, market instruments used to offset emissions, and the overall climate impact of company actions.

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Why the unified framework matters

The ISO and GHG Protocol merge their carbon accounting frameworks, which are designed to eliminate inconsistencies between existing reporting frameworks while reducing the burden on businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. The organisations believe a single global standard will make carbon reporting easier to implement, encourage broader stakeholder participation through one coordinated consultation process, and help unlock greater investment in climate action.

The announcement also comes as carbon accounting becomes increasingly important due to regulations such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which places carbon-related costs on imported products with higher emissions.

Product-Level Accounting is the Next Step

Beyond corporate reporting, ISO and GHG Protocol are also developing co-branded product-level carbon accounting standards.

Demand for product-level emissions data continues to rise as international trade regulations increasingly require manufacturers to disclose the carbon footprint of individual products.

Although organisations such as Carbon Measures, backed by companies including ExxonMobil, Toyota and Bank of America, have proposed alternative approaches, Mohin emphasised that no competing global accounting standard currently exists. He also rejected suggestions that the ISO partnership was a response to Carbon Measures, noting that discussions between ISO and GHG Protocol began before the coalition officially launched.

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What Businesses Can Expect?

• For companies already following GHG Protocol guidance, the announcement does not introduce immediate reporting changes.
• Instead, the organisations will develop the integrated framework over the coming months before launching a global public consultation in the second quarter of 2027.

According to Mohin, the long-term goal is to establish a common global language for both corporate and product-level carbon accounting. By aligning international reporting standards under one framework, ISO and GHG Protocol hope to provide businesses, regulators and investors with more consistent, reliable and transparent emissions data while supporting the transition toward a lower-carbon global economy.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Framework

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