The sustainability reporting landscape: principles, frameworks, standards & regulations

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (OECD Guidelines) are recommendations from governments to multinational enterprises on responsible business conduct.

The OECD Guidelines set standards for responsible business conduct across a range of issues such as human rights, labour rights, and the environment. The OECD Guidelines also establish a unique, government-backed, international grievance mechanism to address complaints between companies covered by the OECD Guidelines, and individuals who feel negatively impacted by irresponsible business conduct.

Science based targets (SBT) are a way for companies to define emissions reduction targets. Unlike traditional “potential-based targets”, SBTs follow a “top-down” approach: they focus on the quantity of emissions that needs to be reduced in order to meet the targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement, limiting global warming to 1.5°C. In addition, the Net-Zero Standard, launched in October 2021, gives companies a science-based framework for defining ambitious and effective climate targets with a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions.

In order to advocate and strengthen sustainability reporting in the EU, the Commission adopted a proposal in April 2021 for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which would amend existing reporting standards. One of the core provisions of the CSRD is compliance with European sustainability reporting standards (ESRS). The first draft will be adapted and submitted to the European Commission in November 2022. The proposed structure of the ESRS covers social, environmental, and governance topics as well as standards for cross-cutting standards.

Established in 1998, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) provides a globally standardized framework to measure and manage GHG emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains and emission reduction actions. It was formed through a partnership between the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development because of the need for a consistent framework for greenhouse gas reporting.