ISO, WRI, and WBCSD to Cooperate on Greenhouse-Gas Paperwork

(ISO:Geneva) – The International Organization for Standardization, the World Resources Institute, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development have signed a memorandum of understanding under which they have agreed to jointly promote the ISO 14064 standards and the WRI and WBCSD green house gas (GHG) protocol standards.

The three organizations will work together to promote their GHG accounting and reporting standards, which may bolster confidence among companies seeking to understand and manage their (GHG) emissions.

The move is in response to concerns among businesses and GHG program designers that the two standards might not be consistent and mutually supportive. For corporate accounting, requirements and guidance contained in ISO and GHG Protocol standards are consistent and they are designed so that they can be used in a complementary manner.

“We are positive that closer collaboration between our three international organizations will increase convergence as well as institutional and corporate confidence in developing and maintaining credible climate change and GHG emissions credits trading programs,” says Alan Bryden, ISO Secretary-General.

By working together, the organizations hope to be better able to deal with technical issues, promote the standardized tools, and raise awareness through more concentrated education, training, and capacity building.

ISO, WRI, and WBCSD have already collaborated on the multiple globally accepted standards for GHG accounting and reporting. The ISO 14064 standard, established in 2006, is consistent and compatible with the GHG Protocol, published by WRI and WBCSD in 2004. ISO, WRI, and WBCSD are encouraging corporations, governments, and others to use them as complementary tools. ISO 14064 details internationally agreed requirements on what needs to be done in GHG accounting and verification efforts, while the GHG Protocol outlines what needs to be done and how to undertake GHG accounting and reporting.

For more information, visit www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?archive=2007.

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