Climate Reporting: The Standards Behind the Numbers
COP31 Guide: Climate Reporting Standards Behind Your Data
Every climate report leaves a trail of data. Long before emissions figures are published, they pass through site teams, sustainability analysts, independent auditors and the board.
Australia is set to preside over the COP31 negotiations, which is taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. This is significant for businesses across Australia to ask where your numbers come from. This guide traces emissions figures from site to report and shows which climate reporting standards underpin each handover and how to use them.
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Key Takeaways
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Why Climate Reporting Standards are Relevant Now
Climate-related information is increasingly reported alongside financial results, so how your organisation calculates and verifies greenhouse gas data matters too.
Reporting standards guide organisations on the types of data that can be disclosed. IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures is the global baseline issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). In Australia, the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) publishes the local equivalent of IFRS S2, AASB S2.
But a disclosure framework doesn't explain how to build an emissions inventory or manage its system. That's where international standards come in. They give finance, sustainability and operations teams a common methodology, ensuring that each figure can be traced and repeated next year.
Several standards have also changed recently:
- ISO 14001:2026 was published on 15 April 2026.
- ISO 14068:2026 was published on 11 September 2026, replacing ISO 14068-1:2023, which was withdrawn on the same date.
- IFRS S2 was amended in December 2025. The amendments apply to reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, with early adoption permitted.
Since reporting obligations vary by organisation and jurisdiction, always confirm your specific requirements with your regulator or legal adviser.
How ISO Climate Reporting Standards Fit Together
There are four ISO standards that cover the climate reporting journey, from measuring emissions to making a claim about them.
Measure Emissions with ISO 14064-1:2018
ISO 14064-1:2018 sets out the principles and requirements for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals at an organisational level. It covers designing, developing, managing, reporting and verifying a GHG inventory.
Greenhouse Gas Verification: ISO 14064-3:2019
ISO 14064-3:2019 specifies the requirements for verifying and validating GHG statements. It applies to organisation, project and product statements. It also gives auditors a clear framework to assess whether your climate data is accurate, complete and ready for public scrutiny.
ISO 14068 Carbon Neutrality Claims
When you're ready to communicate your achievements, ISO 14068:2026 outlines how to achieve and demonstrate carbon neutrality. It prioritises genuine emission reductions and removals within your own value chain before you turn to offsetting. It also sets strict guardrails for making carbon neutrality claims to help you avoid greenwashing risks.
Environmental Management: ISO 14001:2026
While the other standards focus on data, ISO 14001:2026 specifies requirements for environmental management systems. For a primer on the standard, read our guide to ISO 14001.
Where IFRS S2 and AASB S2 Sit Alongside ISO Standards
While reporting frameworks guide organisations on what data to disclose, ISO standards define how to measure and verify that data.
For instance, IFRS S2 refers to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard (2004) for measuring emissions. Conversely, ISO 14064-1 sets the rules for building an organisation-level inventory. The best method for your business depends entirely on the framework and jurisdiction you report under.
| Standard or framework | Region | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures | International | Climate-related disclosure requirements |
| AASB S2 Climate-related Disclosures | Australia (APAC) | The Australian equivalent for climate-related disclosures |
| ESRS E1 Climate Change (reference only) | European Union (EMEA) | Climate change disclosures under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. |
| CSDS 2 Climate-related Disclosures | Canada (AMER) | Canada's IFRS S2-based climate standard, published on 18 December 2024 for voluntary use |
How to Keep Track of Climate Reporting Standards
A simple routine keeps your climate reporting standards up to date without adding extra work.
- List your frameworks: Identify exactly what you report against (such as AASB S2 or IFRS S2).
- Map each one to the ISO standards: Link each framework to the ISO standards that help you measure, verify and manage your climate data.
- Track current editions: Note the versions you currently use. Keep a particularly close eye on ISO 14064-1:2018, which is currently scheduled for revision.
Key Takeaways for Climate Reporting
The right standards work together to make your data credible. ISO 14064-1 defines what you measure, ISO 14064-3 governs how that data is verified, ISO 14068 shapes your claims and ISO 14001 keeps the process repeatable.
Paired with frameworks like IFRS S2 and AASB S2, they give your data a rock-solid foundation. Find the complete library on Intertek Inform to help your team skip the search and stay productive.
Frequently asked questions
ISO 14064-1:2018 covers quantifying and reporting GHG emissions and removals at the organisation level. ISO 14064-3:2019 covers verification of GHG statements, and ISO 14068:2026 covers carbon neutrality claims. Meanwhile, ISO 14001:2026 provides the environmental management system around them.
ISO 14064-1 sets out requirements for quantifying and reporting an organisation's GHG emissions and removals. In contrast, ISO 14064-3 sets out requirements for verifying and validating GHG statements. In short, one helps you build the inventory and the other helps you check it.
Yes. ISO 14068:2026 was published on 11 September 2026 and replaces ISO 14068-1:2023, which was withdrawn on the same date. It covers principles, requirements and guidance for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality. Check that your policies and reports cite the current edition.
Not directly. ISO 14001:2026 specifies requirements for an environmental management system and doesn't set specific environmental performance criteria. GHG inventories are specifically covered by ISO 14064-1.
IFRS S2 is the ISSB's climate-related disclosures standard, and AASB S2 is its Australian equivalent. They set out what data to disclose, so they don't replace the ISO standards.