WASHINGTON (October 21, 2026) - A coalition of civil society organizations has released a set of Principles for Good Governance in Corporate Standards, calling for strong scientific foundations, transparent decision-making, balanced stakeholder participation and safeguards against conflicts of interest.  

More than 40 organizations and experts from around the world have backed the ten principles. They come as several major corporate climate standards are undergoing significant revisions and as companies and governments increasingly rely on these standards to measure emissions, set targets and inform climate action.  

Following is a statement from Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:  

“WRI welcomes the principles on scientific integrity and good governance set out in this letter. They broadly align with the principles that have guided GHG Protocol and reinforce an important conversation about how voluntary standards can remain credible, independent and effective as they become more widely used.   
"We are proud to have co-hosted GHG Protocol for more than 25 years, with scientific integrity central to its success and widespread adoption. Today, 97% of S&P 500 companies reporting to CDP use GHG Protocol. But the ultimate measure of success is whether these standards help drive meaningful emissions reductions in the economy.  
"Developing voluntary standards is different from making public policy. Standards must earn their authority through rigorous scientific input, credible processes and widespread adoption. Scientific integrity must always come first, but even the strongest voluntary standard will have limited impact if it is not used. GHG Protocol’s multi-stakeholder process has evolved over time to navigate these imperatives.  

"Credibility also depends on how decisions are made. Transparent governance and funding, safeguards against conflicts of interest, diverse participation and clear explanations of how evidence and stakeholder input inform decisions are essential. No single industry or interest group should have disproportionate influence over standards that serve the wider public interest.  

"Credible standards must also be willing to evolve. The current Scope 2 revision reflects questions about whether aspects of the existing approach have consistently delivered the intended emissions outcomes. Forest carbon accounting illustrates another side of the same principle: where there is insufficient scientific confidence or stakeholder consensus, it is right to take more time rather than force an outcome.   

"As more governments incorporate GHG Protocol standards into policy and regulation, scrutiny of its science, process and governance will rightly increase. We welcome that scrutiny and support GHG Protocol in assessing these principles against its existing practices and strengthening them where needed.  

"The next chapter will bring new challenges as GHG Protocol standards are adopted and applied across more countries, sectors and regulatory contexts. Scientists, businesses, governments, civil society and standards organizations will need to work together to protect scientific integrity while ensuring standards remain practical, trusted and globally applicable. That is essential to fulfilling the purpose of greenhouse gas accounting and enabling credible action that delivers real-world emissions reductions."  
 

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