Barbara Strozzilaan 336
1083 HN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org

Item 04 – GSSB Work Program 20202022 – Exposure draft
For GSSB informationDate

1 September 2020

Meeting

15 September 2020

Description This paper presents the exposure draft of the GSSB Work Program 2020-2022
and the accompanying Project Schedule 2020, which was made available forpublic comment from 23 April to 23 June 2020.

This document has been prepared by the GRI Standards Division. It is provided as a convenience toobservers at meetings of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), to assist them infollowing the Board’s discussion. It does not represent an official position of the GSSB. Board
positions are set out in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. The GSSB is the independent
standard setting body of GRI. For more information visit www.globalreporting.org.
© GRI 2020

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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Review of existing GRI Standards ........................................................................................................................... 3
Development of new topic-specific Standards .................................................................................................... 3
Sector Program ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Issuance of FAQs, Guidance and authoritative interpretations....................................................................... 6
Project Schedule 2020 ............................................................................................................................................... 7Review of existing GRI Standards................................................................................................................... 7
Development of new topic-specific Standards ............................................................................................ 7
Sector Program ................................................................................................................................................... 7

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2Introduction

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The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) has sole responsibility for setting the first globally
accepted standards for sustainability reporting – the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards.

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Established as an independent operating entity under the auspices of GRI, the GSSB is formed of 15
members representing a range of expertise and multi-stakeholder perspectives on sustainabilityreporting. The GSSB operates under the GSSB Terms of Reference to oversee the development ofthe GRI Standards according to a formally defined due process.

9The GSSB works exclusively in the public interest and according to the vision and mission of GRI.

1011This document outlines the work program of the GSSB for the years 2020-2022. The
implementation of the work program is dependent on the budget allocation by the GRI.

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Based on the available budget the GSSB will publish a project schedule on an annual basis between
2020 and 2022 on the GSSB website. The project schedule will provide an indication of how thework program outlined in this document can be implemented.

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Review of existing GRI Standards

1617The GSSB is committed to review all existing GRI Standards every 4 years to guarantee that theyreflect the global multi-stakeholder consensus and continue to promote the public interest.

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1920Priorities for review will be identified by the GSSB based on stakeholder feedback received, including
through the GSSB’s public consultations on the work program, as well as on research carried out bythe Standards Division and third parties.

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The GSSB will publish a schedule for the review of Standards annually between 2020 and 2022 onthe GSSB website.

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Based on the priorities identified by the GSSB, the Standards Division will undertake this work in linewith the Due Process Protocol.

Development of new topic-specific26Standards
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In addition to the ongoing review of existing GRI Standards the GSSB is committed to have 5 new
topic-specific Standards under development concurrently to ensure that the GRI Standards reflect
the ongoing evolution of the sustainable development agenda, are responsive to stakeholderexpectations and continue to promote the public interest.

313233Priorities for the development of new topic-specific Standards will be identified by the GSSB basedon stakeholder feedback received, including through the GSSB’s public consultations on the work
program, as well as on research carried out by the Standards Division and third parties.

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New Standards might be required in order to address sustainability topics not covered by the GRI
Standards, including those identified through the Sector Program, and reflect changes in thestructure of the GRI Standards.

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The GSSB will publish a schedule for the development of new topic-specific Standards annually
between 2020 and 2022 on the GSSB website.

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Based on the priorities identified by the GSSB, the Standards Division will undertake this work in linewith the Due Process Protocol.

41Sector Program

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Sustainability reporting by organizations operating within specific sectors has not always consistently
addressed those sectors’ most significant impacts. The GSSB has approved the GRI Sector Program
to develop GRI Sector Standards to address this issue. The Sectors Standards will form an integralpart of the GRI Standards.

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Authoritative information on sector-specific impacts offered by the GRI Sector Standards will
provide clarity and focus for sustainability reporting on the topics that matter most from asustainable development perspective. This information can both reflect and set stakeholder
expectations for the sector’s sustainability reporting.

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The aim for the GRI Sector Program is ultimately to cover 40-45 high-impact sectors. Priority
Groups 1- 4, in Tables 1 to 4 below, provide an indication of the prioritization of the 44 high-impact
sectors initially identified for the program. The order of sectors within the priority groups is not yetdetermined.

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The GSSB will continue to review and refine the initial list of high-impact sectors, and related
priority groups, based on the learnings from the pilot projects on the oil, gas and coal andagriculture sectors, as well as learnings from the overall program implementation and fromstakeholder feedback.

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The scope and name of individual sectors may be adjusted as a result of research and stakeholder
input at the commencement and throughout each sector project.

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The first sectors to prioritize (Priority Group 1) are upstream sectors providing for fundamental
needs (e.g. food, textiles, energy) or for basic materials on which other sectors depend (e.g. metals,minerals, chemicals, cement, wood). In addition, banking is included as an essential service.

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Table 1: Priority Group 1 sectors: Basic needs and basic materials
Agriculture
Banking
Chemicals
Construction materials
Forestry, paper, and rubber
Iron, steel, and aluminum processing

Page 4 of 7Mining
Oil, gas, and coal
Textiles and apparel manufacturing
Utilities
646566Priority Group 2 sectors contain the manufacture of ubiquitous and critical products such asprocessed food, medicine, planes, ships, cars and trucks, and computers, as well as the provision ofessential services, such as insurance.

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Table 2: Priority Group 2 Sectors: Food, medicines, manufacturing and insurance
Asset management
Aerospace and defence
AutomotiveConstruction
Fishing
Food Processing
Industrial manufacturing of machinery and equipment
Insurance
Pharmaceuticals manufacturing
Technology hardware manufacturing

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Priority Group 3 sectors cover transportation services and infrastructure, as well as real estate,
tourism, technology and communication services.

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Table 3: Priority Group 3 Sectors: Transportation, tourism, tech, and real estate
Air freightAirlines
Hotels, resorts and casinos
Media and communication services
RailReal estate
Shipping
Software and services
Transportation infrastructure

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Trucking
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Priority Group 4 sectors include remaining high-impact sectors. The table below gives an indicationof the sectors that could be covered in Priority Group 4.

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Table 4: Priority Group 4 sectors: Retail, services, and manufacturing
Stock exchanges
Building products
Commercial services
Educational services
Electronics manufacturing
Home appliances
Managed healthcare
Medical equipment and services
Consumer services
Packaging
Restaurants
RetailSecurity services and correctional facilities
Trading and distribution

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The GSSB will publish a schedule for Sector Standard projects annually between 2020 and 2022 onthe GSSB website.

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Based on the priorities identified by the GSSB, the Standards Division will undertake this work in linewith the Due Process Protocol.

Issuance of FAQs, Guidance and79
authoritative interpretations
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Interested stakeholders can submit questions and feedback to the GSSB about the application of theGRI Standards through standards@globalreporing.org

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After reviewing the feedback received, if necessary, the GSSB will issue FAQs or interpretations, orit will provide additional guidance to address implementation issues identified by the users of theGRI Standards.

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Project Schedule 2020

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Review of existing GRI Standards

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The GSSB aims to complete the following three projects in 2020:

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1. Phase 1 of the Review of Human rights-related Standards
1. Review of GRI’s Universal Standards (GRI 101: Foundation, GRI 102: General Disclosures, GRI103: Management Approach)
2. Review of GRI Waste Disclosures

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Based on the budget allocation for 2020, the GSSB is, at the point of issuance of the Work Program
2020-2022, not in a position to commit to the commencement of further projects to review existing
GRI Standards.

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The GSSB has identified the review of GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016 as a priority project if further budget
becomes available.

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Additional priority projects for the review of existing GRI Standards in 2020 will be identified by theGSSB based on the stakeholder feedback received, including through the GSSB’s public consultations
on the Work Program 2020-2022. Pending projects that have previously been approved by the GSSB
will be considered, as well.

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Development of new topic-specific Standards

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Based on the budget allocation for 2020, the GSSB is, at the point of issuance of the Work Program,
not in a position to commit to the commencement of projects for the development of new topicspecific Standards.

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Priority projects for the development of new topic-specific GRI Standards in 2020 will be identified
by the GSSB based on the stakeholder feedback received, including through the GSSB’s public
consultations on the Work Program 2020-2022. Pending projects that have previously been
approved by the GSSB will be considered, as well.

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Sector Program

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The GSSB will continue the first pilot project, the Oil, Gas, and Coal Sector Standard, andcommence the second pilot project, the Agriculture and Fishing Sector Standard.

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Based on the budget allocation for 2020, the GSSB is, at the point of issuance of the Work program
2020-2022, not in a position to commit to the commencement of further Sector Standard projects.

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