Website: https://www.globalreporting.org/
Email: gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org

Item 05 - Draft Activity Report 20202022
1For GSSB information
Date

15 March 2023

Meeting

28 March 2023

ProjectGSSB Activity Report 2020-2022

Description

Draft GSSB Activity Report 2020-2022 for information and feedback by GSSB
members2

This document has been prepared by the GRI Standards Division and is made available to observers
at meetings of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). It does not represent an official
position of the GSSB. Board positions are set out in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. TheGSSB is the independent standard setting body of GRI. For more information visit
www.globalreporting.org.

© GRI 2023

3ContentsIntroduction.............................................................................................................................................. 3
The Global Sustainability Standards Board ............................................................................................ 3
Overview of GSSB activities 2020-2022 ................................................................................................. 3
Timeline of meetings and activities ......................................................................................................... 32020 ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Q1 2020 ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Q2 2020 ............................................................................................................................................... 4Q3 2020 ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Q4 2020 ............................................................................................................................................... 52021 ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Q1 2021 ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Q2 2021 ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Q3 2021 ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Q4 2021 ............................................................................................................................................... 82022 ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Q1 2022 ............................................................................................................................................... 9Q2 2022 ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Q3 2022 ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Q4 2022 ............................................................................................................................................. 10GSSB members and constituencies ..................................................................................................... 11Page 2 of 114Introduction

5The Global Sustainability Standards Board

6The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) is responsible for issuing the GRI Sustainability

7

Reporting Standards (GRI Standards). The GSSB is an independent operating entity established8

under the auspices of GRI. It comprises 15 members representing diverse stakeholder perspectives

9and a range of expertise on sustainability reporting. The GSSB operates under its Terms of10Reference and follows a formally defined due process to ensure that the GRI Standards are11

developed in the public interest through an independent, transparent, and multi-stakeholder process.

12

The Due Process Oversight Committee oversees the application of the GSSB Due Process Protocol.

13

Overview of GSSB activities 2020-2022

14

Between the first quarter of 2020 to the final quarter of 2022, the GSSB developed the GRI Standards

15

according to the priorities identified in the GSSB Work Program 2020-2022. During this period, the16GSSB convened 35 virtual meetings and only one in-person meeting spanning two days in October172022 due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions during this period.

18The GSSB approved GRI 306: Waste 2020 and steered the development and final approval of the19

revised GRI Universal Standards 2021, comprising GRI 1: Foundation 2021, GRI 2: General

20

Disclosures 2021, and GRI 3: Material Topics 2021.

21

In the Sector Program, the GSSB approved the list of sectors prioritized in the work program. This

22

period also saw the completion of the Sector Program pilot projects, culminating in the publication of23

GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector 2021, GRI 12: Coal Sector 2022, and GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture

24

and Fishing Sectors 2022.

25

In addition, the GSSB approved projects for the mining sector and revision projects for biodiversity

26and labor. The GSSB also approved project proposals for the food and beverages sector, the textiles

27

and apparel sector, and the draft project proposals for climate and financial services.

28

Timeline of meetings and activities

29

2020

30

In 2020, the GSSB continued with the work to revise the Universal Standards and discussed feedback31

on specific concepts and disclosures, with the eventual approvals of exposure drafts GRI 101, 102,32and 103. After nearly 150 submissions were received on the Universal Standards exposure drafts, the33

GSSB discussed the substantive comments made by the public on key concepts, the statement of34

use, governance disclosures, and the reporting model.

Page 3 of 11

35

The final version of GRI 306: Waste 2020 was approved, with an effective date of 1 January 2022.

36

For the Sector Program, the GSSB supported the decision to develop coal as a separate Standard

37

and approved the exposure draft of the GRI Sector Standard for Oil and Gas.

38After considering the final list of prioritized sectors, the GSSB revised and approved the GSSB Work

39

Program 2020-2022.

40

Q1 2020

41

6 February – Agenda / Summary

42

11 February – Agenda / Summary

43

26 March – Agenda / Summary

44

Universal Standards

45

•

46

Discussed feedback regarding GRI 102 governance disclosures by the International
Corporate Governance Network (ICGN).

47

Waste

48

•Approved the final version of GRI 306: Waste 2020, without the need for re-exposure, with an49

effective date of 1 January 2022. A further decision was made to withdraw GRI 306: Effluents

50and Waste 2016 as of 31 December 2021.

51
52

Oil, gas and coal•

Discussed the draft GRI Sector Standard for Oil, Gas and Coal.

53

Q2 202054

23 April – Agenda / Summary

55

20 May – Agenda / Summary56

18 June – Agenda / Summary

57

Oil, gas and coal

58•

Reviewed the findings of the Project Working Group on the scope of the Sector Standard,

59

which found that although there are similarities across sectors, including three sectors in one

60

standard may impede their uptake.

61

•62
63

Resolved to support the decision to develop coal as a single standard and to revise andsubmit the Sector Standard for oil and gas for further public comment.

•The GSSB resolved to approve the exposure draft for GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector.

Page 4 of 11

64
65
66
67

Agriculture and fishing•

Approved the Project Working Group composition.

Universal Standards•

Discussed the inclusion of a management ‘sign-off’ statement in the Universal Standards in68

order for the senior decision-maker of an organization reporting using the GRI Standards to69

acknowledge responsibility for the organization’s use of the GRI Standards.

70

•

71

Approved the exposure draft of the Universal Standards: GRI 101, 102, and 103 in themeeting held on 20 May 2020.

72

Q3 202073

15 September – Agenda / Summary74

Human Rights

75

•

76
77
78

Approved proposed member for GRI Topic Standard Project for Human Rights TechnicalCommittee.

Work Program 2020–2022•

79

Discussed the overview of public comments received on the draft GSSB Work Program 20202022.

80

Q4 202081

22 October – Agenda / Summary

82

5 November – Agenda / Summary

83

19 November – Agenda / Summary

84

3 December – Agenda / Summary85

10 December – Agenda / Summary

86

Work Program 2020–202287•

88
89
90
91

Discussed and approved the revised work program for 2020-2022 and the revised list ofprioritized sectors for the GRI Sector Standards Program.

Oil, gas and coal•

Approved an additional member to the GRI Sector Standard Project for Oil, Gas and Coal
Working Group.

92

Page 5 of 1193
94

Universal Standards•

Discussed public comments on key concepts, the statement of use, the reporting model,95

governance disclosures, and the sustainable development dimensions in the Universal

96Standards exposure draft.

97•

Discussed the public comments on the use of Sector Standards collected during the exposure

98

periods for the Universal Standards and the Oil and Gas Sector Standard. The GSSB

99

recommended that the Standards Division explore the development of a requirement to100‘comply or explain’ for instances where a Sector Standard is in place, together with guidance

101

or a recommendation for reporting on commonly associated topics for a sector where no102

Sector Standard exists.

103

2021

104

The GSSB approved the final version of the revised GRI Universal Standards (GRI 1: Foundation

105

2021, GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021, and GRI 3: Material Topics 2021), with an effective date of 1106

January 2023.

107

GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector 2021 was also approved for publication, with an effective date of 1

108

January 2023, marking the first completed sector standard. Additionally, exposure drafts for GRI 12:

109

Coal Sector and GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors were approved. The mining

110

sector project was officially initiated.

111

For Topic Standards, the revision of GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016 was initiated.

112

Q1 2021113

21 January – Agenda / Summary

114

25 February – Agenda / Summary

115

4 March – Agenda / Summary

116

23 March – Agenda / Summary

117

25 March – Agenda / Summary

118

Universal Standards

119•

Continued discussions on the public feedback of the exposure drafts, focusing on key

120

concepts, the statement of use, the reporting model, governance disclosures, and the121

sustainable development dimensions.

122
123
124

Work Program 2020-2022•Discussed the project schedule for 2021, as included in the GSSB Work Program 20202022.

Page 6 of 11

125

Mining126•

Approved draft project proposal for GRI Sector Standard project for Mining.

127

Q2 2021128

29 April – Agenda / Summary

129

10 June – Agenda / Summary

130

17 June – Agenda / Summary

131

Universal Standards

132•

Approved GRI Universal Standards 2021, without re-exposure, with an effective date of 1133
134

January 2023.
•Resolved to approve withdrawal by 31 December 2022 of the GRI Universal Standards 2016,135

as well as Topic Standards GRI 307: Environmental Compliance 2016, GRI 412: Human136

Rights Assessment 2016, and GRI 419: Socioeconomic Compliance 2016 as their contents

137

were incorporated into the Universal Standards 2021.

138

Oil, gas and coal139•Provided feedback on the final draft of the GRI Sector Standard for Oil and Gas.

140•

Approved exposure draft for GRI Sector Standard for Coal.

141

Agriculture, aquaculture and fishing142•

Resolved to approve the change of the Sector Standard’s name to include aquaculture.

143•

Approved exposure draft for GRI Sector Standard for Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing.

144

Mining145•

Approved project proposal for GRI Sector Standard for Mining.

146

Q3 2021147

1 July – Agenda / Summary

148

23 September – Agenda / Summary

149

Oil, gas and coal

150
151

•Approved GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector 2021, without re-exposure, with an effective date of 1January 2023.

152

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153
154

Biodiversity•155

Approved draft project proposal and final proposal for GRI Topic Standard project for
Biodiversity.

156

Q4 2021157

21 October – Agenda / Summary

158

18 November – Agenda / Summary

159

9 December – Agenda / Summary

160

Work Program 2020-2022

161•GSSB discussed the 2022 addendum to the GSSB Work Program 2020-2022, outlining key

162

priorities for 2022.

163

Food and beverages

164
165
166
167

•

Approved draft project proposal for GRI Sector Standard project for Food and Beverages.

Textiles and apparel•Approved draft project proposal for GRI Sector Standard project for Textiles and Apparel.

Biodiversity

168•The GSSB approved the Technical Committee composition by electronic vote.

169•

Approved an additional member of the Technical Committee for the Topic Standard project170

for Biodiversity.

171

Mining

172

•

173
174
175

Approved the proposed working group for the GRI Sector Standard project for Mining.

Oil, gas and coal•

Provided feedback on the key conclusions from the public exposure period for the GRISector Standard for Coal.

176

2022

177

The GSSB concluded the project for the development of a standard for the coal sector with the178approval and launch of GRI 12: Coal Sector 2022. The GSSB approved the final GRI 13: Agriculture,

179

Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors 2022. The GSSB initiated a project to review the labor-related GRI

180

Topic Standards. The GSSB also approved final project proposals for the food and beverages sector,

181

the textiles and apparel sector, the draft project proposal for the financial services sector, and thePage 8 of 11

182

draft project proposal for climate. The GSSB held an in-person meeting in Amsterdam in October, at183

which the GSSB approved the draft Work Program 2023-2025 for public comment.

184

Q1 2022185

10 February – Agenda / Summary

186

17 March – Agenda / Summary

187

GSSB Work Program

188•Approved addendum to work program 2020-2022, outlining key work priorities for 2022.

189•

Started discussions on the development of the new work program 2023-2025, including a

190

process to invite external parties to provide feedback on priorities for the review of existing191

and development of new GRI Standards.

192•

Sector Standards will continue to be developed in 2022 according to the priority list as

193

resourcing enables.

194

Coal195•

Approved GRI 12: Coal Sector 2022, without the need for re-exposure, effective 1 January

196
197
198
199

2024 and subject to the proposed changes agreed with the GSSB.

Food and beverages•

Approved the final project proposal.

Textiles and apparel200•

Approved the final project proposal.

201•Apparel and footwear retail are included in the project scope.

202
203

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing•

Discussed feedback from the Public Comment Period on the Sector Standard's revised draft.

204

Q2 2022205

28 April – Agenda / Summary

206

19 May – Agenda / Summary20716 June – Agenda / Summary

208

Agriculture, aquaculture and fishing209•210

Approved GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors 2022, with an effective dateof 1 January 2024 and subject to the proposed changes agreed with the GSSB.

211

Labor

212

•

Approved the GRI Topic Standard Project for Labor – draft project proposal.

Page 9 of 11

213

Q3 2022214

7 July – Agenda / Summary

215

15 September – Agenda / Summary

216

Labor

217

•

Approved the final project proposal. The proposed timeline is expected to be 25 months.

218•Approved the proposed members for the technical committee.

219•A call for experts to join the advisory group to support the technical committee was launched.

220
221

Work Program 2023-2025•Discussed the preparation of the draft GSSB Work Program 2023-2025 and the key priority

222

areas: the review of existing Topic and Sector Standards; the development of new Topic and223

Sector Standards; a research program to support the development of Standards; cooperation

224

with other partners; and translations.

Q4 2022225

18-19 October – Agenda / Summary

226

17 November – Agenda / Summary

227

Work Program 2023-2025

228•

Approved the draft GSSB Work Program 2023-2025.

229•

Approved revised list of prioritized sectors.

230
231

Financial services•232

One financial services project will cover banking, insurance, and capital markets with aproposed timeline of approximately 30 months.

233

•

234

Climate

235

•

236

Labor

237

•

Approved the draft project proposal.

Approved draft project proposal.

Approved the list of proposed experts for the advisory group.

Page 10 of 11

238

GSSB members and constituencies
2020

2021

2022

Judy Kuszewski - Chair

Judy Kuszewski - Chair

Judy Kuszewski - Chair

Robyn Leeson - Vice-Chair

Robyn Leeson - Vice-Chair

Robyn Leeson - Vice-Chair

Loredana Carta - Labor

Loredana Carta - Labor

Loredana Carta - LaborPeter Colley - LaborPeter Colley - LaborPeter Colley - Labor

Evan Harvey - Investment

Giulia Genuardi - Business

Giulia Genuardi - Businessinstitution

enterpriseenterprise

Kirsten Margrethe Hovi -Evan Harvey - Investment

Evan Harvey - Investment

Business enterprise

institution

institution

Bruce Klafter - Business

Vincent Kong - Business

Vincent Kong - Businessenterpriseenterpriseenterprise

Vincent Kong - Business

Corli le Roux - Mediating

Corli le Roux - Mediating

enterpriseinstitution

institution

Corli le Roux - Mediating

Joseph Martin - Business

Joseph Martin - Businessinstitution

enterpriseenterprise

Joseph Martin - Business

Jennifer Princing - BusinessAnna Nefedova - Mediating

enterpriseenterprise

institution

Tung-Li Mo - Civil society

Kim Schumacher - Civil society

Jennifer Princing - Businessorganization

organizationenterpriseJennifer Princing - Business

Gustavo Sinner - Mediating

Kim Schumacher - Civil society

enterprise

institution

organization

Gustavo Sinner - Mediating

Kenton Swift - Civil society

Gangaa Charan Sharma -institution

organization

Business enterprise

Kenton Swift - Civil society

Rama Krishnan Venkateswaran

Kenton Swift - Civil society

organization- Investment institution

organization

Rama Krishnan

Michel Washer - Business

Rama Krishnan Venkateswaran

Venkateswaran - Investment

enterprise- Investment institution

institution
Michel Washer - Business

Michel Washer - Businessenterpriseenterprise

Page 11 of 11