GHG Protocol advances Actions and Market Instruments reporting framework

The GHG Protocol updated its Actions and Market Instruments workstream, developing a multi-statement reporting framework for emissions impacts outside the traditional Scope 1, 2 and 3 inventory, with a Phase 1 White Paper and public consultation targeted for early 2026. Indian companies in hard-to-abate sectors should monitor the standard shaping how external decarbonisation investments are reported.

The GHG Protocol updated its Actions and Market Instruments (AMI) workstream, developing a corporate reporting structure for emissions impacts outside the traditional Scope 1, 2 and 3 inventory boundary. The framework enables transparent reporting on market instruments and external investments such as biomethane certificates, sustainable aviation fuel contracts and virtual power agreements, targeting hard-to-abate sectors like steel, aviation, shipping and cement. A multi-stakeholder Technical Working Group concluded a three-day workshop in Washington DC. A Phase 1 White Paper is in production, with public consultation targeted for early 2026.

Companies in hard-to-abate sectors, including steel production, aviation, shipping and cement manufacturing, are directly targeted, alongside firms making low-carbon contractual investments. The Technical Working Group includes NGOs, government representatives, academia and key climate programs such as SBTi, CDP, the AIM Platform, Value Change Initiative, VCMI and TCAT. Investors and global regulators relying on corporate GHG reporting are affected, as the framework aims to capture diverse positive impacts of corporate actions credibly and consistently to uphold integrity and comparability.

Affected companies should monitor the Phase 1 White Paper outlining the standard's principles and key concepts, and prepare for the public consultation period targeted for early 2026, after which official standard drafting is expected to follow immediately. Firms in hard-to-abate sectors should assess how the multi-statement framework will capture external decarbonisation investments and contractual instruments like biomethane certificates and sustainable aviation fuel contracts outside their physical inventory boundary.

Key figure — Consultation timing: public consultation on the AMI Phase 1 White Paper targeted for early 2026