GRI research finds only 34% of large companies report air pollutants

The Global Reporting Initiative published "The Air Pollution Reporting Gap," finding only 34% of the 200 largest global companies report at least one non-greenhouse-gas air pollutant. Coupled with the new GRI 305: Emissions 2024 standard, the findings signal tightening disclosure expectations Indian industrial firms will need to meet.

The Global Reporting Initiative published a research paper, "The Air Pollution Reporting Gap," examining how the world's largest companies manage and disclose air-quality impacts. While greenhouse-gas disclosure has improved, non-GHG pollutant reporting remains critically overlooked. Air pollution causes approximately nine million premature deaths annually and costs the global economy trillions of dollars in lost productivity. The study analysed the 200 largest global companies, finding only 34% reported at least one non-GHG air pollutant, with even fewer disclosing particulate matter.

Industrial companies, particularly those with combustion-intensive or aging infrastructure, are most affected, as high non-GHG emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter often signal suboptimal combustion or operational inefficiency. GRI updated its standards through GRI 305: Emissions 2024, requiring more comprehensive and frequent air-pollution reporting that accounts for all atmospheric impacts beyond carbon. Companies failing to adapt may face regulatory fines, increased litigation risk, and reputational damage as regulators link industrial emissions to public-health outcomes.

Companies should rapidly upgrade monitoring systems to capture a broader array of pollutants beyond carbon dioxide and prepare to comply with GRI 305: Emissions 2024 disclosure requirements. Future mandates are expected to align more closely with World Health Organization air-quality guidelines, so firms should track regulatory developments. Disclosing non-GHG metrics also helps target technical upgrades and improve resource efficiency. Investors must integrate air-quality metrics into risk assessments to avoid "polluter pays" liabilities and reputational exposure.

Key figure — Reporting gap: Only 34% of the 200 largest companies report a non-GHG air pollutant