SDG Reporting and Assessment
GRI and the SDGs
Alyson Genovese
Director, USA & Canada
19 April 2018
What is GRI? International independent organization that
has pioneered sustainability reporting for two decades. We
help businesses and governments understand and
communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues.
Our VISION: A thriving global community that lifts
humanity and enhances the resources on which all life
depends.
Our MISSION: To empower decisions that create social,
environmental and economic benefits for everyone
Reporting Today
45,000+ Sustainability Reports registered in the SDD
92% of Global250 issue sustainability reports – 74% use GRI
315 of the FT Europe 500 use GRI
85% of S&P 500 issue sustainability reports – 68% use GRI
GRI-based Sustainability Reports:
• More thorough, more complete
• Higher EcoVadis scores
• Easier to navigate
• Better quality information
Sources: KPMG, G&A Institute, CSE, FT
Our Focus Areas
Create standards
and guidance to
advance
sustainable
development
1 2
Harmonize the
sustainability
landscape
3
Lead efficient and
effective
sustainability
reporting
4
Drive effective use
of sustainability
information to
improve
performance
What are Characteristics of a “Good” Report?
• References an international standard
• Reflects input/commitment from company’s highest governance body
• Applies principles of Materiality & Boundary Setting and Stakeholder Inclusiveness
• Sets targets & measuring progress towards them
• Meets all regulatory requirements in local markets
• Incorporates at least partial level of assurance
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
The SDGs call for worldwide joint action among governments, business and civil society to solve pressing global sustainability issues.
In 2017, GRI and the UN Global Compact launched a three year initiative, Business
Reporting on the SDGs, a multi-stakeholder Action Platform aimed at facilitating corporate reporting on the SDGs.
List of business
disclosures
Across the SDGS
1 2
Publication
on best practice
SDGs reporting
3
Further integration
of SDGs into
frameworks
4
SDG Data
aggregation
Expected Outcomes:
Voluntary National Reviews
countries presented their VNR
consulted private sector for the review
refer to CSR & sustainability reporting
2017
43
93%
59%
2016
22
85%
50%
Private Sector Response to SDGs43% of G250 reporters link CR activities to the SDGs
43% of G250
reporters link
CR activities to
the SDGs
39% of N100
reporters link
CR activities to
the SDGs
Top sector in G250
reporting on the SDGs
1. Utilities
2. Automotive
3. Retail
6%
align to specific targets & measure
contributions
45% align their strategy to SDGs
79% acknowledge
the SDGs
WBCSD companies members
Reporting Matters Report 2017
KPMG 2017
Survey report
GRI Reporting, SDG referencesFor publication years 2016 -2017*
Data from GRI’s Sustainability Disclosure Database, Retrieved 13 November 2017
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Globally
United States of America
Japan
SDG reference No SDG reference
* Report registration is an ongoing process, hence these are not the final numbers – it is only what GRI is aware of
Currently Available Tools
• Guides companies to
align their strategies,
measure and manage
their contributions to
the SDGs
• A written guide and
two online tool
www.sdgcompass.org
SDG Compass
• Categorize targets and
create list of existing
business indicators
• Create common language
for SDG reporting
• Identify gaps (missing
indicators)
Analysis of Goals & Targets
LATER PHASEPHASE 1 (2017)
On the Horizon
Other Efforts to Support SDGs through Disclosure
• Supporting Smart Policy by UN agencies, statistical agencies and governments
• Engage with stock markets, sustainability reporting as a tool for Finance for Development
• Alignment and linkages of business and national indicators
• Engage with SMEs and enable sustainability reporting
SDG Target 12.6 Live Tracker
Target 12.6 – “Encourage companies, especially large and
transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices
and to integrate sustainability information into their
reporting cycle”
• Shows policy development and sustainability
reporting data by country
• Search by country, region, sector, size of the
company, year and report type
• Developed by GRI and Tata
Consultancy Serviceshttp://database.globalreporting.org/SDG-12-6
www.globalreporting.org
Barbara Strozzilaan 336
1083 HN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Amsterdam – Beijing – Bogota – Johannesburg – New Delhi – New York – São Paulo
THANK YOU