An overview of research publications by or related to GRI that are not part of the Research and Development Series. For details on the Research and Development Series see the Research and Development Series page.

Currently the following research publications available for download on this page:

·    High Impact Sectors: The challenge of Reporting on Climate Change (2009)

·    Getting it - expert perspectives on the corporate response to climate change (2009)

·    Corporate Human Rights Reporting - An Analysis of Current Trends (2009)

·    Trends in online sustainability reporting - Communicating sustainability: a joint GRI/Radley Yeldar research project (2008)

·    KPMG International Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2008 (2008)

·    Count me in -The readers' take on sustainability reporting (2008)

·    Making the Switch (2006)

·    Past, present, future: all you need to know about the G3 Guidelines

·    Public Agency Sustainability Reporting (2004)

·    Reporting Guidance on HIV/AIDS (2003)

Please find more details and a link to for the download below.

High Impact Sectors: The Challenge of Reporting on Climate Change

This report, combining the wealth of data available to long-term partners GRI and ACCA, provides a unique insight into the degree to which large companies around the world have begun to disclose their GHG accounting and strategies for reduction. Section 1 provides an overview of current climate change initiatives and the changing landscape ahead. Section 2 presents an analysis of carbon reporting disclosures across 14 high-impact industry sectors from 2003 to 2008.Section 3 provides an analysis of carbon reporting disclosures in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India. China) and South Africa. Section 4 comprises a series of expert perspectives on the corporate response to climate change.,

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Professor Tim Jackson, Rory Sullivan and Lord Adair Turner for their insights.

Getting it - expert perspectives on the corporate respone to climate change

This report from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and GRI interviewed six business and sustainability experts about the climate change and business debate.

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Corporate Human Rights Reporting - An Analysis of Current Trends

This independent analysis, based on a review of 57 recent sustainability reports from companies representing a range of industry sectors, presents examples of encouraging trends in human rights reporting, as well as indications of key areas where there is room for improvement.

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Trends in online sustainability reporting - Communicating sustainability: a joint GRI/Radley Yeldar research project

The research, a joint partnership between the GRI – provider of the world’s most widely-used sustainability reporting framework -  and UK-based communications consultancy Radley Yeldar, looked at 40 organizations from around the world who report using the GRI G3 Guidelines. The findings identify a number of factors that can determine the effectiveness of online reporting, including the format, and how new digital technologies are used to enhance the user-experience.

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KPMG International Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2008

The purpose of this survey was to track reporting trends in the world’s largest companies. The sample of over 2200 companies included the Global Fortune 250 (G250) and the 100 largest companies by revenue (N100) in 22 countries. The survey also presents historical data where possible.

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Count me in -The readers' take on sustainability reporting

This report presents the findings and analysis from the first GRI Readers' Choice survey of readers of sustainability reports. In the years since the advent of sustainability reporting, many surveys and research exercises have attempted to establish opinions and consensus on what comprises quality reporting. But very little attention has been focused on the readers of these reports: Who are they? What do they think of reports? What do they use reports for?

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Download publication in Español (PDF)

Making the Switch

The popular resource for transitioning from G2 to G3. Includes summary of changes, tips for transitioning and valuable insights from those already making the switch to the G3.

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Past, present, future: all you need to know about the G3 Guidelines

The G3 brought together literally thousands from all sectors around the world. This piece traces the evolution of the G3, explaining where the G3 came from, how it was created, and how it will shape sustainability reporting for years to come.

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Public Agency Sustainability Reporting

As new mechanisms for corporate accountability have begun to take shape, there have been calls - both from within and outside the public sector - for governments to demonstrate their leadership not only through policies, but equally as important, through their own actions. As significant employers, providers of services and consumers of resources, public authorities can have a major impact on national and global progress towards sustainable development.

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Reporting Guidance on HIV/AIDS

Publication is based on the 2002 Guidelines. The document is an expansion of the core social performance indicator LA8: "Description of policies or programmes (for the workplace and beyond) on HIV/AIDS" in the 2002 Guidelines.

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