UN recognition for GRI’s key role in comprehensive sustainability reporting
Published date: 27 June 2025
GRI engagements at the United Nations ‘Financing for Development’ conference
The Compromiso de Sevilla – the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) – affirms that, to ensure cross-border comparability, countries will need to consider using standards such as those of GRI and of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
The document, to be formally adopted next week at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) taking place from 30 June to 3 July in Seville, signals a transformative shift in global expectations for corporate transparency. For the first time in multilateral policy, there is international consensus that reporting on impacts, risks, and opportunities - following a double materiality approach - is the global standard for sustainable business and finance.
This recognition of comprehensive sustainability disclosures as essential for aligning private capital with development goals comes as policymakers, financial institutions, development agencies, and civil society gather to advance concrete solutions for financing priorities in an increasingly complex global landscape.
GRI is contributing to the FfD4 program through a series of events, where we are convening with partners to discuss implementation pathways, interoperability, and the role of reporting in both public policy and investment decision-making. Participation is open for Ffd4 attendees.
GRI’s own events (all times CEST):
- Group of Friends of paragraph 34: from a global interoperable sustainability reporting system to national implementation pathways (2 July, 16:30–18:00 - Side Room 22. With GRI CEO Robin Hodess). An official side event co-hosted by GRI, UNDESA, and UNDP will explore policies for disclosing impacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs) to drive sustainable finance.
- Private sector capital: a dialogue with global investors (3 July, 08:30–10:00 - Side Event Room 20. With Robin Hodess). A session co-hosted by GRI, JP Morgan and Morningstar Sustainalytics, with global institutional investors, policymakers, and standards setters discussing investment strategies with the SDGs.
Other engagements (full program available here):
- Unlocking private capital for sustainable development: navigating supporting resources (1 July, 10:30 –12.00. With Cristina Gil White, GRI Chief Engagement Officer). Organized by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), the event will feature GRI in a panel discussion on the synergies between disclosure standards and impact measurement used by investors.
- Enabling the transition: global and interoperable sustainable finance policy (1 July, 16:30–18:30 - International Business Forum. With Robin Hodess, GRI CEO). Co-organized by UN DESA, PRI, UNEP FI and the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy, this session will explore how interoperable sustainability regulation can accelerate the alignment of private finance with global development goals.
- Closing the gap: unlocking private sector financing for women’s reproductive health (1 July, 17:00–19:00 - Sevilla Congresos Hotel. With Cristina Gil White). Organized by UNFPA and Global Citizen, this session will examine how the private sector can help address the financing gap for sexual and reproductive health rights.
- When innovation meets Standardisation: advancing interoperability in impact management standards (2 July, 12:30–14:00 - International Business Forum. Room Side Event 20. With Robin Hodess). This roundtable, hosted by the Impact Management Platform. will discuss integrating sustainability and impact management into governance decision-making.
Join us in Seville and check the GRI events calendar for further updates.