Background
The world has significantly changed over the last decade since our Economic Impact Standards were first published. While the global economy is starting to recover from the pandemic, the situation remains fragile. Growth is forecasted to be slow and, with high interest rates, rising debt levels, and pressure on global trade, there are still many challenges on the horizon for all sizes and sorts of organizations.
There is an urgent need to reconsider the traditional approach of reporting organizational impact on the economy. GDP growth, profitability, and shareholder returns are not a true measure of economic impact. Instead, organizations need to take a more holistic approach, taking into account the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and broader societal and environmental factors.
The GSSB has therefore prioritized the revision of GRI’s economic impact related disclosures and standards to better reflect the socio-economic developments of the last decade, and to align the standards with international authoritative instruments. Through our updated Economic Impact Standards, we will help organizations understand and report how their work impacts their stakeholders and economic systems – not just their finances.
