The future of reporting is almost here! Mark the date in your calendar: GRI Standards will officially launch on October 19, 2016. This follows the approval of the draft GRI Standards by the Global Sustainability Standards Board in late August, and the recent confirmation by the Due Process Oversight Committee (DPOC) that due process for developing the GRI Standards was followed. 

We're now moving full steam ahead with the launch of GRI Standards. Learn about the full development process for GRI Standards here. 

First Glimpse of the New GRI Standards
The new GRI Standards include all of the main concepts and disclosures from the G4 Guidelines, presented with clearer language and a new structure that meets the expectations and requirements of a global standard. This presentation makes the content clearer, easier to update and highly suitable for inclusion in policy and regulation moving forward. 

With the new modular structure, there are three universal Standards, applicable to all organizations, and a selection of 33 topic-specific Standards that cover specific economic, environmental, and social topics. 

Here is an overview of the set of GRI Standards:

We’ve created a variety of different ways for you to dive right in and familiarize yourself with the new GRI Standards:

• Sign up for a free introductory webinar. Join us to get a first look at the new GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards, in one of four webinars taking place on 19 and 26 October. Discover the exciting changes and new features of the GRI Standards in this interactive webinar. Experts who have been instrumental in developing the GRI Standards will guide you through the changes and will be available to answer your questions. Find out more and register here.
• Attend a free local launch event. Explore the new GRI Standards with the experts at one of over 30 free launch events taking place around the world between November 2016 and May 2017. Whether you’re just starting out in reporting for the first time, or you’re a seasoned reporter, these events are designed to give you an interactive, detailed overview of the very latest development in sustainability reporting, together with the chance to network with fellow leading peers in the reporting landscape. Find out more and register here.
• Register for certified training on the GRI Standards. Be one of the first to receive GRI Certified Training on the Transition to Standards, offered through GRI’s Certified Training Partners around the world. This half-day, in-depth training is aimed at reporters who wish to ensure a smooth transition from the GRI G4 Guidelines to GRI Standards. Find a GRI Certified Training Partner near you or directly download the Training course calendar which will be updated regularly over the coming weeks. 
• Become a GRI Standards Pioneer. Organizations from GRI’s GOLD Community are already committing to using the GRI Standards in their next reporting cycle. Become an early adopter of GRI Standards and place your organization at the cutting edge of sustainability reporting practices. By joining this online Pioneers program you’ll receive support during your 2017 reporting cycle in the form of interactive webinars led by GRI Standards experts. The Pioneers program is open to all GRI GOLD Community members. Contact Nikki McKean-Wood mckean@globalreporting.orgfor more information.

Helping You Make the Switch from G4 
We’ve developed a simple mapping document to help you make the switch from G4 to the GRI Standards. This tool provides an overview of the changes between the GRI G4 Guidelines and the GRI Standards. It has been designed for G4 reporters who now wish to transition to the GRI Standards and will be available when the GRI Standards are launched.

We will also start offering the GRI Materiality Disclosures Service and the Content Index Service based on the new GRI Standards from October onwards. This means you can immediately start using the GRI Standards in your sustainability reporting, safe in the knowledge that your report can be correctly aligned to the new GRI Standards.

More to Come in 2017
Over the next months and into 2017, we will be providing more services, training options, and support publications related to the GRI Standards including: 

• New training course. The existing two-day Certified Training Course aimed at new reporters will be updated to reflect the new GRI Standards and will be available through our Training Partners in early 2017. 
• Translations of the GRI Standards. Additional language versions of GRI Standards will be made available in 2017. To ensure high quality of the GRI Standards translations available in a timely manner, we seeking the following support:
  • Sponsors to fund the translation of the GRI Standards
  • A professional translation agency/ies to maintain a good standard across all translations and ensure efficiency
  • A committee of a maximum of four diverse peer reviewers per translation (on a pro bono basis) to help guarantee accuracy and usability of the translations. 

Priority languages include: French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, German, and Arabic. Find out more information here or contact Tamara Bergkamp bergkamp@globalreporting.org for more details. 

If you have any questions on the new GRI Standards, contact standards@globalreporting.org. For questions on GRI Services, please contact services@globalreporting.org.