In recent years, efforts to combat climate change at the international and national levels have increased, and a number of previously small, private, not-for-profit climate groups have found themselves as potentially mainstream players in influencing corporate operations and the global geopolitical economy. This is especially true of organizations focused on climate standard-setting for companies and governments, as some of those standards, previously voluntary, start finding themselves in legislation, regulation, and treaties. The increased impact of their work, testament in part to the work’s importance and timeliness, has however increased the scrutiny of these organizations’ strategies and operations. This report, aimed at providing practical advice for improved governance of climate standard-setting organizations, draws on over a dozen Chatham House-style conversations with key players in the area, including climate activists, funders, investors, board members, and managers. The report introduces a playbook of best practices for better strategic clarity and procedural legitimacy in climate standard-setting.
Professor Karthik Ramanna developed this playbook as a public good for climate standard-setting organizations and their stakeholders, with the financial support of Google and Meta (via Stern Strategy). The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the financial sponsors.
Professor Ramanna is himself actively involved in improving climate standard-setting, through his scholarship on developing rigorous accounting principles for carbon emissions and removals. He has also previously studied the governance of financial accounting rulemaking and has published extensively on improving best practices in corporate accounting and auditing. The report is based on his own knowledge of climate standard-setting and of the governance of standard-setting bodies, together with information gleaned from over a dozen Chatham House-style conversations with key players in the area, including climate activists, funders, investors, board members, and managers. Of those contacted, over two-thirds agreed to speak, and the interviews were conducted in a semi-structured format that retained consistency across participants. The report was prepared with the expert assistance of Jasper Johnston, who also participated in these conversations. Professor Ramanna had full editorial control in writing this report.
Climate Standard-Setting Organization Leader
Copyright © 2024 Karthik Ramanna - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.