ISO 19179

This Technical Report provides guidance on the integration of geospatial standards with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards to enhance sustainability assessments, reporting, and decision-making.

It identifies and describes:

a) The alignment between ISO ESG-related standards (e.g., ISO 14001, ISO 14064, ISO 26000, ISO 37000, IWA 48) and ISO/TC 211 geospatial standards (e.g., ISO 19115, ISO 19157, ISO 19111, ISO 19136-2), including their complementary roles in ensuring interoperability, data quality, and transparency.

b) Geospatial inputs and workflows that can support the quantification, verification, and disclosure of ESG indicators.

c) A geospatial ESG scoring framework, including mathematical formulations, data models, and metadata requirements, applicable across sectors.

d) Use cases and sectoral examples (e.g., steel industry, environmental monitoring, resource management) illustrating how geospatial standards support evidence-based ESG performance assessment.

e) Recommendations for incorporating data quality, metadata, and verification requirements into ESG reporting systems, aligned with ISO standards and assurance frameworks (ISO 14064-3, ISO 19011, ISO/IEC 17029).

This Technical Report is intended for use by:

• Organizations implementing ESG frameworks that require geospatial evidence in support of disclosures.
• Regulators, policymakers, and national agencies seeking to align ESG reporting with geospatial information infrastructures.
• Practitioners, auditors, and technical experts responsible for data collection, validation, and assurance of ESG-related information.

This technical document is informative in nature and does not prescribe specific requirements for conformity but provides guidance and mappings to support organizations in integrating geospatial aspects into ESG standards and reporting practices.

IWA 48: 2024 Framework for implementing environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles