The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) will retire its greenhouse gas assurance standard, ISAE 3410, as it introduces the International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000.
The new sustainability assurance framework, effective from 15 December 2026, covers all types of sustainability information, including greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the IAASB, “ISSA 5000 addresses assurance of all types of sustainability information, including greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of how that information is presented.”
ISSA 5000 introduces a principles-based framework to “enhance” the reliability and transparency of sustainability reporting.
It aims to improve the credibility of sustainability information, addressing the growing demand for verified data from investors, regulators, and stakeholders.
The framework is adaptable to global and local contexts, compatible with reporting regimes such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
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By GlobalDataThe new standard supports diverse practitioners by applying to all types of assurance providers.
It incorporates concepts such as materiality and proportionality, ensuring suitability for organisations of all sizes.
In April 2025, the IAASB initiated a public consultation on narrow-scope amendments to its standards to align with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (IESBA) Code of Ethics.
These amendments, approved in March 2025, address the use of external experts in audits and assurance engagements.
The amendments focus on four standards: ISA 620, ISRE 2400 (Revised), ISAE 3000 (Revised), and ISRS 4400 (Revised).
These relate to the use of an auditor’s expert, review engagements, assurance engagements, and agreed-upon procedures engagements.
The IAASB and IESBA have collaborated to ensure alignment between the IAASB’s standards and the IESBA Code.
In January 2025, the IAASB and IESBA launched a joint initiative to enhance trust and transparency in sustainability reporting and assurance, aiming to set unified global standards for sustainability assurance practices.
