This document lists governmental policies related to web sustainability, although it is not a comprehensive or definitive listing. Additionally, details of recognized sustainability standards and noteworthy best practices are included. It is also a supplement to the Web Sustainability Guidelines (WSG) specification.

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Laws and policies

Standards

1. Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards (NZ CS 1-3) (Passed)
2. Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (AASB S1 and S2) (Passed)
3. Automated Source Code Resource Sustainability Measure (ASCRSM)
4. Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) (SEBI)
5. Cable Broadband Corporate Sustainability Metrics (SCTE 295 2025) (Passed)
6. Canadian Sustainability Disclosure Standards (CSDS S1 and S2) (Passed)
7. China Sustainability Disclosure Standards for Businesses (Passed)
8. Embodied Carbon Disclosure Base Specification (OCP/iCA) (PDF)
9. European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
10. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
11. Green Software Foundation (GSF)
    • Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) (ISO)
12. International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)
    • IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 and S2)
    • SASB Standards (SASB)
    • Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) (Historical)
13. International Standards Organization (ISO)
    • ISO 14000 Family - Environmental management
    • ISO 14067:2018 - Greenhouse gases
    • ISO 27001 - Information security management
    • ISO 46001:2019 - Water efficiency management systems
    • ISO 50001 - Energy management
    • ISO Guide 84:2020 - Guidelines for addressing climate change in standards
    • ISO/IEC CD TS 20125 - Digital Services Ecodesign (Awaiting)
14. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
    • Power and Energy Efficiency (Awaiting)
    • Requirements for Energy Efficiency Management (Awaiting)
    • Use Cases for Energy Efficiency Management (Awaiting)
15. Sustainable Games Alliance Standard (SGA)
16. Sustainable IT
17. UK Sustainability Disclosure Standards (UK SRS S1 and S2)

Best practices

For the below, best practices are recognized by international standing, associations with a public body (or recognized group), or they are evidence-based and aligned to existing standards and conformance criteria for legislation stated above in the field of digital sustainability (giving such practices increased credibility).

Glossary

Awaiting

This status indicates that the item is either in development (draft), consultation, or awaiting approval.

Best Practice

Recognized and approved guidelines or techniques to meet standards or compliance targets.

Directive

When referring to European Union law, a Directive sets goals that Member States must achieve but leaves each Member State to decide how to achieve them through its own laws. In all other contexts, directive means an instruction or direction.

Historical / Superseded

This has been obsoleted by another policy, standard, or best practice.

Law

A law has completed the legislation process and is put into effect as the law of the land.

Passed

This status indicates that the item has passed all stages of development and should be considered in use.

Policy

Outlines the goals of a government ministry or agency as well as the methods and principles to achieve those goals. Policies are not laws but can lead to the development of laws.

Standard

A formal document that exists (in this context) to help with regulatory compliance.