The chief executive of a leading global climate accounting organization has faced internal opposition over efforts perceived to align the body more closely with the interests of major corporations, according to current and former staff and internal documents.
Tim Mohin, who took on the role of inaugural CEO of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol this year, has been accused by some employees of attempting to block stricter standards that would more rigorously regulate how large technology companies report their greenhouse gas emissions. The Protocol’s standards are widely used by regulators and markets, including the European Union, California, and the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation, to oversee corporate climate disclosures.
An external review commissioned by the Ikea Foundation, one of the organization’s largest funders, raised concerns last month about the heavy representation of corporate interests on two of the Protocol’s governing committees. The report warned that this imbalance threatens the group’s “independence and credibility,” underscoring tensions over potential “corporate capture” of the watchdog’s decision-making.
Founded by nonprofit groups including the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol develops international rules to standardize how companies calculate and report carbon emissions. The organization states that its standards are created through a transparent, inclusive process combining scientific expertise, government input, civil society, and business participation, emphasizing scientific integrity and independence.
Before joining the Protocol, Mohin served as a partner at Boston Consulting Group and played a role in designing the governance reforms that led to the creation of the CEO role he currently fills, including advocating for broad incorporation of corporate perspectives in shaping standards. Some staff members describe Mohin’s stance as supportive of major technology firms such as Amazon and Meta, which have sought to ensure that their investments in renewable energy projects can be counted toward offsetting their emissions, particularly as data centers powered by artificial intelligence consume increasing amounts of electricity.
In 2022, the Protocol proposed tighter disclosure rules requiring companies to invest in clean energy projects within the same electricity market and time frame as their consumption, a move welcomed by Google but resisted by some corporate members. Multiple staff said that, after assuming the CEO position, Mohin raised concerns about the standards’ emphasis and suggested amendments that would weaken these requirements.
Mohin reportedly planned to meet with representatives from several large tech firms to discuss their objections. Senior personnel intervened to prevent the meeting, citing concerns over transparency and the absence of key technical staff, fearing the appearance of undue corporate influence. Nonetheless, an Amazon representative later attended a donor meeting where Mohin was present.
The Protocol’s former global director of two decades sent letters to management in spring raising alarms about the risk of “corporate capture” of the organization’s processes. The Protocol states that since Mohin became CEO, he has engaged with a broad range of stakeholders, including environmental groups, industry, and government representatives.
Requests for comment from Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Boston Consulting Group were not returned. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol reaffirmed its commitment to a multistakeholder approach that safeguards scientific rigor and transparency in climate accounting.