Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN IRIS)

Managed by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), the GIIN IRIS is a system for impact investors to measure, manage, and optimise their impact. Concretely, it intends to support impact investors in maximising their positive effects on society and the environment and minimising the negative effects by incorporating social and environmental factors, or impact considerations, into their investment decisions alongside risk and return.

Since its creation in 2008, the primary goal of IRIS has been to provide a catalog of standardised metrics that investors may use to measure the impact of investments within their portfolios.

IRIS metrics

The original IRIS list of metrics has undergone 3 major upgrades and evolved into IRIS+ over a ten-year period. IRIS+ increases data clarity and comparability, and it provides streamlined, practical, how-to guidance for impact investors.

IRIS distinguishes between the following Impact Categories:

Agriculture
Air
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
Climate
Diversity & Inclusion
Education
Employment
Energy
Financial Services
Health
Land
Oceans & Coastal Zones
Pollution
Waste
Water
Real Estate/Infrastructure

Key facts
Year	2008
Region	International
Scope of Information	Social and environmental
Industry Agnostic or Specific	Industry Agnostic
Target Audience	Impact investors, impact fund managers, banks, and DFI’s
Approach to Materiality	Significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people
Time Horizon	Short- and Medium-term
Key Outputs	Report on impact measures and management