ISO Launches Public Consultation for the World's First Net Zero Alignment Standard

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has taken a significant step towards enhancing global climate action by launching a public consultation for the ISO Net Zero Aligned Organizations Standard (ISO 14060). This unprecedented initiative comes just ahead of London Climate Action Week and stands as the world's first international standard focused on net zero alignment for organizations. This Draft International Standard aims to support various entities in formulating credible and comprehensive transition plans towards achieving net zero emissions.

Initially announced on June 17, 2026, the consultation period will last for 12 weeks and is open to ISO's national members across more than 170 nations. The goal during this phase is to obtain national consensus positions by early September. The development of this standard has been a monumental endeavor, involving nearly two years of concerted negotiations with hundreds of experts from diverse sectors including business, government, academia, and civil society, highlighting the broad global interest in establishing a consistent international framework for net zero alignment.

ISO 14060 is expected to provide organizations with globally consistent guidance as they navigate the complexities associated with the transition to net zero, enabling a holistic transformation of their business models. Many countries, including powerhouses like China, India, and those within the European Union, are pledging to achieve zero emissions. This transition has become even more urgent as organizations confront escalating pressures related to energy security and climate-related risks that can affect supply chain resilience.

Noelia Garcia Nebra, who leads Sustainability and Partnerships at ISO, emphasized that the proposed standard is crafted to help organizations of varied sizes and sectors adopt structured and verifiable approaches toward net-zero alignment. She stated, "ISO 14060 has been developed to provide a globally agreed framework that helps organizations build credible transition plans while supporting resilience, innovation, and long-term growth."

International standards, according to Garcia Nebra, play a pivotal role in disseminating trusted best practices worldwide. By opening this project for public consultation, ISO invites stakeholders globally to contribute to shaping a standard that accommodates different market realities and facilitates practical implementation across various regions and sectors.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) and ICONTEC, Colombia's National Standards Body, are jointly leading the international working group tasked with developing the ISO 14060 standard within the international standards system. The launch comes at an opportune moment, coinciding with London Climate Action Week, where participants will convene to discuss the importance of the international standards system in climate action. Discussions will also cover other initiatives such as the ISO–GHG Protocol partnership and ISO 32212, which is a new transition planning standard tailored for financial institutions.

Governments, businesses, researchers, and civil society organizations are encouraged to engage in the public consultation process via their respective National Standards Body, the information of which can be found on the ISO website. The proactive move by ISO brings anticipation and optimism that it will inspire and guide organizations globally to take well-structured actions toward net zero, contributing positively to the climate emergency that the world is currently facing. As the dialogue surrounding climate action evolves from ambition to tangible implementation, standards like ISO 14060 represent critical tools for enabling accountability and fostering a sustainable future across industries.

Topics Policy & Public Interest)

【About Using Articles】

You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.

【About Links】

Links are free to use.