ISO Releases Draft Net Zero Standard

Last week, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) unveiled the long-awaited ISO Net Zero Aligned Organizations Standard (ISO 14060), the world’s first international independently verifiable standard designed to support organizations in developing credible and comprehensive net zero transition plans.

The draft international standard is being made available for a 12-week public consultation period to ISO’s national members in more than 170 countries, to establish national consensus positions by early September.

The launch marks a major milestone following almost two years of international negotiations involving hundreds of experts from business, government, academia, civil society, and standards bodies worldwide.

The international working group developing the standard has been one of the largest in ISO’s history, reflecting strong global interest in a consistent international approach. The draft international standard is intended to provide globally consistent guidance for organizations navigating the transition to net zero and helps support holistic business model transformations.

Over 130 countries, including China, India, and the European Union, are committed to cut emissions down to zero. As climate action moves from ambition to implementation and markets grapple with energy security shocks, organizations are facing growing pressure to strengthen their business models and supply chain resilience and to manage climate-related risks. Transition plans are the vehicle to do so at the organizational level, and to turn net zero targets into credible and verifiable action.

The draft international standard provides guidance to support organizations in adapting business models for the global transition to net zero, while strengthening resilience to supply chain disruption, market volatility, and evolving investor and regulatory expectations. It also supports organizations prioritizing energy security, managing emissions reductions pathways, and integrating transition planning into broader business strategy.

The development of ISO 14060 builds on the ISO Net Zero Guidelines launched in 2022 and responds to growing demand from businesses, policymakers, and investors for internationally harmonized approaches to transition planning and climate resilience.

International Standards underpin most of global trade. ISO says the proposed standard is intended to help organizations simplify and scale credible climate action by translating emerging best practice into an internationally agreed and independently verifiable framework.