ISO opens Net Zero Standard consultation

June 17, 2026

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has officially opened a global public consultation for ISO 14060, the first internationally recognized and independently verifiable standard designed to help organizations create credible net zero transition plans. The consultation begins ahead of London Climate Action Week and represents a significant step toward establishing a unified global framework for climate action.

The draft standard will remain open for public consultation for 12 weeks, allowing ISO's national members across more than 170 countries to review the document and develop national positions before early September.

A milestone in global climate standardization

The publication of the Draft International Standard follows nearly two years of collaboration involving hundreds of experts from government, business, academia, civil society, and national standards organizations. According to ISO, the international working group responsible for developing ISO 14060 is among the largest ever assembled by the organization, highlighting worldwide demand for a consistent approach to net zero planning.

The proposed framework aims to provide organizations with practical guidance for developing transparent, measurable, and independently verifiable transition plans while supporting broader business transformation.

Helping organizations turn climate goals into action

As more than 130 countries, including China, India, and European Union member states, pursue net zero emissions goals, businesses are under increasing pressure to strengthen climate strategies, reduce emissions, improve supply chain resilience, and prepare for evolving regulatory and investor expectations.

ISO 14060 is intended to help organizations of every size and sector translate long-term climate commitments into structured implementation plans. The standard integrates emissions reduction pathways, business resilience, energy security, climate risk management, and strategic planning into one internationally aligned framework.

Supporting trust, transparency and long-term growth

Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head of Sustainability and Partnerships at ISO, said the new standard is designed to help organizations develop credible and consistent net zero transition plans.

She explained that ISO 14060 provides an internationally agreed framework supporting resilience, innovation, and sustainable long-term growth while enabling organizations to demonstrate meaningful climate progress. She also emphasized that the public consultation offers stakeholders worldwide an opportunity to help shape a practical international standard that reflects diverse economic conditions and regional priorities.

International collaboration behind ISO 14060

The development of ISO 14060 is jointly led by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and ICONTEC, Colombia's National Standards Body, which co-chair the international working group responsible for the project.

BSI Chief Executive Susan Taylor Martin described the consultation as an important milestone after two years of international cooperation. She noted that businesses increasingly require clear, globally recognized rules to navigate economic uncertainty, climate risks, and the energy transition. According to BSI, the proposed standard offers organizations greater confidence by providing a consistent framework for future-proof business planning.

Daniel Trillos, Director of Standardization at ICONTEC, highlighted the importance of ensuring that both developed and developing economies contributed to the standard's creation. He said the collaborative process has produced an inclusive framework capable of helping organizations worldwide transform climate ambition into measurable action.

Building on existing Net Zero Guidance

ISO 14060 expands on the ISO Net Zero Guidelines, introduced in 2022, while responding to growing calls from businesses, investors, regulators, and policymakers for harmonized international guidance on transition planning and climate resilience.

Beyond emissions reduction, the draft standard encourages organizations to:

- Develop resilient business models for the low-carbon economy.
- Strengthen supply chains against climate-related disruptions.
- Address changing investor and regulatory requirements.
- Integrate transition planning into overall corporate strategy.
- Improve energy security and long-term operational stability.

Public consultation opens worldwide

ISO emphasizes that international standards play a vital role in supporting global trade by creating trusted, interoperable frameworks that improve transparency and market confidence. Through ISO 14060, the organization aims to simplify credible climate action by converting emerging best practices into a globally accepted, independently verifiable standard.

The consultation launches just before London Climate Action Week, where ISO and BSI will host discussions on how international standards can accelerate climate action. The event will also examine complementary initiatives, including the ISO–GHG Protocol partnership and ISO 32212, a transition planning standard developed specifically for financial institutions.

Governments, businesses, academic institutions, researchers, investors, and civil society organizations are invited to participate in the consultation by submitting feedback through their respective National Standards Bodies during the 12-week review period.