ISO’s First International Net Zero Standard Opens for Review

A 12-week public consultation has opened on ISO 14060, a new draft international standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is described as the world’s first international, independently verifiable framework for net zero transition planning.

Two business leaders examining a comprehensive net-zero transition plan that combines CO₂ capture, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development within a single, unified climate strategy. AI generated picture.

National members of ISO across more than 170 countries are invited to review the Draft International Standard. National consensus positions are required by early September. The consultation was announced ahead of London Climate Action Week.

More than 130 countries have committed to net zero targets, including China, India, and the European Union. Demand for an internationally consistent approach to transition planning has grown as organisations face mounting pressure to demonstrate credible emissions reduction pathways to investors and regulators.

ISO 14060 has been under development for nearly two years. Its international working group—described as one of the largest in ISO’s history—drew on input from hundreds of experts across business, government, academia, civil society, and standards bodies. Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head of Sustainability and Partnerships at ISO, said the standard responds to global demand for guidance. ‘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,’ she said.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) and Colombia’s ICONTEC are co-convening the international working group. BSI Chief Executive Susan Taylor Martin said the standard offers organisations a stable basis for long-term planning. ‘The ISO Net Zero Aligned Organizations Standard provides a globally recognised framework that helps organizations build resilience, manage climate risk, and demonstrate that their business plans are future-proofed,’ she said. ISO and BSI will host a high-level session at London Climate Action Week to examine how ISO 14060 and related frameworks—including ISO 32212, the new transition planning standard for financial institutions—can reduce fragmentation across markets.

ISO 14060 addresses emissions reduction pathways, energy security, supply chain resilience, and the integration of transition planning into business strategy. It builds on the ISO Net Zero Guidelines, published in 2022. Governments, businesses, researchers, and civil society organisations are invited to participate in the consultation through their national standards body.