The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched a global public consultation on what it says is the ‘world’s first’ independently verifiable international standard to support organisations in developing credible and comprehensive net zero transition plans.
The draft standard, ISO Net Zero Aligned Organizations Standard (ISO 14060), is set to undergo a 12-week consultation period through ISO‘s national members in more than 170 countries, with a view to establishing national consensus positions by early September.
As ISO noted, the development of ISO 14060 follows on from close to two years of negotiations involving hundreds of experts from business, government, academia, civil society and standards organisations around the world. It noted that the international working group tasked with developing the standard was one of the largest in ISO’s history.
‘Structured and verified’
As Noelia Garcia Nebra, head of sustainability and partnerships at ISO, explained, the proposed standard is aimed to help organisations of all sizes and sectors develop structured and verifiable approaches to net-zero-alignment.
“ISO 14060 has been developed to provide a globally agreed framework that helps organisations build credible transition plans while supporting resilience, innovation and long-term growth,” she said.
“International Standards play a critical role in scaling trusted best practice globally. By opening this draft for public consultation, we are inviting stakeholders worldwide to help shape an International Standard that reflects diverse market realities and supports practical implementation across regions and sectors.”
Net-zero commitments
The initiative comes as more than 130 countries have adopted net-zero commitments, including major economies such as China, India and members of the European Union.
As climate action increasingly shifts from ambition to implementation, and markets continue to grapple with energy security shocks, businesses and organisations face growing pressure from investors, regulators and stakeholders to demonstrate how they plan to achieve emissions reductions, ISO noted.
The development of ISO 14060 is being convened within the international standards system by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and Colombia’s national standards body, ICONTEC, which jointly lead the international working group responsible for the project.
At London Climate Action Week, ISO and BSI will host discussions on the role of international standards in supporting climate action. Topics will include ISO 14060, the ISO-GHG Protocol partnership, and ISO 32212, a new transition planning standard for financial institutions.
Details on the public consultation process for ISO 14060 can be found at www.iso.org/about/members.
