ISO Opens Global Consultation on First International Net Zero Transition Planning Standard

ISO 14060 would become the first international, independently verifiable standard for net zero aligned organizations.
The 12-week consultation spans ISO members in more than 170 countries, with national consensus positions due by early September.
The standard aims to reduce fragmentation in transition planning as companies face investor, regulatory and supply chain pressure.

ISO Moves to Standardize Net Zero Delivery

London is preparing for Climate Action Week with a major governance test for corporate net zero plans.

The International Organization for Standardization has opened public consultation on ISO 14060, the proposed Net Zero Aligned Organizations Standard. ISO describes it as the world’s first international standard designed to help organizations build credible, comprehensive and independently verifiable net zero transition plans.

The draft will remain open for a 12-week consultation through ISO’s national members in more than 170 countries. The process aims to establish national consensus positions by early September.

The launch follows almost two years of negotiations involving experts from business, government, academia, civil society and national standards bodies. ISO said the working group behind the standard has been one of the largest in its history.

The scale reflects a growing market need. More than 130 countries, including China, India and the European Union, have committed to reach net zero emissions. Yet many organizations still face a gap between targets and delivery.

ISO 14060 seeks to close that gap. It gives organizations a common framework to turn climate ambition into structured transition planning.

From Targets to Verifiable Plans

Net zero strategies have moved from voluntary statements to boardroom risk issues.

Companies now face pressure from investors, lenders, regulators and customers to show how they will cut emissions, protect operations and adapt business models. Energy security shocks have also sharpened the focus on supply chain resilience and long-term planning.

The draft standard aims to support that shift. It provides guidance on business model adaptation, emissions reduction pathways, energy security and climate-related risk management. It also helps organizations integrate transition planning into wider corporate strategy.

Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head of Sustainability and Partnerships at ISO, said the proposed standard is aimed to help organizations 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 organizations build credible transition plans while supporting resilience, innovation and long-term growth,” Ms Garcia Nebra 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.”

BSI and ICONTEC Lead Global Working Group

The standard is being convened within the international standards system by the British Standards Institution and ICONTEC, Colombia’s National Standards Body. The two organizations jointly lead the international working group developing ISO 14060.

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI said, “Two years ago, we announced the start of this important global process, convening government-recognized National Standards Bodies and their experts from around the world to bring clarity, credibility and trust to the energy transition. Reaching this milestone, with consensus achieved across hundreds of international experts in the process, is a significant achievement and a proud moment for BSI in demonstrating the UK’s global climate leadership.

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI

“In a time of growing economic and geopolitical uncertainty, businesses need stable ground rules that allow them to plan and act with confidence. 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. We strongly encourage UK businesses, investors, policymakers and civil society to engage with this consultation to help accelerate our common progress towards a sustainable world.”

Daniel Trillos, Director of Standardization, ICONTEC, said, “We are proud that Colombia, through ICONTEC as co-convenor of the international working group, has played a leading role in the development of ISO 14060. This standard has been built through a truly global and inclusive process, ensuring that the perspectives of both developed and developing economies are reflected. By providing a common framework for credible net zero transition plans, ISO 14060 will help organizations of all sizes and sectors turn ambition into action while ensuring that all voices are heard and no one is left behind.”

What Executives and Investors Should Watch

For C-suite leaders, ISO 14060 could become a practical reference point for transition planning, capital allocation and climate governance. For investors, it may help compare corporate plans across markets and sectors.

The standard also responds to a wider concern in global climate policy: fragmentation. Companies already navigate national disclosure rules, voluntary frameworks, sector guidance and investor expectations. A globally recognized ISO standard could help align those demands.

ISO 14060 builds on the ISO Net Zero Guidelines launched in 2022. It also sits alongside wider initiatives, including the ISO-GHG Protocol partnership and ISO 32212, a transition planning standard for financial institutions.

ISO and BSI will discuss these initiatives during London Climate Action Week. The session will focus on how international standards can support credible implementation across markets.

The consultation now places the next step in the hands of governments, businesses, investors and civil society. Their input will shape whether ISO 14060 becomes a common operating framework for net zero delivery.

For global markets, the stakes are clear. Net zero plans can no longer remain aspirational documents. They must withstand scrutiny, guide capital and prepare companies for a lower-carbon economy.