ISO net zero standard rejected by member organizations

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has rejected a draft proposal for a global net zero standard, ISO 14060, after it failed to secure the necessary two-thirds approval from member organizations. The proposal aimed to establish a universal framework to help companies develop credible transition plans aligned with the Paris Agreement.

Key requirements in the draft included mandatory interim and long-term emissions targets, the publication of transition plans within two years, and independent validation of progress. Despite receiving nearly 5,000 comments during its consultation period—the highest feedback tally in the organization's history—the standard did not advance.

While ISO has not officially disclosed which members opposed the measure, reports suggest resistance originated from fossil fuel-producing nations. An ISO spokesperson noted that while the draft will not advance in its current form, the process demonstrated the organization's ability to mobilize global expertise. The committee will now reassess the feedback to decide whether to revise the proposal or abandon it.