BSI launches international net zero standard development effort

The development of an independently verifiable international standard on net zero has commenced, as convened by BSI. This initiative aims to provide clarity on the net zero transition, enable robust climate action, and accelerate progress towards a sustainable world. The process, which will span the next 18 months, targets the launch of the standard at COP30 in November 2025.

The new standard intends to provide a global framework to guide organisations in their net zero transitions. This effort will see the transformation of the ISO Net Zero Guidelines, first developed by BSI and introduced at COP27, into a globally recognised format. This conversion aims to help organisations better understand credible net zero actions and build confidence in the required measures while providing robust guidance against greenwashing, potentially verifying the credibility of net zero claims.

Collaboration will be a key aspect in the development of the new standard. Thousands of experts and national standards bodies from over 170 countries will take part in the process. BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, will collaborate with ICONTEC, Colombia's National Standards Body, to convene this significant global effort. A public consultation is expected to open later in 2025 to ensure that diverse perspectives are considered.

The formal launch of the process took place during London Climate Action Week, marking the first meeting of the international working group on net zero. This follows recent research by BSI and the University of Oxford titled "Governing Net Zero: assessing convergence and gaps in the voluntary standards and guidelines landscape". This study comes on the heels of BSI's findings, which highlighted that despite 83% of UK businesses being committed to the country's legally binding net zero emissions target, 92% reported barriers to achieving it, and a fifth remain uncommitted to the 2050 goal.

According to BSI’s 2024 Net Zero Barometer, 23% of UK businesses lack confidence in achieving net zero by 2050, and 28% indicated no planned action over the next 12 months. One in four organisations cited a lack of clarity on what net zero entails as a significant barrier.

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive of BSI, commented on the initiative: “The launch of this standard development process is an important moment in the global effort to meet the climate challenge. While progress is being made to decarbonise key industries around the world, and many individuals and organisations are stepping up, the net zero landscape is complex and the lack of clarity risks slowing down efforts to turn ambition into action.”

She added, “This important collaboration, with BSI bringing together national standards bodies and their experts from around the world, represents a landmark opportunity to bring clarity, credibility and trust to the net zero transition process, and ultimately to help accelerate our common progress towards a sustainable world.”

BSI has a long history of developing environmental standards, having issued the world’s first environmental management standard in 1992. Since then, it has introduced standards in various sectors, including energy management, modern slavery, sustainable finance, and sustainable events. In 2021, BSI committed to the London Declaration, pledging to incorporate climate science into all new standards and update existing ones accordingly.

Roberto Montoya, CEO of ICONTEC, remarked: “For ICONTEC, chairing the group that developed the ISO Net Zero Guidelines was an enriching experience as we work in collaboration with both developing and developed countries. Now, we have the great responsibility to be part of the leadership of the group that will develop the International Standard for Net Zero."

"We are conscious that achieving net zero requires a collaborative, ambitious and urgent effort, so we invite all countries to participate in the process, and together, establish the requirements that will serve as the basis for implementing credible, transparent, and verifiable actions to achieve net zero," Montoya concludes.

Experts interested in participating in the development of the standard are encouraged to apply through their National Standards Body’s climate change management committee. This development marks a significant step towards establishing a unified approach to achieving net zero emissions globally.