The UK’s national standards body is developing a new independently verifiable international standard on net zero targets amid a “lack of clarity” on what measures companies must undertake.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) said the new standard will “provide clarity on the net zero transition, enable robust climate action and accelerate progress towards a sustainable world”.
The standard is being developed over the next 18 months with a view to being launched at COP30 in November 2025.
Development of the international standard on net zero will involve collaboration between thousands of experts through national standards bodies across more than 170 countries.
BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, in collaboration with ICONTEC, Colombia’s National Standards Body, is convening this process.
A public consultation is expected to open later in 2025 to support global input and ensure all voices are heard.
The standard will replace BSI’s existing ISO Net Zero Guidelines.
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The new standards comes as the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) reviews its net zero standards, amid reports that it plans to permit firms to use carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions.
But a leaked internal SBTi document revealed that carbon credits are “ineffective” in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Susan Taylor Martin, CEO, BSI said: “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 decarbonize key industries around the world, and many individuals and organizations are stepping up, the net zero landscape is complex and the lack of clarity risks slowing down efforts to turn ambition into action.
“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.”
