The long-awaited FDIS for ISO 14001 was released on 5th January 2026 and is now in the formal ISO ballot stage, open for comments and voting until 2nd March 2026. This is the final stage of the revision process and means that publication is strongly on track for April 2026, as expected.
The updated version of the standard aims to capture global priorities such as biodiversity, pollution and climate goals, and improve readiness for potential emergencies. It has been streamlined to clarify existing requirements and better align with other standards such as ISO 45001 and ISO 9001. In doing so, ISO 14001 should be easier to understand and implement, making it more accessible to businesses of all sizes. ISO 14001:2026 is therefore ultimately about refinement, rather than revamp.
Key changes in the ISO 14001:2026 FDIS
The FDIS sets out the following main proposed changes:
- Editorial changes, updated references, restructuring and further notes of clarification.
- Shifts in terminology: the term ‘result’ will now be used for the outcome of a process or objective, and ‘fulfilment’ of compliance obligations becomes ‘meeting’ compliance obligations.
- ‘Outsourced processes’ will now be referred to as ‘externally provided processes, products or services’. Organisations must have control or influence over those relevant to the intended outcomes of their environmental management system (EMS).
- A more explicit focus on climate change and environmental conditions, such as the availability of natural resources for the analysis of organisational context.
- Top management must now support all relevant roles and not just management roles, extending the degree of responsibility and accountability.
- The requirement to consider life cycle perspective when setting the scope of the EMS.
- Environmental aspects are to be identified in relation to normal and abnormal conditions, and emergency situations.
- A new clause (6.1.4) has been added, focused specifically on identifying risks and opportunities.
- A new clause (6.3) has been added, ‘Planning of changes’, which requires organisations to specifically determine, plan, and manage changes that affect or could affect the intended outcomes of the EMS.
- The management review clause is now split into three subclauses: processes (9.3.1), inputs (9.3.2), and results (9.3.3).
- Internal audits will need to have defined objectives.
Prepare for the changes ahead
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is expected to allow a transition period of three years. This is the same timeframe used previously with revisions to standards and fits in with the three-year recertification cycle. If this timescale is confirmed and ISO 14001:2026 is published in April 2026 as anticipated, all certificates issued to ISO 14001:2015 will then need to be transitioned to the new version before May 2029.
We’re here to keep you up to date and support you to make the changes needed for ISO 14001:2026. Our expert team of consultants are available for implementation support and to answer any queries you might have. Alternatively, book onto one of our ISO 14001:2026 Key Changes Awareness Training Courses where we will guide you through the key changes to help you and your organisation fully prepare for the upcoming changes and transition with confidence.
