Revision of ISO 14001: new edition expected in 2026
Next year, ISO 14001 – the international standard for environmental management systems – will be revised. The new edition, ISO 14001:2026, is expected to be published in spring 2026 and will replace the current 2015 version. The revision is now in its final stage: the Draft International Standard (DIS) has been approved by a majority of ISO members and the text is currently being prepared for the final vote.
What is changing?
The revision of ISO 14001 aims to update, clarify and align the standard with ISO’s new Harmonized Structure (HS) for management system standards. The changes are limited in scope but include several relevant additions for organizations with an environmental management system:
- Update on climate, biodiversity and resources
In Chapter 4, a life cycle perspective will become mandatory when defining scope and influence. It will also be explicitly required that organizations take current environmental issues into account when determining their context, including:
- Climate change (already mandatory since 2024 through the amendment ISO 14001:2015/Amd1:2024)
- Biodiversity
- Pollution levels
- Availability of natural resources
This ensures that the standard better reflects today’s sustainability and environmental challenges.
- New paragraph on planning of changes (6.3)
A new paragraph introduces the requirement to plan and control changes within the environmental management system. As a result, ISO 14001 now includes a fully developed management-of-change process, similar to management standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 45001. - Adjusted sequence in the risk section
In Chapter 6.1, the order of the elements has been modified to clarify the relationship between environmental aspects, compliance obligations, and risks and opportunities:- Abnormal processes
- Significant environmental aspects
- Compliance obligations
- Risks and opportunities
- Actions to address them
This structure provides greater clarity for planning and prioritizing environmental objectives.
- Annex A clarified
The explanatory Annex A has been rewritten and expanded. The aim is to better explain existing requirements, without adding new obligations. - Consistency with other ISO standards
Where possible, terminology and structure have been aligned with the new Harmonized Structure, enabling easier integration for organizations that operate multiple management systems (such as ISO 9001 or ISO 45001).
What does this mean for certified organizations?
The changes in ISO 14001:2026 are limited, so the impact on existing certificates is expected to be minor. However, it is wise to prepare in advance. The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) will publish guidelines on the transition period, which is likely to be shorter than the usual three years. Kiwa recommends that certified organizations start preparing for the transition by:
- Studying the draft text (DIS) and identifying relevant changes
- Informing or training involved employees
- Reviewing whether internal procedures related to risk assessment, change management and context analysis need to be updated
How Kiwa can help
Kiwa closely follows the ISO 14001 revision through the Dutch Environmental Management Standards Committee (NEN) and will share updates as soon as the final text becomes available. Once possible, we will support organizations in a smooth transition to ISO 14001:2026 with:
- Practical guidance on implementing new or updated requirements
- Gap analyses and audits to assess the impact on your organization
- Training sessions on the revised standard and its key content changes
More information
Would you like to stay up to date on the latest developments regarding ISO 14001:2026? Follow our updates via our website and LinkedIn or contact your Kiwa auditor or account manager.
