DNV Highlights Final Revision Phase of Updated ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard

DNV Highlights Final Revision Phase of Updated ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard

(IN BRIEF) DNV has confirmed that ISO 14001:2026 has entered the final stage of revision with the release of the Final Draft International Standard, ahead of expected publication in April 2026. The updated standard introduces moderate changes focused on clarifying requirements, strengthening life-cycle and environmental context considerations, and aligning with ISO’s Harmonized Structure. With a three-year transition period expected, organisations certified to ISO 14001:2015 are advised to prepare early to ensure a smooth transition and continued certification validity through to 2029.

(PRESS RELEASE) HØVIK, 6-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — DNV has confirmed that the revision of the international environmental management system standard ISO 14001 has reached its final stage, following the release of the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS). The FDIS has now entered the last formal round of comments and voting among ISO’s national member bodies, with publication of ISO 14001:2026 expected in April 2026.

ISO 14001 is one of the most widely applied environmental management standards globally, supporting hundreds of thousands of organisations in managing environmental responsibilities and improving environmental performance. Regular revisions are considered essential to ensure the standard remains relevant, practical, and aligned with evolving environmental challenges and sustainability expectations.

Tor Gunnar Tollefsen, Global Service Manager for Management Systems at DNV, highlighted the importance of continuous review of international standards. He noted that regular updates, informed by subject matter experts and user experience, help ensure standards remain fit for purpose. According to Tollefsen, ISO 14001 has consistently demonstrated its value in enabling structured environmental management and improved environmental outcomes, making the forthcoming revision both timely and important.

The revision process has focused on clarifying existing requirements rather than introducing extensive new ones. At the same time, ISO 14001:2026 has been aligned with ISO’s latest Harmonized Structure for management system standards, improving consistency across ISO frameworks.

Overall, the changes introduced in the revised edition are considered moderate. Organisations already certified to ISO 14001:2015 are not expected to face significant implementation challenges, provided their environmental management systems are effectively maintained.

Among the key updates in ISO 14001:2026 is a stronger emphasis on a broader range of environmental conditions when analysing organisational context, extending beyond climate change to include factors such as pollution levels, biodiversity, and natural resource availability. Requirements related to risks and opportunities have been reorganised and clarified, while a new clause has been added to address the planning of changes. The life-cycle perspective within the environmental aspects process has been reinforced, and operational control requirements now extend to externally provided processes, products, and services. In addition, the guidance sections across several clauses have been expanded to support clearer interpretation and application.

ISO plans to publish ISO 14001:2026 in April 2026, replacing ISO 14001:2015. The FDIS was released on 5 January 2026, triggering an eight-week ballot and comment period. Based on a draft mandatory document from the International Accreditation Forum, the transition period is expected to be three years. If confirmed, all ISO 14001:2015 certificates will need to be transitioned to the new edition by May 2029 to remain valid.

Although the scope of changes is limited, DNV recommends that organisations begin preparing early. Reviewing the revised requirements, ensuring relevant personnel understand the updates, and identifying any gaps in existing systems can help ensure a smooth and timely transition.

Key changes in ISO 14001:2026

Among the main changes in ISO 14001:2026 are:

• A strengthened focus on a broader range of environmental conditions in addition to climate change for the analysis of the organisational context, such as pollution levels, biodiversity and availability of natural resources
• Restructured and clarified requirements related to risk and opportunity processes
• New clause and requirements for the planning of changes
• Strengthened emphasis on life cycle perspective in the environmental aspect process
• For operational controls, the focus is extended from “outsourced processes” to “externally provided processes, products and services”

In addition, the guidance section has been substantially extended and improved for various clauses to support interpretation of the various requirements.

Transition period expected to be three years

ISO is planning to publish the revised standard in April 2026, replacing ISO 14001:2015. The FDIS was released on 5 January 2026 for an eight-week ballot and comment period.

Based on a draft mandatory document from the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the transition period for ISO 14001:2026 is expected to be three years. If confirmed, this means that all certificates issued to ISO 14001:2015 will need to be transitioned to the new edition before May 2029 to remain valid.

Early preparation recommended

Although the changes are moderate, early preparation is recommended to ensure a smooth transition. Organisations are advised to familiarise themselves with the revised requirements as early as possible, ensure relevant personnel understand the changes, and identify any gaps that need to be addressed in their environmental management systems.

DNV can support organisations throughout the transition to ISO 14001:2026 through webinars, training and transition audits, helping align existing certification with the revised standard.

Media Contact:

Cecilie Løne
Global Communication Manager
Tel: +479058170
email: Cecilie.Lone@dnv.com

SOURCE: DNV