Carbon neutrality: the new ISO 14068-1:2023

ISO has published the standard ISO 14068-1:2023 "Greenhouse gas and climate change management and related activities - Carbon Neutrality", which specifies the principles, requirements and guidelines for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality through quantification, reduction and compensation of the carbon footprint.

The new ISO is the main internationally recognized document for achieving Carbon Neutrality.
The working group composed of 150 experts, ISO TC-207/SC//WG14, began drafting the standard shortly before 2020 and concluded it in around thirty meetings. One of the main objectives is to help organizations achieve and demonstrate Carbon Neutrality reliably, avoiding greenwashing.

This document defines the terms used in relation to carbon neutrality and provides guidance on the actions needed to achieve and demonstrate carbon neutrality. In accordance with common practice, it uses the word " carbon " to refer to all greenhouse gases (GHG) in compound expressions such as "carbon neutrality".

It is applicable to a wide range of entities such as organizations (including businesses, local authorities and financial institutions) and products (goods or services, including buildings and events).
It is not intended to be used for territories (such as regions, countries, states or cities), including signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) when reporting national results for the purposes of that convention.

ISO 14068-1:2023 establishes a hierarchy for carbon neutrality where reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (direct and indirect) and improvements in greenhouse gas absorption within the value chain are prioritized on compensation.
Includes requirements for carbon neutrality commitments and the submission of carbon neutrality declarations.

The standard is neutral with respect to the GHG program. If a greenhouse gas program is applicable, the requirements of that greenhouse gas program are in addition to the requirements of the rule. (Source: https://www.iso.org /)