Upcoming ISO FDIS 14001:2026 Release and Publication Plan

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published its current schedule for the next revision of the environmental management system (EMS) standard, ISO 14001:2026. As organizations continue to align Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and operational performance, this upcoming revision will be an important milestone for environmental management systems worldwide

ISO 14001:2026 – Official ISO Timeline

 According to the latest ISO plan, the anticipated milestones are:

• Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) ballot: January 5 – March 2, 2026
• Processing: March – April 2026
• Publication: April 15, 2026

This schedule reflects the current official ISO plan and may be subject to change as the standard progresses through the final stages of development.

What to Expect from the 2026 Revision

While ISO 14001:2026 is still moving through the formal process, the revision is expected to:

• Maintain the familiar high-level structure of ISO 14001:2015, supporting continuity in existing EMS frameworks
• Clarify and strengthen requirements in areas that are increasingly strategic for organizations, including:
  • Climate change, biodiversity and external environmental conditions
  • Life-cycle perspective and supply chain/externally provided processes
  • Risk and opportunity planning
  • Leadership, environmental performance evaluation and continual improvement

These focus areas reflect the growing expectations of organizations to demonstrate strong environmental performance as part of broader sustainability and risk management agendas.

Looking Back to Look Ahead

When ISO 14001:2015 replaced ISO 14001:2004, ABS QE supported the market with guidance, FAQs and tools to help organizations navigate the transition. To provide a useful reference point as you prepare for the next revision, we invite you to watch our on‑demand webinar from the previous ISO 14001:2015 transition, Complying with ISO 14001:2015 Revisions, which captures lessons learned and illustrates the type of practical insight and support ABS QE has historically provided.

We will continue to monitor ISO’s progress toward ISO 14001:2026 publication and will share further updates as details are confirmed. 

Certified organizations can prepare for ISO 14001:2026 FDIS by treating 2025–2026 as a structured transition project rather than waiting for the final text. Download our practical, audit-oriented roadmap today.

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About ABS Quality Evaluations

ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) is a subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (www.abs-group.com). As a world-leading certification body, ABS QE works with companies to improve the performance of their business, systems, people and supply chains through management systems certification, verification, training and assessments, including supply chain and cybersecurity. ABS QE’s global network of auditors plays a crucial role in helping organizations achieve business excellence and obtain the necessary certifications to get products and services to market.