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Supporting your organization to progress towards a sustainable world
The UK Government’s aim is to cut emissions by 78% by 2035 compared with 1990 levels, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. The term “Net Zero” is well understood at a global level, but how organizations contribute to achieving this global net zero target remains confusing for many. Initiatives and frameworks are popping up all over the world and governments, businesses and cities continue to grapple with this fast evolving and increasingly crowded landscape.
Why was it developed?
There are competing approaches and concepts for "Net Zero" governance, and the ISO Net Zero Guidelines (IWA 42) provide a common reference for collective efforts, offering a global basis for harmonizing, understanding, and planning for net zero at state, regional, city and organizational level.
This common reference provides:
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Clear definition of “net zero” and related terms (greenhouse gas removals, offsetting, value chain, etc).
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Clarity in the differences in scope between direct emissions, indirect emissions from purchased energy, and other indirect emissions arising from an organizations activities.
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Better alignment of voluntary initiatives and adoption of standard, policies and national and international regulation.
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High-level principles for policy makers and organizations who want to achieve climate neutrality.
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Actionable guidance on getting there as soon as possible, not just by 2050.
To learn more about what PD ISO IWA 42:2022 covers and its benefits, listen to The Standards Show podcast episode here.
Delivering credibility
More than 1,200 experts from over 100 countries contributed to make the ISO Net Zero Guidelines (IWA 42), which build on the momentum of existing voluntary initiatives. The ISO International Workshop Agreement (IWA) will be reviewed in 2025, three years after its publication, and can be further processed to become a Publicly Available Specification (PAS), or an International Standard (ISO).
BSI’s adoption of IWA 42 – PD IWA 42
BSI’s adoption of the IWA 42 as PD IWA 42 recognises the crucial role of the Net Zero Guidelines in harmonising a fragmented landscape to provide a single source of credible information in one place. Organizations will be certified to the BSI Net Zero Pathway based on these guidelines.