The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced the launch of “ISO 14092:2026 – Climate change adaptation,” a new international standard aimed at helping organizations including local governments and communities to design, implement and monitor climate adaptation plans.

According to ISO, the launch of the new standard comes as many organizations have adopted climate adaptation strategies, yet implementation remains fragmented and under-resourced, with access to adaptation finance increasingly requiring clear, evidence-based planning processes supported by transparent governance.

To address these needs, ISO said that the new standard provides practical guidance for planning climate change adaptation at the local scale, with a structured framework to help organizations define governance and responsibilities, effectively engage stakeholders, assess and prioritize climate risks, design and implement adaptation strategies, and to progress and improve plans over time.

Key elements of the new standard include guidance for local governments and communities on how to prepare for threats posed by climate change such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, coastal erosion and other impacts, as well as descriptions of the process to develop an adaptation plan, including setting an appropriate governance structure, establishing a facilitation team, assessing risks, developing an effective plan, monitoring the progress of adaptation implementation and evaluating its achievement with the aim of improving the plan.

In a post announcing the new standard, ISO said:

“At COP30, governments reaffirmed the urgency of scaling up adaptation and strengthening climate-resilient planning. For local leaders, policymakers and communities seeking a clear, credible framework for adaptation, the standard provides the practical pathway from ambition to action.”

Click here to access the new climate adaptation standard.

Mark founded ESG Today following a 20 year career in investment management and research. Prior to founding ESG Today, Mark worked at Delaney Capital Management (DCM) in Toronto, Canada, most recently as the firm’s head of U.S. equities. While at DCM, Mark was part of the firm’s ESG team, responsible for evaluating and tracking the sustainability factors impacting portfolio companies, and assessing the suitability of companies for portfolio inclusion. Mark also spent several years in the sell-side research industry, covering the technology and services sectors. Mark holds an MBA from Columbia University in New York, a BBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, and is a CFA charterholder.