ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 45001:2027 Updates – What You Need to Know and How to Prepare

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Published on: September 18, 2025

A couple of months ago we covered the ISO 9001 update coming up in 2026. Due to increasing environmental and workplace safety demands, two other major ISO standards are also about to undergo updates:

ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) – with a new version scheduled for 2026
ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems) – with a new version planned in 2027

These updates will reshape how organisations manage their environmental impact, workplace health, and safety risks, ensuring that both standards remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.

If your business is certified, or considering certification to these standards, now is the time to understand what’s coming, what it means for your management system, and how to prepare effectively.

Keep reading as we go through these topics:

Why Are ISO Standards Updated?
ISO 14001:2026 – The Environmental Standard Update
Timeline and Transition
What’s likely to change in ISO 14001:2026
How to Prepare for ISO 14001:2026
ISO 45001:2027 – The Occupational Health & Safety Standard Update
Timeline and Transition
Expected Changes in ISO 45001:2027
How to Prepare for ISO 45001:2027
Comparison: ISO 14001:2026 vs ISO 45001:2027
Why Early Preparation is Essential
Final Thoughts

Why Are ISO Standards Updated?

ISO standards are designed to stay relevant in a world where business risks, stakeholder expectations, and global challenges are constantly evolving. Updates typically occur every 5-10 years to:

Address new industry practices, technologies, and risks.
Align with global initiatives, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Strengthen integration across ISO standards through the Harmonised Structure.
Provide clarity, usability, and stronger emphasis on leadership and accountability.

The upcoming revisions of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 follow this principle: enhancing the way organisations demonstrate environmental responsibility and protect worker wellbeing.

Learn more:

ISO Standard numbers are always followed by the version year/number. This is a way to prevent confusion between previous and new versions. The current version of the ISO Environmental Management System Standard is ISO 14001:2015, meaning that it was last published in 2015. Therefore, when the new version is released next year, it will become ISO 14001:2026. The current Occupational Health and Safety Management System standard is ISO 45001:2018, and will be updated to ISO 45001:2027.

ISO 14001:2026 – The Environmental Standard Update

Timeline and Transition

Draft International Standard (DIS)* released: You can see the current status of the ISO/DIS 14001 here.
Final publication expected: Early 2026.
Transition period: Usually 3 years, meaning that once the final publication is released, organisations will have until 2029 to upgrade their systems and certification.

This timeline gives businesses plenty of opportunity to understand the changes, review their management systems, and make adjustments before certification audits start applying the new version.

Note:

The Draft International Standard (DIS) is a key stage in the ISO development process where the proposed changes to a standard are released for wider review and comment. At this point, the draft has already been developed and agreed upon by technical committees, and it’s shared publicly so organisations, industry experts, and stakeholders can provide feedback. The DIS also gives businesses an early look at the upcoming requirements, allowing them to start preparing for changes well before the final version of the standard is published.

What’s likely to change in ISO 14001:2026

The upcoming revision builds on the foundation of the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) standard version, but takes a stronger stance on environmental challenges. These are draft or proposed changes, so may evolve before the final standard is published.

1. Integration of climate change, resource use, pollution, and biodiversity

The climate change amendment (ISO 14001:2015/Amd1:2024) is being fully integrated into the new standard.
Beyond climate, there will also be greater emphasis on resource use, pollution levels, and biodiversity.

2. Stronger life-cycle perspective and environmental aspects

The notion of lifecycle thinking is made more explicit, particularly in how environmental aspects are identified (in Clause 6.1.2).
Emergency situations with environmental impacts also receive more explicit attention.

3. Re-organised / clarified planning clauses (Risks and Opportunities / Planning Actions / Change Management)

Clause 6.1 is being restructured: what was “general” is reorganised; new subclauses 6.1.4 Risks and Opportunities and 6.1.5 Planning Actions are proposed to improve clarity.
A new clause 6.3 is proposed to ensure planning and managing changes relevant to the EMS are handled in a structured way.

4. Operational planning and control expanded

The scope of what must be controlled or influenced is broadened. Instead of focusing only on “outsourced processes,” the updated version covers externally provided processes, products, or services that impact the EMS.

5. Improved clarity, consistency, and guidance in ancillary parts

Revision of wording throughout for better clarity; many existing requirements are refined rather than brand new additions.
Annex A will be significantly revised to support interpretation of the core clauses (4–10), helping users understand requirements more clearly.

6. Management review and improvement restructuring

The ‘Management Review’ clause is being restructured: inputs vs. outputs are more clearly delineated for management review.
Under “Improvement” (Clause 10), some simplifications/removals are proposed, such as deletion of Clause 10.1 (General) to streamline the content.

7. Better alignment with other ISO management system standards

Enhancements to better align with the Harmonised Structure, so integrating an EMS with other standards (like ISO 9001 and ISO 45001) will be easier.
Examples of “interested parties” as a new NOTE in Clause 4.2, similar to ISO 9001, provides greater clarity about who may be considered an interested party.

How to Prepare for ISO 14001:2026

To get ahead of the changes, organisations should:

Understand the key changes in ISO 14001:2026 by reading the new version of the standard and understand the new and modified requirements, when it’s published.
Conduct a gap analysis of their current EMS against the new Standard, once it’s published.
Implement Necessary Changes, based on the findings from your gap analysis.
Update EMS Documentation, including engaging leadership teams to align environmental performance with business strategy, reviewing environmental aspects and impacts assessments to ensure they reflect life-cycle thinking and biodiversity impacts, review objectives and KPIs to ensure they address climate resilience and sustainability, and so forth, to align with the new requirements.
Train employees and key managers on the upcoming changes to ensure a smooth transition.
Stay connected with certification bodies and consultants like ISO Certification Experts for guidance, information, and transition support.

ISO 45001:2027 – The Occupational Health & Safety Standard Update

Although still under development, ISO committees have highlighted several likely areas of focus in the upcoming revision of the ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Standard (OHSMS, also known in Australia as Work Health and Safety – WHSMS). Here’s what is expected:

Timeline and Transition

Revision confirmed: 2025.
Draft International Standard (DIS) expected: 2026.
Final publication expected: Early 2027.
Transition period: Typically 3 years, meaning conformance to the new requirements will be required by 2030.

Just like ISO 14001, the timeline gives businesses ample time to prepare, but it’s important to be on top of the upcoming changes so there are no surprises and updates are not left for the last minute.

Expected Changes in ISO 45001:2027

Likely areas of focus include:

1. Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing

Workplace risks go beyond physical hazards, addressing more common modern threats related to stress and mental health related issues. The new version of the standard will place stronger emphasis on:

Mental health and wellbeing.
Psychosocial risks such as stress, burnout, harassment, and inclusion.
Creating a culture of support, engagement, and belonging.

2. Climate Resilience in Safety

With rising global temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, the climate change amendment (ISO 45001:2018/Amd1:2024) is being fully integrated into the new standard. Organisations will be expected to:

Assess climate-related risks (e.g., heat stress, flooding, natural disasters).
Implement preventative and adaptive measures to protect workers.

3. Leadership and Governance

The role of top management in occupational health and safety will be expanded.

4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

A modern OHS system recognises the importance of inclusive workplaces. ISO 45001:2027 will highlight how diversity and equity contribute to safer, healthier environments.

5. Stronger Oversight of Outsourced Work and Contractors

Many incidents occur through contractors and external providers. The revision is likely to strengthen governance, traceability, and control measures for outsourced activities.

6. Integration with Other ISO Standards

As with ISO 14001, the revised ISO 45001 will maintain alignment with the Harmonised Structure, supporting integration with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in an Integrated Business Management System (IBMS, also sometimes referred to as IMS).

How to Prepare for ISO 45001:2027

Forward-thinking organisations should begin preparations now by:

Reviewing psychosocial risk management practices to ensure that mental health and wellbeing are incorporated into OHS programs.
Assessing climate-related risks relevant to operations and supply chains.
Engaging leadership and boards in OHS accountability discussions.
Strengthening contractor management systems to demonstrate effective oversight and control.
Building awareness and training programs for employees on evolving health and safety priorities.

Comparison: ISO 14001:2026 vs ISO 45001:2027

Standard	Expected Publication	Transition Deadline	Key Themes and Changes
ISO 14001:2026	Early 2026	2029	Climate change, biodiversity, enhanced life-cycle approach, leadership accountability, alignment with SDGs
ISO 45001:2027	Early 2027	2030	Psychosocial health, climate resilience, leadership, DEI, contractor oversight, integration with other standards

Both standards strengthen the role of leadership and focus on strategic resilience, sustainability, and wellbeing.

Why Early Preparation is Essential

Waiting until the last minute can cause unnecessary challenges and stress. Organisations that prepare early will benefit from:

Smoother transition audits, avoiding costly nonconformities and the need for re-audits.
Better allocation of resources (time, people, and budgets).
Improved engagement from certification bodies and consultants, who will be in high demand closer to transition deadlines.
Enhanced business reputation. Early adopters can demonstrate leadership in sustainability and workplace safety.

Final Thoughts

The upcoming ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 45001:2027, in addition to ISO 9001:2026, represent an evolution in how organisations manage environmental and occupational health and safety responsibilities. With stronger emphasis on climate resilience, biodiversity, mental health, leadership, and inclusivity, these updates reflect the changing priorities of the global business environment.

At ISO Certification Experts, we specialise in helping organisations across Australia achieve, maintain, and transition their Certifications to the main ISO Management System Standards. Whether you’re already certified to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, or looking to get started, our team can provide tailored consulting, training, and transition support.

Get in touch today to discuss how we can help your organisation prepare for the upcoming ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 45001:2027 revisions.

About the author

Erica Smith

Managing Director at ISO Certification Experts

Erica is the Managing Director of ISO Certification Experts and ICExperts Academy. She has been helping businesses with their ISO Certification needs for over 20 years. Erica is also a Certified trainer, implementer and auditor for the ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 standards. Erica primarily heads up the day-to-day operations of the businesses, and is also a current member of the Standards Australia Committees: QR-008 Quality Systems and ISO 9001 Quality Management Brand Integrity.

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