The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a major new international standard — ISO 14092:2026 – Climate Change Adaptation — aimed at strengthening how cities, local governments, communities, and organizations plan for climate change impacts and build resilience.

Published to address rising global climate risks and uneven implementation of adaptation efforts, the standard offers a governance and planning framework that helps organizations translate climate risk assessments into actionable, locally-grounded adaptation plans. It provides structured guidance on defining responsibilities, engaging stakeholders, assessing and prioritizing climate threats such as floods, heatwaves, droughts and coastal erosion, and monitoring progress over time.

ISO 14092:2026 aligns with related ISO standards (e.g., ISO 14091 and ISO 14093) and supports broader international climate commitments — including risk-based planning frameworks under the Paris Agreement and resilience-raising objectives linked to Sustainable Development Goals.

By formalizing a voluntary but internationally recognized framework for climate adaptation planning at the local level, the new standard aims to improve access to adaptation finance, strengthen transparency and accountability in risk governance, and help communities move from climate strategy toward effective implementation.