Planning Your Environmental Management System Under ISO 14001

ISO 14001 Clause 6 - Planning

Clause 6 of ISO 14001:2026 is where the environmental management system moves from understanding the organisation to deciding what to do about it. The planning clause draws on the context, interested parties and scope work from Clause 4, applies a risk-based approach, and sets the environmental objectives that the rest of the system will work to deliver.

The 2026 edition introduces a new sub-clause - 6.3 Planning of changes - which formalises an expectation that was previously implicit. It also clarifies the existing requirement at 6.1.2 on environmental aspects so that normal and abnormal operating conditions are both explicitly considered.

ISO 14001 Clause 6.1 - Actions to Address Risks and Opportunities

The organisation establishes processes to determine its environmental aspects, compliance obligations, and risks and opportunities, and plans actions to address them. This sub-clause covers the general planning process and the integration of risks and opportunities into operational and business processes.

For more on this clause see ISO 14001 Clause 6.1 - Actions to Address Risks and Opportunities.

ISO 14001 Clause 6.1.2 - Environmental Aspects

The organisation determines the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that it can control or influence, considering a life cycle perspective. New in ISO 14001:2026 - normal and abnormal operating conditions are now both explicitly considered when determining environmental aspects, alongside potential emergency situations and changes.

For more on this clause see ISO 14001 Clause 6.1.2 - Environmental Aspects.

ISO 14001 Clause 6.1.3 - Compliance Obligations

The organisation determines its compliance obligations - the legal requirements and other requirements relating to its environmental aspects - and how they apply.

For more on this clause see ISO 14001 Clause 6.1.3 - Compliance Obligations.

ISO 14001 Clause 6.2 - Environmental Objectives and Planning to Achieve Them

The organisation establishes environmental objectives at relevant functions and levels, taking into account significant environmental aspects and compliance obligations, and plans the actions, resources and timescales needed to achieve them.

For more on this clause see ISO 14001 Clause 6.2 - Environmental Objectives and Planning to Achieve Them.

ISO 14001 Clause 6.3 - Planning of Changes

New in ISO 14001:2026. When the organisation determines a need for changes to the environmental management system, the changes are carried out in a planned manner so that the EMS continues to achieve its intended outcomes.

For more on this clause see ISO 14001 Clause 6.3 - Planning of Changes.