As New Zealand’s leading authority on credible climate impact, Toitū keeps a constant watch on the fast-moving world of climate standards, frameworks and methodologies. Each year, we actively track and regularly review more than 100 international and local discourse items.
These span everything from greenhouse gas accounting and target-setting to carbon credit integrity and climate claims. They include guidance from well-known international bodies such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Science Based Targets initiative, and the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market. This oversight underpins our programmes and services, giving clients confidence that their climate impact reflects best practice and stands up to scrutiny.
The key shifts coming up in 2026
2026 is shaping up to be another pivotal year for climate standards and guidance, with a concentrated wave of high-impact updates at both the international and national level. Several of the world’s most influential standard-setters are refining how emissions are measured, targets are set, removals are treated, and carbon credits are assessed for integrity.
At the same time, New Zealand-specific guidance is emerging to bring greater clarity to voluntary offsetting and low-emissions freight claims. Together, these developments will materially influence how organisations plan, invest, report, and communicate their climate action over the coming years.
The top seven updates to watch:
- GHG Protocol land sector and removals standard (Int.)
- GHG Protocol guidance for implementing the LSR Standard (Int.)
- GHG Protocol revisions to corporate Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 standards (Int.)
- ICVCM assessment framework for carbon credit quality (Int.)
- SBTi corporate net-zero standard v2.0 (Int.)
- MfE guidance on voluntary carbon offsetting (NZ)
- SBC Low Emissions Road Freight Certificates (NZ)
Summary of overall trends
Last year, we saw global standards push toward greater alignment, stronger requirements for carbon removals and high-integrity credits, and heightened scrutiny of climate claims. These trends are set to continue in 2026. For New Zealand businesses, staying ahead is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and strengthen climate credibility.
Keeping you informed
Look out for part two of this series, where we unpack the key climate standards on the horizon, and why they could matter to your business.
Article correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the GLEC Framework v3.2 for logistics emissions was expected to be released later this year. It has in fact already been published, with the official release occurring in late October 2025. Instead, further refinements to v3.2 could be anticipated this year. But until this becomes more certain, we’ve removed this information to ensure accuracy and keep readers focused on what matters most.