What is the primary objective of **ISO 37301**?

**ISO 37301 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an effective **Compliance Management System (CMS)**.** Published on 13 April 2021, it replaces the guidance-only ISO 19600 by introducing certifiable 'shall' requirements, using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and High-Level Structure (HLS) to systematically identify **compliance obligations**, assess risks, embed integrity culture, and drive continual improvement through leadership commitment and performance evaluation.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 37301**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with ISO 37301, as it is a voluntary international standard applicable to all sizes and sectors.** It is professionally adopted by organizations seeking certification for demonstrable CMS effectiveness, particularly in regulated industries facing complex obligations like ESG, whistleblowing, and third-party risks, with top management accountable for alignment to context, risks, and stakeholder expectations.

Does **ISO 37301** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 37301 enables but does not require external audits or third-party certification.** Certification is optional via accredited bodies (e.g., ANAB-accredited), involving initial conformity assessment and surveillance audits in a typical three-year cycle, providing verifiable evidence of CMS conformance to HLS clauses like leadership, risk planning, and performance evaluation.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 37301** be performed?

**ISO 37301 requires ongoing assessments through monitoring, measurement, internal audits at planned intervals, and management reviews.** Internal audits follow a risk-based program with frequency based on importance; certification involves surveillance audits annually or per three-year cycle, ensuring continual improvement via KPIs, nonconformity analysis, and adaptation to changes like the 2024 climate action amendment.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 37301**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 37301 results in loss of certification, if pursued, but no direct legal penalties as it is voluntary.** Internally, it risks inadequate CMS leading to regulatory breaches, fines, reputational damage, or litigation; externally, stakeholders may demand evidence of structured compliance, with certification withdrawal signaling governance failures in leadership or risk management.

An **ISO 37301** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 37301 follows the High-Level Structure (HLS), enabling seamless mapping and integration with other ISO management system standards.** Its PDCA framework and clauses (context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement) align for Integrated Management Systems (IMS), supported by companion standards like ISO 37302 (effectiveness) and ISO 37303 (competence).

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 37301**?

**The first step is to determine the organization's context, identifying internal/external issues, interested parties, and scope of the CMS.** Secure top management commitment, then inventory **compliance obligations** into a centralized register, prioritizing material risks per the risk-based approach in clause 6.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 14064**?

**ISO 14064 provides requirements and guidance for quantifying, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.** The modular standard family—**ISO 14064-1:2018** for organizational inventories, **ISO 14064-2:2019** for project-level reductions/removals, and **ISO 14064-3:2019** for validation/verification—ensures credible GHG statements through five principles: **relevance**, **completeness**, **consistency**, **transparency**, and **accuracy**. It supports organizational boundary setting (e.g., equity share or control approaches), Scope 1-3 classification, baseline development, and risk-based assurance.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 14064**?

**No organization is legally mandated to comply with ISO 14064, as it is a voluntary international standard.** It is professionally required for entities preparing credible GHG inventories, including companies, governments, NGOs, and project developers facing stakeholder demands for verifiable data in emissions trading, investor disclosures, supply-chain reporting, or climate finance. Users include those aligning with programs like CDP, where **ISO 14064-3** verification enhances acceptance.

Does **ISO 14064** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 14064 does not require external audit or third-party certification.** Parts 1 and 2 provide self-implementation guidance for inventories and projects, with **ISO 14064-3** offering optional validation/verification processes at limited or reasonable assurance levels. Third-party assurance by competent bodies (e.g., per **ISO 14065:2020**) is recommended for credibility in regulatory, investor, or market contexts but remains voluntary.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 14064** be performed?

**ISO 14064 assessments should be performed annually to maintain consistency and enable trend analysis.** Organizational inventories under **ISO 14064-1** require a defined reporting period (typically calendar year), base-year tracking with recalculation policies for structural changes, and ongoing data quality improvements. Project monitoring under **ISO 14064-2** follows specified plans, with verification under **ISO 14064-3** timed to GHG statements.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 14064**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 14064 carries no direct penalties, as it is a voluntary standard.** Indirect consequences include reduced credibility of GHG claims, exclusion from emissions trading or green finance, regulatory scrutiny in disclosure regimes (e.g., where aligned methods are expected), reputational damage from greenwashing accusations, and failed stakeholder assurances due to unverifiable inventories lacking transparency or accuracy.

An **ISO 14064** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 14064 aligns closely with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard's principles and Scope 1-3 categories.** Its five principles mirror GHG Protocol requirements, enabling interoperability for organizational inventories (**Part 1**), project baselines/additionality (**Part 2**), and assurance (**Part 3**). Mappings support multi-framework reporting without double-counting, though **ISO 14064** stands alone for verification under **ISO 14065**.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 14064**?

**The first step is defining organizational and operational boundaries per ISO 14064-1.** Select consolidation approach (e.g., **equity share** or **operational control**), identify emission sources/sinks across Scopes 1-3, establish base-year policy, and document relevance to ensure completeness and consistency. This governance decision enables subsequent data collection, quantification, and assurance readiness.

ISO 37301 vs ISO 14064

Standards Comparison

ISO 37301

Voluntary

2021

International certifiable standard for compliance management systems

ISO 14064

Voluntary

2018

International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, and verification.

Quick Verdict

ISO 37301 establishes certifiable compliance management systems for regulatory risks across organizations, while ISO 14064 specifies GHG emissions quantification, reporting, and verification. Companies adopt them for credible governance, risk mitigation, stakeholder trust, and regulatory/market compliance.

Compliance Management

ISO 37301

ISO 37301:2021 Compliance management systems — Requirements with guidance

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

First certifiable CMS standard replacing guidance-only ISO 19600
High-Level Structure enables seamless integration with other ISO standards
Risk-based approach identifies and manages compliance obligations
Mandates top management commitment and compliance culture
Requires confidential whistleblowing with anti-retaliation protections

Greenhouse Gas Accounting

ISO 14064

ISO 14064 Greenhouse gases specification series

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Organizational GHG inventories (ISO 14064-1)
Project emission reductions quantification (ISO 14064-2)
Validation and verification processes (ISO 14064-3)
Scopes 1-3 emissions classification and boundaries
Five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

ISO 37301 Details

What It Is

ISO 37301:2021, titled Compliance management systems — Requirements with guidance for use, is a certifiable international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving effective Compliance Management Systems (CMS). Applicable to all organization sizes and sectors, it uses a risk-based PDCA cycle and High-Level Structure (HLS) for systematic identification of compliance obligations, risks, and opportunities.

Key Components

Core clauses: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
Focus on compliance risk assessment, objectives, controls, whistleblowing, audits, and continual enhancement.
Built on Annex SL HLS; integrates with ISO 9001, 14001, 27001; supported by companions like ISO 37302 (effectiveness), ISO 37303 (competence).
Third-party certification via accredited bodies (e.g., ANAB).

Why Organizations Use It

Reduces regulatory risks, fines, reputational damage; enhances investor confidence and ESG reporting.
Builds integrity culture, stakeholder trust; provides certification evidence.
Strategic drivers: regulatory complexity, supply chain demands; competitive edge in tenders.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: gap analysis, obligation register, training, internal audits, management reviews, certification.
Scalable for SMEs to enterprises; global applicability.
Typical timeline 12-18 months; requires resources, cultural change; ongoing surveillance audits.

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

ISO 14064 is an international standard family (ISO 14064-1:2018, -2:2019, -3:2019) providing specifications with guidance for GHG emissions quantification, reporting, and verification. It establishes a modular framework for organizational inventories, project-level reductions, and independent assurance using principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy.

Key Components

**Three partsPart 1 (organizational inventories), Part 2 (projects), Part 3 (validation/verification).
Core principles mirror GHG Protocol.
Covers Scopes 1-3, boundaries, baselines, monitoring.
No fixed controls; principle-based with verification model under ISO 14065.

Why Organizations Use It

Enables regulatory compliance (e.g., CSRD, SB-253), investor trust, carbon markets.
Drives operational improvements, risk mitigation, competitive edge in green finance.
Builds stakeholder credibility via assured, comparable GHG data.

Implementation Overview

Phased: governance, boundary-setting, data systems, verification.
Applies to all sizes/industries; mid-large firms via cross-functional teams.
Third-party verification optional but key for credibility; 6-12 months typical.

Key Differences

Aspect	ISO 37301	ISO 14064
Scope	Compliance management systems (CMS)	GHG emissions quantification and verification
Industry	All sectors, all sizes globally	All sectors with GHG footprints globally
Nature	Certifiable management system standard	GHG accounting and reporting specifications
Testing	Certification audits, 3-year cycle	Independent validation/verification
Penalties	Loss of certification, no legal fines	No penalties, verification failure only

Scope

ISO 37301

Compliance management systems (CMS)

ISO 14064

GHG emissions quantification and verification

Industry

ISO 37301

All sectors, all sizes globally

ISO 14064

All sectors with GHG footprints globally

Nature

ISO 37301

Certifiable management system standard

ISO 14064

GHG accounting and reporting specifications

Testing

ISO 37301

Certification audits, 3-year cycle

ISO 14064

Independent validation/verification

Penalties

ISO 37301

Loss of certification, no legal fines

ISO 14064

No penalties, verification failure only

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ISO 37301 and ISO 14064

ISO 37301 FAQ

ISO 14064 FAQ

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ISO 37301

ISO 14064

Quick Verdict

ISO 37301

Key Features

ISO 14064

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

ISO 37301 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

ISO 37301 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 37301?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 37301?

Does ISO 37301 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 37301 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 37301?

An ISO 37301 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 37301?

ISO 14064 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 14064?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 14064?

Does ISO 14064 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 14064 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 14064?

An ISO 14064 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 14064?

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SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria in Plain English: Side-by-Side Decoder with Real-World Analogies

Using CIS Controls v8.1 as a ‘Compliance On-Ramp’: Map One Security Program to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIS2

Decoding Tomorrow's Regulations: How Advanced Compliance Tools Predict and Prepare for Future Shifts

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PCI DSS vs RoHS

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