• ISO 17298 offers a globally recognized framework for organizations to assess and act on biodiversity impacts and risks.
• Developed by experts from over 60 countries, the standard aligns with TNFD, SDGs, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Designed for scalability, ISO 17298 supports companies, SMEs, and public bodies in integrating biodiversity into governance, operations, and finance.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched the world’s first global standard dedicated to helping organizations measure, manage, and act on biodiversity. Announced today at ISO’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Kigali, ISO 17298: Biodiversity for organizations – Guidelines and Requirements establishes a unified framework for companies and institutions to evaluate their dependencies, risks, and impacts on nature — and to turn that understanding into concrete action.
A framework for nature-positive transformation
Biodiversity, the intricate web of life underpinning healthy ecosystems and economies, is declining faster than at any time in human history. Businesses are increasingly exposed to the fallout — from disrupted supply chains and rising input costs to tightening regulation and investor pressure. ISO 17298 aims to close a critical governance gap by embedding biodiversity into the core of organizational strategy and risk management, not just sustainability reporting.
“No global framework existed until now for integrating biodiversity into corporate decision-making,” said Noelia Garcia Nebra, ISO’s Head of Sustainability and Partnerships. “ISO 17298 provides that missing structure — a roadmap that enables organizations to assess and address biodiversity impacts systematically, aligning operational realities with growing global expectations.”
The standard emphasizes practical application. It supports companies in identifying dependencies and opportunities linked to ecosystems, integrating biodiversity into governance processes, and disclosing credible data for investors and regulators.
Built for interoperability and global consistency
ISO 17298 is designed to align seamlessly with widely adopted sustainability standards and frameworks, including ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 26000 (Social Responsibility), the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It also contributes directly to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — particularly Target 15, which calls for corporate disclosure and action on nature-related impacts.
According to Marco Rossi, ISO’s Director of Standardization, interoperability was a central design principle. “ISO 17298 is scalable and inclusive — it works for small businesses, large corporates, public agencies, and cities alike,” Rossi said. “By providing a consistent basis for credible biodiversity data, it enables better investment decisions, transparency in disclosure, and access to the growing nature-positive economy.”
The approach echoes calls from investors and policymakers for harmonized nature-related reporting standards, ensuring that corporate biodiversity actions can be verified, compared, and integrated into broader ESG assessments.
Backed by global expertise and financial disclosure frameworks
The standard was developed by ISO Technical Committee 331 on Biodiversity (ISO/TC 331), a multi-stakeholder body involving experts from more than 60 countries. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which has been liaising closely with the committee, said ISO 17298 builds on its LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) approach and strengthens global alignment on biodiversity metrics.
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“The TNFD is pleased to have supported ISO in developing this important standard,” said Emily McKenzie, TNFD’s Technical Director. “ISO 17298 will help harmonize definitions and approaches globally, supporting organizations in embedding nature-related considerations into strategy and governance.”
The launch also coincided with Rwanda’s unveiling of its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), introduced by the country’s Minister of Environment during the same session, From Risk to Action: Why Biodiversity Matters to Your Business. The strategy advances Rwanda’s commitment under the Global Biodiversity Framework, making the country a symbolic host for the global rollout.
Toward a new generation of biodiversity standards
ISO 17298 is the first in a series of biodiversity-focused standards under development by ISO/TC 331. Upcoming work will include guidance on biodiversity net gain, terminology, and methods for characterizing products based on native species. Together, these standards aim to create the technical backbone for credible, comparable, and scalable biodiversity action worldwide.
The timing is significant. With investors, regulators, and consumers demanding more transparency on nature-related risks, ISO 17298 could help bridge the gap between sustainability ambition and execution. For the private sector, it offers a globally recognized benchmark to translate biodiversity commitments into operational governance — and to access emerging nature-linked finance mechanisms.
As governments move to integrate biodiversity into economic planning and as global capital flows increasingly reward measurable nature-positive outcomes, ISO 17298 may become a key reference point for organizations navigating this next frontier of ESG performance.
In a world where ecosystem health is now inseparable from business resilience, the new standard sets a clear expectation: biodiversity is no longer peripheral to enterprise strategy — it is integral to it.
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