Overview
ISO/TR 37115-1:2026 is a technical report developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) under the series for sustainable cities and communities. Titled Sustainable cities and communities - Net zero carbon cities - Part 1: Use cases, this document presents practical use cases of cities and communities worldwide that are implementing policies, supporting techniques, management approaches, and tools aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Achieving low-carbon and ultimately net zero carbon cities is positioned as a pivotal response to climate change and supports global carbon neutrality objectives.
This technical report considers the diverse contexts in which these practices are applied, including varying climates, economic structures, resources, and urban scales. It aligns its approach with ISO 37101, which outlines sustainability issues relevant to GHG emissions for communities.
Key Topics
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Global Framework for Net Zero Carbon Cities: The document defines key terms such as "net zero" and "carbon neutrality" and discusses their significance for city-level climate action.
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Ten Themes for Net Zero Practice: Use cases are systematically grouped under ten themes that reflect the major domains of urban GHG emissions:
- Governance and regional coordination
- Local actors and citizen participation
- Industry and sustainable production
- Energy
- Construction
- Transportation
- Agriculture, forestry, and other land uses (AFOLU)
- Circularity
- Living and working environment
- Other (including innovation, education, and international cooperation)
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Sectoral Focus: The standard’s framework is grounded in globally recognized GHG sources such as energy, industry, transport, construction, agriculture, and waste.
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Diverse Global Case Studies: Use cases are drawn from more than eleven countries and three continents, reflecting a variety of urban scales and developmental contexts. Each case provides an overview, objectives, measures, technologies, results, and lessons learned.
Applications
The practical value of ISO/TR 37115-1:2026 lies in its role as a reference and learning tool for cities, communities, policymakers, and practitioners:
- Policy Development: Municipalities and authorities can leverage the documented practices and management frameworks to guide the formation and implementation of GHG reduction policies and action plans.
- Strategic Planning: Planners and sustainability professionals can refer to the ten theme-based use cases for tailored strategies appropriate to their specific urban context and sectoral priorities.
- Technology Adoption: The report highlights the application of renewable energy, green construction, advanced public transportation, digitalization, and low-carbon lifestyle incentives, serving as a guide for incorporating technological innovation.
- Stakeholder Engagement: By featuring successful public-private partnerships and community-driven initiatives, it demonstrates methods for fostering public participation and building broad-based support.
- Capacity Building: Education, awareness-raising, and skills development are recognized as essential in enabling a holistic transition towards net zero.
Related Standards
For a comprehensive climate action and GHG reduction strategy, ISO/TR 37115-1:2026 should be used alongside the following related standards:
- ISO 37101: Sustainable development in communities - Management system for sustainable development - Requirements with guidance for use
- ISO 37100: Sustainable cities and communities - Vocabulary
- ISO 14068-1: Climate change management - Transition to net zero - Part 1: Carbon neutrality
- IWA 42: Net zero guidelines (International Workshop Agreement providing high-level framework for net zero)
- ISO 14064-1, ISO/TS 14092: Standards for GHG quantification, reporting, and mitigation at organizational and project levels
These documents collectively provide terminology, frameworks, and methodologies essential for supporting cities in their transition to net zero carbon and in addressing the sustainable development goals related to climate action.
Conclusion:
ISO/TR 37115-1:2026 is a strategic resource for cities and communities globally striving for net zero carbon status. It delivers tested, real-world use cases and a structured thematic approach, encouraging knowledge sharing and the scalable deployment of climate solutions tailored to diverse urban realities.