An effective Environmental Lead Auditor will be capable to manage all stages of the audit maximizing the individual skills, resources and knowledge of the audit team, while applying the best communication practices to gather, analyze and provide insightful information to the leadership of the audited organization.

Conflict management, project management, information analysis and interpretation, leading skills and risk-based approach are only some of the factors the Lead Auditor will need to master to make sure the audit adds real value to the Environmental Management System and the business.

Learning Objectives

This course teaches students the principles, skills, and behaviors needed to lead a team of environmental auditors in accordance with ISO FDIS 14001:2026, including major updates such as:

• Explicit integration of climate change, biodiversity, pollution control, and resource‑use considerations in organizational context (Clause 4).
• Strengthened leadership commitment and clarification of compliance‑obligation language (Clause 5).
• Revised planning structure, including new Clause 6.3 on change management and expanded requirements for potential emergency‑situation identification (Clause 6).
• Enhanced documentation, communication, and competence expectations (Clause 7).
• Updated operational controls, including oversight of externally provided processes and stronger links between emergency preparedness and risk planning (Clause 8).
• More prescriptive internal audit objectives and detailed management‑review inputs (Clause 9).
• ISO 19011 guidance on auditing management systems, emphasizing evidence‑based auditing, audit program management, risk‑based approach, and auditor competence.

Who should attend?

• Environmental professional interested in learning the changes of ISO 14001:2026 based on FDIS
• Environmental professionals responsible for implementing or monitoring the Management Systems
• Environmental professionals with responsibilities of reporting the system performance to management
• EMS Managers interested in “speaking the same language” as the 3^rd party auditors they will be audited by
• EMS leaders responsible to manage a team of auditors
• Professionals seeking to become 3^rd party auditors
• Environmental regulatory compliance officers
• Consultants and external auditors

Course Highlights

• Roles and responsibilities of audit team leaders
• Preparing audit activities
• Selecting audit methods
• Resolving conflict
• Managing the closing meeting
• Reporting, completing, follow up
• Auditor evaluations
• Roles and responsibilities of audit team leaders
• Preparing audit activities, including applying updated 2026 requirements
• Selecting and applying appropriate audit methods
• Leading the audit team and managing conflict effectively
• Facilitating the closing meeting with enhanced expectations for presenting EMS insights
• Reporting, completion, and follow‑up aligned with strengthened 2026 audit‑objective requirements
• Auditor performance evaluations based on ISO 19011 and revised ISO 14001 expectations
• Integrating 2026 updates into audit leadership, including:
  • Lifecycle perspective verification
  • Evaluation of change‑management planning (new Clause 6.3)
  • Climate and biodiversity considerations now required in EMS context
  • Expanded operational and emergency‑preparedness controls
  • Clearer audit‑objective and performance‑evaluation expectations

Duration & Format

Duration: 4 days (32 hours total)

To optimize knowledge assimilation and harmonize training with operational responsibilities, our public training schedule offers courses delivered consecutively or distributed across several weeks. This methodology ensures superior learning outcomes while respecting busy professional calendars.

Delivery Format: 100% Live Virtual Training

Participate from any location with reliable internet connectivity. Our interactive virtual learning environment delivers the same dynamic, participatory educational experience as conventional classroom training, enhanced by the flexibility of learning from your preferred location. Webcam and microphone capabilities are mandatory for active participation and engagement with instructors and peer learners.

Private courses can be delivered in person or virtually depending on organizational needs.

Prerequisites

While general familiarity with ISO 14001 principles is beneficial, this course incorporates essential foundations of the ISO 14001:2026 standard, ensuring accessibility for environment management newcomers. Participants must examine the ISO 14001:2026 standard prior to course commencement and maintain ready access throughout all sessions for immediate consultation.

Course Materials

Students obtain extensive electronic course resources available online for consultation throughout and following the training. All resources support viewing, downloading, and printing for maximum convenience.

Important Note: Due to copyright restrictions, copies of ISO standards are not supplied as part of the course registration fee. ERM CVS will provide temporary access to reference standards throughout the training period. Students are highly encouraged to acquire their personal copy of the ISO 14001:2026 standard. Digital reference standards are non-printable and non-downloadable.

Expert Instruction

Our Expert facilitators contribute authentic environment management and audit proficiency to each learning session. They deliver thorough explanations of standard specifications, communicate industry-leading practices, and mentor students through applied environment audit scenarios. With extensive professional audit experience, our facilitators enrich your education with pertinent case analyses and validated methodologies immediately applicable within your organization.