The impacts of climate change continue to grow, disproportionately affecting the poor. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’ objective of leaving no one behind, the climate crisis must be urgently addressed, including with standards. The IAF Mulitilateral Recognition Agreement (MLA) includes conformity assessment programmes in multiple fields for climate change mitigation and environmental protection, including energy management systems (ISO 50003, ISO 50001), environmental management systems (ISO/IEC 17021-2, ISO 14001), and validation and verification (ISO 14065, ICAO CORSIA). These standards and the ICAO CORSIA scheme can help reduce pollution and support clean energy initiatives and energy efficiency programmes, among other benefits.

In September 2021, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) signed the London Declaration, committing to work with its members, stakeholders and partners to ensure that its standards and publications consider climate change and support the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Call for Action on Adaption and Resilience. ISO has committed to foster the active consideration of climate science and associated transitions in the development of all new and revised international standards and publications; facilitate the involvement of civil society and those most vulnerable to climate change in the development of international standards and publications; and develop and publish an Action Plan and Measurement Framework detailing concrete actions and initiatives and a reporting mechanism to track progress.

More information on the London Agreement, and a Climate Action Kit to support policy makers in meeting their commitments to reduce emissions, are available on the ISO website. Further case studies on the use of standards to combat climate change can be located on the Public Sector Assurance and Business Benefits websites.