- Standardisation is a strategic ally of organisations as it provides them with useful tools for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change and obtaining adequate funding to achieve these objectives.
9 January 2020. 220 ISO standards help organisations to combat climate change and promote best practice in environmental management. This, according to an announcement from the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). UNE is the Spanish member of ISO.
Standardisation is a strategic ally of organisations as it provides them with useful tools for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change and obtaining adequate funding to achieve these objectives.
ISO standards provide the best practices, knowledge, collaboration and commitment from countries that are needed to address this global challenge. ISO took part in the COP25 World Climate Summit in Madrid, where it emphasised the role of standards in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
Examples of standards in the climate change area include the series of standards UNE-EN ISO 14064, which specify methodologies for the quantification of GHG emissions in organizations, as well as the GHG reduction projects and requirements for verification. In the specific case of the carbon footprint of products and services, the benchmark standard is UNE-EN ISO 14067.
The requirements to be fulfilled by organisations carrying out this verification are set forth in the UNE-EN ISO 14065 and UNE-ISO 14066. The principles, requirements and guidelines for communication of footprint information is found in standard UNE-EN ISO 14026.
Regarding adaptation to climate change, the ISO 14090 family allows organisations to establish a proper framework, understand impacts and uncertainties and establish adaptation plans.
The future ISO 14097 Standard will help to align organisations' economic investments with climate objectives.
In Spain, the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, plays an important role in the development and application of standards, thus ensuring that the voices of experts from Spanish organizations and industries are heard in the global forums where standards are developed. Spain's contribution is provided via the CTN 216/GT 2 Climate Change group, whose members include representatives from different economic sectors and government agencies.
Standards provide credibility, consistency and transparency. In total, more than 600 ISO standards help organisations in their environmental protection strategy.
