- In response to the growing concern over climate change and its impact across various sectors, ISO has introduced significant amendments to the management system standards (MSS) in ISO 9001 under the guidance of the London Declaration on Climate Action.
- The rationale behind these amendments is to elevate the importance of climate change within the management systems, urging organizations to proactively consider its implications on their operations, supply chains, employee health and safety, and overall business continuity.
- The intent is not to disproportionately focus audits on climate change but to ensure it is considered a significant external factor that could affect the management system’s effectiveness.
In response to the growing concern over climate change and its impact across various sectors, ISO has introduced significant amendments to the management system standards (MSS) under the guidance of the London Declaration on Climate Action. This move, discussed and approved during ISO’s Annual Meeting in Brisbane, aims to integrate climate change considerations into the core structure of ISO MSS, including ISO 9001 for Quality Management. The modifications to Annex SL, the Harmonized Structure for MSS, specifically call for organizations to assess whether climate change is a relevant issue within their context and to understand the needs and expectations of interested parties about climate change. This change marks a concerted effort to ensure that organizations globally recognize and incorporate climate change adaptation and mitigation into their management systems, extending beyond environmental management systems like ISO 14001 to encompass a broader range of standards.
The rationale behind these amendments is to elevate the importance of climate change within the management systems, urging organizations to proactively consider its implications on their operations, supply chains, employee health and safety, and overall business continuity. By formally embedding climate change considerations into MSS, ISO aims to prompt organizations to adapt to the changing climate conditions and mitigate their environmental impact. This is a crucial step towards global climate action, ensuring that organizations of all sizes and sectors are aligned with international efforts to combat climate change.
Implementing these changes involves the amendment of existing MSS and incorporating climate change considerations into new or revised standards. The intent is not to disproportionately focus audits on climate change but to ensure it is considered a significant external factor that could affect the management system’s effectiveness. The transition arrangements and guidance for accredited certification bodies and auditors will be defined to facilitate the smooth integration of these changes. For organizations, this signifies a “wake-up call” to assess and address how climate change could impact their operations and to embed climate action into their strategic planning and risk management processes. With the publication of these amendments, ISO 9001 reinforces the notion that managing climate change is not an optional extra but an essential part of organizational governance and quality management.
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