On the 23rd of February 2024, there was a major amendment to all ISO Type A Management Systems. Affected management systems include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, 45001:2018 and ISO 42001:2023. The amendments will change how each management system and organisations operate.
The most significant challenge we have been facing and will continue to face is climate change. Climate change impacts every aspect of life including ecosystems, economies, and human well-being on a global scale. ISO has undertaken some of the responsibility in pushing for a greener future from governments, businesses, communities, and individuals worldwide.
The Paris and later London Agreement was the catalyst to force more organisations to consider how they are operating and how it can impact the rest of the environment and the organisation. The amendments that have come into effect are what is effectively pushing organisations to achieve net zero by 2050.
What is net zero?
Net zero is a tool organisation can utilise against climate change. The potential of net-zero emissions provides numerous benefits to organisations including economic, social and health advantages.
By implementing climate change policies in the ISO requirements, organisations can act swiftly to reduce waste, prevent extreme weather, sea-level rise and disruptions to food and water supplies.
Here are five reasons that embracing net zero will be vital for ensuring climate change stabilises and improves overtime:
- Tackling the climate crisis
- Protecting human health
- Driving innovation and economic growth
- Enhancing energy security
- Preserving ecosystems and biodiversity
The purpose of net zero is to ensure our climate change stabilises and that we actively help balance out how much greenhouse gases are added and the environmental baseline. The goal is to ensure how we do not add more to the atmosphere than what we take away.
What are ISO standards?
ISO Standards are international standardisation agreements. Each ISO standard functions as a framework that describes the best way to do something. There are thousands of standards covering everything from making a product, managing a process, delivering a service, or supplying materials, ISO Standards cover a vast range of business activities and management.
What are the Paris and London Agreements?
The Paris Agreement was established in 2015 and forces organisations to take their climate responsibility seriously. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty that includes commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions and work together to reduce climate change.
In 2021 during an ISO meeting held by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the decision was made for ISO Management Systems to provide further support to governments, industries, and organisations who are working towards reaching net zero by 2050 as part of the Paris Agreement.
The London Declaration is established on the foundation of the Paris Agreement and incorporates pro-active climate change requirements. The declaration is a commitment factor in climate change and the responsibility of every organisation.
All management systems that have been amended
Below is a list of all the 31 Type A Management systems that have received amendments to include climate change policies:
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems
- ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems
- ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
- ISO 50001:2018 Energy management systems
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection Information security management systems
- ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Information technology
- ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management Systems
- ISO 39001:2012 Road traffic safety (RTS) management systems
- ISO 18788:2015 Management system for private security operations
- ISO 21101:2014 Adventure Tourism — Safety Management Systems
- ISO 41001:2018 Facility Management Systems
- ISO 37101:2016 Sustainable Development Management System
- ISO 15378:2017 Primary packaging materials for medicinal products —
- ISO 44001:2017 Collaborative Business Relationship Management Systems
- ISO 37001:2016 Anti-bribery Management Systems
- ISO 21001:2018 Educational Organizations Management Systems
- ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 Information Technology Asset Management Systems
- ISO 14298:2021 Graphic Technology Management Systems
- ISO 16000-40:2019 Indoor Air Quality Management System
- ISO 22163:2023 Railway Quality Management System
- ISO 22301:2019 Security and Resilience — Business Continuity Management Systems
- ISO 28000:2022 Security Management Systems
- ISO 29001:2020 Petroleum, Petrochemical and Natural Gas Quality Management Systems
- ISO 30301:2019 Information and Documentation Management Systems
- ISO 34101-1:2019 Cocoa Sustainability Management Systems
- ISO 35001:2019 Bio-risk management for laboratories and other related organisations
- ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems
- ISO 46001:2019 Water Efficiency Management Systems
- ISO 21401:2018 Tourism Sustainability Management System
- ISO 30401:2018 Knowledge Management Systems
- ISO 19443:2018 Quality Management Systems — Specific requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2015 by organisations in the supply chain of the nuclear energy sector supplying products and services important to nuclear safety (ITNS)
Two new statements of text are being added to all existing Type A Management System Standards and will be included in all new standards under development or reviewed moving forward. The changes are being introduced as amendments but will be officially included after the next revision for all Type A Management System Standards.
The focus of all these changes is to bring climate change into the forefront of every business decision and in time we hope to see more climate aware amendments.
Climate change amendments made to ISO standards.
There were two amendments made to all the above management systems. These climate change additions are:
4.1 Understanding the organisation and its context
The organisation shall determine external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended result(s) of its XXX management system.
Added: The organisation shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.
4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties.
The organisation shall determine:
- The interested parties that are relevant to the XXX management system.
- The relevant requirements of these interested parties.
- Which of these requirements will be addressed through the XXX management system.
Added: NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.
What do these changes mean?
Clauses 4.1 and 4.2 already included the need for the organisation to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system. The new inclusions ensure that Climate Change is considered within the management system. The goal of incorporating net zero amendments include:
- Preventing rising temperatures
- Preventing extreme changes in weather patterns
- Preventing ice caps and glaciers from melting
- Decrease sea-level rise.
- Decreasing the loss of biodiversity
The changes have been introduced as amendments in 2024 to already-published standards. However, every new and reviewed ISO Standard will have both additions moving forward. The amendments highlight the role that management systems can play in helping reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint and addressing climate change challenges.
While the new amendments are not new concepts, their official inclusion in ISO standards proves what a significant step forward we are experiencing. The amendments provide enough of a push to force climate considerations within organisational context.
With the renewed focus on climate change and other amendments being released for various standards it is important for your organisation to stay on top of all new regulations. At WWISE, we provide maintenance consultations that help your organisation stay on track.
Do not get left behind. Call us on 086 109 9473 or send us an email on admin@wwise.co.za today and speak to one of our ISO experts today to ensure your management system is up to standard.