TheInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF ) recently highlighted theimportance of climate change in management by publishing an amendment, A1:2024, to 31 major management standards. This amendment underlines the need for organizations to consider climate change as a strategic issue, under the requirements of paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of management system standards. These amendments encourage companies to assess climate-related risks and opportunities, and to take account of their stakeholders' requirements in this area.
The standards affected by this amendment cover a wide range of fields, including quality, safety, environment and energy, and includeISO 9001,ISO 14001 andISO 45001. The incorporation of this amendment into existing standards is equivalent to a legislative update, giving rise to a new authoritative version for each standard concerned: ISO 9001, ISO 14298, ISO 16000-40, ISO 22163, ISO 22301, ISO 28000, ISO 29001, ISO 30301, ISO 34101, ISO 35001, ISO 37301, ISO 46001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 21401, ISO 30401, ISO 50001, ISO/IEC 20000-1, ISO 19443, ISO/IEC 19770-1, ISO 21001, ISO 37001, ISO 41001, ISO 44001, ISO 14001, ISO 15378, ISO 18788, ISO 21101, ISO 22000, ISO 37101, ISO 39001, ISO 45001.
Amendment A1:2024 is available free of charge from ISO-affiliated national standards bodies, although the standards themselves remain chargeable. Read the joint ISO and IAF press release.
The decision to publish this amendment without waiting for the complete revision of the standards reflects the urgency of the climate issue. Standards currently under revision will incorporate this amendment in their next version. The introduction of climate change into management standards is a response to its growing impact on the global economy and organizations. It is now recognized as a management issue in its own right, requiring special attention in the management of risks and opportunities.
Organizations are invited to adapt their practices accordingly, and certification auditors will be particularly attentive to how companies address climate issues. Although the amendment does not require a new audit or immediate transition, organizations are advised to integrate it into their certification audits now. In the event of non-compliance linked to taking climate change into account, deviations may be noted during audits. The AFNOR Group Group can help organizations prepare for these changes with a range of services at your disposal.
In short, this amendment marks a turning point in the management of climate change, placing it at the heart of management system concerns and underlining the importance of proactive action by organizations in the face of this global issue..;
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