IAF/ISO Joint Communiqué – Climate Change Considerations in Management Systems Standards
On 22 February 2024, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issued a joint communiqué announcing the addition of Climate Action Amendments to both new and existing ISO management systems standards, in support of the ISO London Declaration.
The aim is to ensure that climate change issues are evaluated by organizations in the context of management system effectiveness, alongside all other relevant issues. These new requirements emphasize that climate change must be addressed in the design, implementation, and continual improvement of management systems.
Key Amendments
These changes apply to all Management System Standards (MSS) listed below and are included in Chapters 4.1 and 4.2 of the High-Level Structure (HLS):
-
Chapter 4.1: “The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.”
-
Chapter 4.2: “Note: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.”
What Organizations Must Consider
Organizations must determine whether climate change is a relevant factor and, if so, include it in their risk evaluation and management system scope. This ensures climate change is not overlooked but integrated into operational and strategic decision-making.
Impact on Existing Certificates
There is no need for a new or revised certificate because:
-
The publication year of the MS standard remains unchanged.
-
The scope of certification is not affected.
-
The change has no significant impact on the effectiveness of the certified management system.
-
Actions required will be similar to other contextual updates already managed within existing systems.
Audit Evidence Requirements
During audits, evidence will include:
-
Climate change considerations within the context of the organization.
-
Updates in risk assessments and interested parties’ requirements.
-
Relevant documented information integrated into the existing management system.
Auditors will verify compliance with the amended requirements and evaluate their relevance to the standard being assessed.
Applicable Standards
This amendment applies to a wide range of ISO management system standards, including but not limited to:
| Standard | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | Quality Management Systems — Requirements |
| ISO 14001:2015 | Environmental Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 45001:2018 | Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 50001:2018 | Energy Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 22000:2018 | Food Safety Management Systems — Requirements for any organization in the food chain |
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Information Security, Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection — Information Security Management Systems — Requirements |
| ISO 22301:2019 | Security and Resilience — Business Continuity Management Systems — Requirements |
| ISO 39001:2012 | Road Traffic Safety (RTS) Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 37101:2016 | Sustainable Development in Communities — Management System for Sustainable Development — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 | Information Technology — Service Management — Part 1: Service Management System Requirements |
| ISO 37301:2021 | Compliance Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 14298:2021 | Graphic Technology — Management of Security Printing Processes |
| ISO 16000-40:2019 | Indoor Air — Part 40: Indoor Air Quality Management System |
| ISO 22163:2023 | Railway Applications — Railway Quality Management System — ISO 9001:2015 and specific requirements for application in the railway sector |
| ISO 28000:2022 | Security and Resilience — Security Management Systems — Requirements |
| ISO 29001:2020 | Petroleum, Petrochemical and Natural Gas Industries — Sector-specific Quality Management Systems — Requirements for product and service supply organizations |
| ISO 30301:2019 | Information and Documentation — Management Systems for Records — Requirements |
| ISO 34101-1:2019 | Sustainable and Traceable Cocoa — Part 1: Requirements for Cocoa Sustainability Management Systems |
| ISO 35001:2019 | Biorisk Management for Laboratories and Other Related Organisations |
| ISO 46001:2019 | Water Efficiency Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 21401:2018 | Tourism and Related Services — Sustainability Management System for Accommodation Establishments — Requirements |
| ISO 30401:2018 | Knowledge Management Systems — Requirements |
| ISO 19443:2018 | Quality Management Systems — Specific Requirements for the Application of ISO 9001:2015 by Organizations in the Supply Chain of the Nuclear Energy Sector Supplying Products and Services Important to Nuclear Safety (ITNS) |
| ISO/IEC 19770-1:2017 | Information Technology — IT Asset Management — Part 1: IT Asset Management Systems — Requirements |
| ISO 21001:2018 | Educational Organizations — Management Systems for Educational Organizations — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 37001:2016 | Anti-Bribery Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 41001:2018 | Facility Management — Management Systems — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 44001:2017 | Collaborative Business Relationship Management Systems — Requirements and Framework |
| ISO 15378:2017 | Primary Packaging Materials for Medicinal Products — Particular Requirements for the Application of ISO 9001:2015, with reference to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) |
| ISO 18788:2015 | Management System for Private Security Operations — Requirements with guidance for use |
| ISO 21101:2014 | Adventure Tourism — Safety Management Systems — Requirements |
Source:
IAF and ISO Publish Joint Communiqué – 23 February 2024