New ISO standard for climate action framework under development

May 4, 2017

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are identified as the principal cause of climate change and managing them is crucial to help us adapt to its consequences. To address the issue, initiatives are being developed on an international, regional, national and local scale to limit GHG concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere. Future ISO 14080 will help government and industry put together credible, transparent and consistent climate action.

A new International Standard under development is intended to give all organizations involved in climate action a framework for the development of consistent, comparable and improved methodologies in the fight against climate change. ISO 14080, Greenhouse gas management and related activities – Framework and principles for methodologies on climate actions, will provide guidance on how to create effective mitigation and adaptation activities while giving stakeholders enhanced access to financial and other resources needed to combat climate change.

The future standard, which is currently at the Draft International Standard (DIS) stage, provides a generic framework for the development of climate action methodologies and their review and management over time. It specifies principles for designing a framework and guideline to establish methodologies that take into account prevailing climate change policies as well as the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. The standard also provides examples of a methodology profile, which can be used for communication with relevant stakeholders to harmonize aggregated actions and encourage the disclosure of climate-related information, including financially relevant information.

ISO 14080 can help non-state actors, initiatives, industry associations and GHG programmes demonstrate that climate action can contribute to a low-carbon society and adaptation strategies with governance.

ISO 14080 will help organizations meet their commitment to the Paris Agreement and global climate action agenda. Publication is expected in 2018.