In support of the ISO London Declaration on Climate Change, ISO passed a resolution that will result in two new statements of text being added to a number of existing management systems standards and will be included in all new standards under development/revision.

4.1 Understanding the organization and its context.
The organization 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 organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.

4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties.
The organization 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.

To effectively address climate change within your organization’s quality management system (QMS), it is essential to conduct a thorough assessment of climate change impacts. This involves:

Identifying relevant climate change factors: Determine which climate change factors, such as rising temperatures, extreme weather events, or changes in precipitation patterns, are most likely to affect your organization’s quality management systems.

Evaluating potential impacts: Assess the potential positive and negative consequences of climate change on your organization’s business, including financial risks, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

Considering stakeholder perspectives: Identify relevant stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, employees, and regulatory bodies, and gather their input on climate change concerns and expectations that most likely affect your organization’s quality management systems.

By conducting a comprehensive assessment of climate change impacts, you can identify areas where your organization may be vulnerable and develop strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities.

[1] IAF/ISO Joint Communiqué on the addition of Climate Change considerations to Management Systems Standards. (2024). https://committee.iso.org/files/live/sites/jtcg/files/news/Joint%20ISO-IAF%20Communique%20re%20Climate%20Change%20Amds%20to%20ISO%20MSS%20Feb%202024a.pdf