The new London Declaration is a game-changing moment for international standards which will enable a real acceleration in government and industry tackling climate change and their transition to net zero.

Led by BSI, working with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the London Declaration is a commitment to ensure global standards will support climate action and advance international initiatives to achieve our global climate goals.

What is the London Declaration?

Recent research shows fewer than one in four of the world’s largest companies are on track to meet basic climate change targets and Europe will miss its 2030 climate goal by 21 years. The London Declaration commits signatories to embed key climate considerations into every new standard that is created. It will also retrospectively add these requirements to all existing standards as they are revised, a change on an unparalleled scale.

In addition, the London Declaration also stipulates that it will facilitate the involvement of civil society and those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the development of all international standards and publications. ISO is committed to publishing an action plan to achieve these goals and track its progress against them.

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive of BSI, said: “BSI was the originator of the London Declaration. We are very pleased that this will be taken forward by ISO, its members, and other standards bodies so that we can work together with other countries to ensure that standards become an enabler for organizations of all sizes to accelerate our transition to a more sustainable world.”

How will the London Declaration help to achieve net zero?

In simple terms, the London Declaration is a commitment to actively factor climate science into the development of standards. It is also a pledge to involve those who are most vulnerable to climate change in the standard development process.

In the wake of the Declaration, an action plan will be published to determine how this can be put into practice for all new standards, as well as for all revisions that are made to existing standards. BSI is fully committed to ensuring that all of the 40,000 standards in its national portfolio are amended accordingly. Whether you’re looking for a best-practice consensus on digital transformation, workplace safety, employee wellbeing, or anything else, BSI will assess, understand and address the climate impact of that standard.

“For more than a century, BSI has been helping organizations turn best practices into habits of excellence,” said BSI Director of Sectors, Anne Hayes. “Our voluntary standards take a consensus view to establish ‘what good looks like’ in any given field - and that’s really important because every field has a role to play in achieving net zero. That’s why the Declaration will make sure climate science is addressed throughout all international standards and publications, whatever their aims.”

To learn about how your organization can transition to net zero, click here.

What role do standards play in achieving net zero?

There are an increasing number of corporate commitments and government targets around reaching net zero, but a lack of direction as to how these targets can be met. Governments and industries need clear, practical guidance to achieve net zero.

Both BSI and ISO have been developing standards to mitigate the impact of climate change for a number of years. Standards are a trusted, global methodology and framework which can be used by both governments and industry to deliver real change.

For organizations across every industry, there are a variety of standards that can guide companies to help them achieve their sustainability goals and reach that all-important net zero target. Some of these are:

• BS EN ISO 14001 Environmental management systems. Requirements with guidance for use

• BS EN ISO 50001 Energy management systems. Requirements with guidance for use

• PAS 2060 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality

• BS EN 16247 series Energy Audits

• BS 8001 Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations. Guide

Another important initiatives are the Energy Smart Appliances Standards (ESAs) which help to make the supply of renewable energy more responsive to electricity demand. Additionally, a standardization program for the UK government-backed Faraday Battery Challenge is making the battery research, production, and recycling sectors more effective and environmentally focused.

While these have been a great success, there is a need to emphasize net zero objectives across a much broader range of sectors and disciplines. This is where the London Declaration comes in.

Kickstart your organization’s journey to net zero by adding these key standards to your collection today.

Discover BSI Knowledge

As the pressure builds for all businesses to achieve net zero, knowing which standards can help you and how to share their guidance within your organization can seem like a huge challenge. With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the essential standards you need in order to start your journey to net zero with confidence. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to one of our pre-built modules, such as GBM06 Environment, Wastes, and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.