Sustainability and climate action

Sustainability and climate action

How standards accelerate the transition to net zero

How standards accelerate the transition to net zero
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Sustainability and climate action
Sustainability and climate action
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Our planet faces a huge dilemma with human-induced climate change directly linked to greenhouse gas emissions. If we do not act now we risk missing the main goals laid out in the 2015 Paris Agreement - To achieve net zero by 2050, and to limit global warming by maintaining a temperature well below 2℃.

Standards can play a significant part in accelerating the transition to a net zero economy. They provide clear and practical guidance for organizations of all sizes and sectors to mitigate, and adapt to, climate change. 

As the UK National Standards Body, BSI is at the core of several initiatives centred around climate action. Some examples include PAS 2060, a standard which supports organizational claims of carbon neutrality, and the Faraday Battery Challenge standardization programme, supported by the UK Government, which centres on innovation in energy storage for electric vehicles.

In September 2021, BSI played a key role in drafting the London Declaration, signed at the 75th anniversary of ISO Week in London, which commits ISO to consider the climate impacts in all its standards and facilitates the involvement in standardization of those most vulnerable to climate change.

Taking action on climate change

Susan Taylor Martin, BSI Chief Executive

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Scott Steedman, BSI Director-General, Standards

“BSI sees sustainability as our top strategic priority and we are determined to do what we can as an organisation and in our role as the National Standards Body to address climate change.  The role of standards, including regulation, is critical in accelerating the global transition to a net zero economy but we know that this is not widely understood by industry, particularly SMEs, governments or consumers. The London Declaration, which BSI signed in September together with the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO), will help us raise the profile of international standards as a tool to scale industry transformation and ensure climate science is fully considered in all new and existing international standards.”

Key Initiatives


David Fatscher - Headshot

David Fatscher, Head of Environmental, Social and Governance, BSI. 

''New season, same agenda''

With Spring, we look forward to a fresh start and new beginnings and at BSI, we recommend that all organizations now accelerate their climate action journey. The Paris agreement reached in 2015 at COP21 not only shaped the agenda of last year’s COP26 but also highlighted the urgency of meeting a shared goal. The Glasgow conference may be in the past, but international commitment to net zero by 2050 (in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C) now has to drive future action. At BSI, sustainability and climate action are at the forefront of our business; we are committed to net zero and had a strong presence at COP26, launching initiatives and participating in key events. The road to net zero affects all facets of society, posing a unifying challenge for government, communities and businesses alike but there is huge potential for consensus-based standards to align us all behind a joint ambition to create a more sustainable world. If the term ‘climate action’ is new to you, it’s not too late to begin your transition to net zero. We encourage you read through our COP26 brochure. Your next step would be to download a complimentary copy of ISO 50005 to support your organization’s Energy Management and help reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 

Standards in a post-COP26 world

International standards have an immense capacity to support both business and policy makers in the race to net zero. However, so far, their potential to drive positive climate transitions has been largely untapped. This is something that the international standards community is now vigorously addressing.

Read now

Past Events


COP 26 BSI event

On-demand webinars

Climate action across 5 Sectors

Originally aired 19 October 2021

Watch our on-demand webinars featuring BSI professionals and industry experts will explore how standards can support business objectives around sustainable finance, the circular economy, net zero and decarbonisation.


Webinars

Infographics

Our infographics demonstrate the cycle of embedding sustainability within your organization and the effects of making a firm pledge to achieving net zero.

Whitepapers

Net Zero Barometer Report

In 2019 the UK Parliament passed legislation that committed the country to reduce its net emissions by 100 per cent by 2050. To find out how UK businesses are managing the transition to net zero BSI has published the ‘Net Zero Barometer’ report.

Go to Report

Carbon Neutrality Report

In this report, we provide high-level guidance on the key areas any business should consider in their approach and implementation of a carbon neutrality journey, providing standards insights and best practice examples.

Download report

The role of standards and National Standards Bodies in achieving Net Zero

In this whitepaper, the authors seek to demonstrate that if nation states are to undergo the transformation required to achieve net zero, a more holistic and integrated approach is needed where international standards and National Standards Bodies have a crucial role to play in building trust in the process.

Download the report for full findings