ISO 9001:2015, Amendment 1:2024

WHAT IS THE LONDON DECLARATION?

In 2021, at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) meeting, hosted by the host country, the British Standards Institution (BSI) in the UK, the decision was made to continue supporting governments, industries, and organizations in achieving net zero by 2050 under the Paris Agreement. BSI and ISO committed to integrating climate science into the development of new standards and the revision of existing standards. This commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change and supporting the Paris Agreement and its net zero agenda is known as the London Declaration. The London Declaration builds on the foundations laid by the Paris Agreement by embedding action at the heart of BSI and ISO's standards development process. The Declaration represents a commitment to actively integrate climate science into the development of all new and existing standards.

An important part of implementing the London Declaration was the adoption by ISO of a resolution that will add two new text collations to all existing Type A management system standards and include them in all new standards under development/revision to address the need to consider the impact of climate change on the ability of management systems to achieve their intended outcomes. The changes will initially be implemented as amendments to published Management System Standards.

WHAT ARE THE CLIMATE CHANGE AMENDMENTS?

The first amendment introduced clause 4.1 titled Understanding the Organization and Its Context, where the original requirement was:
„"The organization shall determine the external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended results of its management system. XXX denotes the type of management system, e.g., "quality," "environment," or "occupational health and safety."„
A new requirement is added after the above requirement and reads as follows:
The organization determines whether climate change is a significant issue.

The second amendment is located in point 4.2 entitled Understanding the needs and expectations of stakeholders, where the initial requirement was:
The organization determines:
- stakeholders relevant to the XXX management system,
- the relevant requirements of these interested parties,
- which of these requirements will be taken into account by the XXX management system.
After the above requirement, a new Note is added, reading:
NOTE: Relevant stakeholders may have requirements related to climate change.

The Joint IAF-ISO Communiqué clearly states that its purpose is to ensure that organizations consider climate change issues in the context of management system effectiveness, in addition to all other considerations. These additional statements in each management system standard ensure that this important topic is not overlooked, but rather considered by all organizations when designing and implementing their management system.

The overall purpose of the requirements in clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remains unchanged; these clauses already recognised the need for an organisation to consider all internal and external issues that may impact the effectiveness of its management system; these new elements ensure that climate change is considered in the management system and that it is an external factor that is important enough to our community to require the organisation to consider it now.

ISO 9001 in brief
ISO 9001 is an international standard for quality management systems. ISO (Geneva) is responsible for developing and managing thousands of different standards. The most well-known of these is ISO:9001. All requirements in this international standard are generic and apply to any organization, regardless of its type, size, and the products and services it provides.

TAKING CLIMATE CHANGE INTO ACCOUNT

Incorporating climate change-related issues into global standards (for all 31 management system standards), such as:

• ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements
• ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management systems – Requirements and guidelines for use
• ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements and guidelines for use
• ISO 50001:2018 Energy management systems – Requirements and guidelines for use
• ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection – Information security management systems – Requirements
• ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Information technology – Service management – Part 1: Service management system requirements
• ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for Every Organization in the Food Chain
• ISO 37001:2016 Anti-bribery management systems – Requirements and guidelines for use
• ISO 22163:2023 Railway applications – Railway quality management system – ISO 9001:2015 and detailed requirements for use in the railway sector
• ISO 22301:2019 Security and resilience – Business continuity management systems – Requirements
• ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems – Requirements with guidelines for use

highlights the need to acknowledge their impact on our external environment. By incorporating these climate change provisions into standards, we can activate the positive effects of both
on a local and global scale.

WHY IS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPORTANT FOR COMPANIES?

Governments around the world are implementing regulations aimed at mitigating climate change, such as emission limits, carbon pricing mechanisms, and sustainability reporting requirements. Companies must comply with these regulations to avoid penalties and maintain their operating licenses.

Consumers are increasingly concerned about climate change and sustainability. Companies that demonstrate a commitment to addressing climate change and reducing their environmental impact can enhance their reputation and brand image, leading to increased customer loyalty and trust.

Climate change presents both financial risks and opportunities for businesses. Risks include physical risks from extreme weather events, regulatory risks from carbon pricing and emissions regulations, and reputational risks from environmental controversies. Conversely, companies that invest in sustainable practices can access new markets, reduce operating costs through energy efficiency measures, and attract investment from socially responsible investors.

Climate change can disrupt supply chains through extreme weather events, resource shortages, and shifts in consumer preferences. Companies must assess the resilience of their supply chains and implement measures to mitigate climate-related risks, such as diversifying suppliers, improving logistics, and improving stakeholder communication.

Addressing climate change requires innovation and adaptation of business practices, products, and services. Companies that invest in the research and development of sustainable technologies and solutions can gain a competitive advantage in the market and become leaders in their industries.

Employees, especially younger generations, are increasingly concerned about climate change and want to work for companies that share their values. Companies that prioritize sustainability and climate action can attract and retain top talent, increase employee engagement, and improve morale and productivity.

Many governments, investors, and customers are increasingly requiring companies to disclose their environmental performance and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. Companies that integrate climate change into their operations can access new markets, secure investment capital, and improve their long-term financial performance.

More information and training

Article: ISO 9001:2015 WILL BE REVISED
Training: ISO 14001:2026 in practice – Revision readiness
Training: Energy management system – revision of the ISO 50001 standard, taking into account ISO 50003 and subsequent standards