Powering a sustainable future on World Standards Day

As our world becomes increasingly digital, demand for electricity is surging while the transition to cleaner energy systems is creating new challenges. Yet despite significant progress, around 666 million people worldwide still live without access to any electricity at all.

It is with this in mind that we celebrate this year's World Standards Day 2026 which shines a spotlight on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7): Affordable and Clean Energy.

Why energy access matters Achieving affordable and clean energy for all is not just about improving the lives of the millions of people without access to electricity. Without reliable energy, many of the digital services that people increasingly rely on, from internet connectivity and mobile payments to healthcare and education platforms, simply cannot function.

Reliable, sustainable energy is fundamental to modern healthcare, education, communications, economic opportunities and climate action. It is an essential ingredient of resilient societies.

To get there, we need more than just good intentions. It requires global collaboration between governments, industry and communities. This is one of the reasons why clean, secure and affordable energy for all is a key theme at this year's COP 31.

Internationally agreed standards are enablers of that collaboration, providing a common foundation to help ensure that energy systems are safe, reliable, efficient and able to work seamlessly across borders.

Recognized annually on 14 October, World Standards Day is a joint initiative between the leading international standardization organizations IEC, ISO and ITU. It celebrates the many thousands of experts who develop voluntary standards and highlights the contribution that standards make to addressing global challenges such as this.

Why standards matter From renewable energy and communication systems to smart grids and sustainable infrastructure international standards help technologies work safely, reliably and efficiently. They support innovation, reduce technical barriers to trade and build confidence amongst investors, helping to accelerate progress towards clean and affordable energy for all.

Standards also support emerging solutions designed to extend electricity to communities that lack reliable sources. One example is low-voltage direct current (LVDC) technology, which uses electricity generated from renewable sources, such as rooftop solar panels or small wind turbines, to provide clean and reliable power.

Chair of the IEC Systems Committee for LVDC, Uma Manickam-Chauhan said reliable energy for everyone is essential to a sustainable future for all.

Achieving SDG 7 depends on technologies that are trusted, interoperable and accessible. International Standards help create that trust and provide the technical foundation needed to extend clean and reliable electricity to more people around the world.

LINK:	https://www.iec.chPowering a sustainable future on World Standards Day...
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