International standards bodies release climate action policy paper at COP30

Wednesday 12th November - Bel m, Brazil - Today, leading organizations IEC, ISO and ULSE, initiators of the Standards Pavilion at UNFCCC COP30, published a joint climate action Policy Paper, How to use international standards for climate action , as part of their efforts in elevating the world's understanding of standards and promoting their use among policymakers as critical tools for successful climate action.

International Standards have a crucial role to play in accelerating climate action, and they are already adopted and used by many stakeholders in countries all over the world , says Philippe Metzger, IEC Secretary-General & CEO. With the support and the commitment of governments and regulators, these standards can make an even bigger contribution to COP objectives, by scaling renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions and supporting a circular economy.

The Policy Paper explores the potential of standards to ensure comparability, credibility, and accountability for climate action. It covers:

what international standards are, how they are adopted and their use for policymakers

concrete use cases and benefits of international standards for climate action

the importance of a strong quality infrastructure for the effective use of standards and the value of international standards for climate action

the benefits of engaging with international standardization organizations and their members

key next-steps for policymakers and concrete examples of relevant international standards.

International standards are fundamental to credible and coordinated climate action, serving as practical instruments that bridge the gap between climate goals and on-the-ground action. They do this by establishing common benchmarks and best practices, enabling governments to put climate ambitions into effect. They also break down barriers to trade, helping lower the cost of products and services and ensuring that emerging green technology is used safely, providing consumer confidence in the various tools for climate action.

International standards are essential tools for translating climate ambition into effective implementation, said Noelia Garc a Nebra, Head of Sustainability and Partnerships at ISO. This paper offers guidance on how policymakers can leverage standards to accelerate climate action, strengthen quality infrastructure, and support measurable, coordinated outcomes at scale.

There is an infinite number of benefits to leveraging standards to further climate action in particular. In the Policy Paper, we unpack how standards can positively affect the energy sector as a specific use case example. Here, international standards

provide important common benchmarks for the use of renewable and clean energies, which are essential for meeting global climate goals

help industries measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and provide circular economy guidelines

supply ways to use energy more efficiently in a wide variety of sectors, reducing the global footprint

mitigate the effects of climate change, notably by enabling the electricity grid to be more resilient to extreme weather episodes

specify the use of clean energies in the transport sector, from EVs to trains, ships and aircraft

contribute to cost effectiveness and can improve companies' competitiveness as they implement climate-friendly business models.

The policy paper dives into this and more and looks at specific standards that can already be implemented today, such as:

Net-zero pathways and GHG measurement

Energy efficiency and energy management

Renewable energy and the energy transition

Climate adaptation and resilience

Circular economy and resource efficiency

International standards transform global ambition into practical tools that policymakers can rely on in service of the world's citizens who, according to the IEC's recent survey, not only care greatly for the environment and view environmental sustainability as critically important, but also would like to see more commitment from in-country leadership, particularly in the move to more renewable or sustainable energy solutions (such as solar, wind, and hydro).

Advancing this vision depends on international collaboration, said Jeff Marootian, president and CEO of UL Standards & Engagement. Together, we must continue developing and promoting standards that not only meet today's urgent needs but also strengthen transparency and safety in the way climate technologies are designed, deployed, and managed. Embedding these principles at every stage of innovation helps ensure that progress toward a sustainable future remains both trusted and enduring.

Attendees and media can visit the Standards Pavilion - the dedicated space at COP30 for advancing climate action with standards - in the Blue Zone.

More information about the Standards Pavilion, including the Pavilion Programme for COP30, is available at www.standardspavilion.org/.

ENDS

For more information or interviews, including access to the official Standards Pavilion Media Kit for COP30, please contact:

James Wood

Director

of Communications

IEC

+41 22 919 03 13

media@iec.ch / James Wood

Vanessa Von der M hll

Head of Communications

& Engagement

ISO

+41 79 842 97 34

press@iso.org / vondermuhll@iso.org

Catie Talenti

Media Relations &

Strategic Positioning Lead

ULSE

-

catie.talenti@ul.org

LINK:	https://www.iec.ch/blog/international-standards-bodies-release-climate...
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