ISO responds to climate change with GHG standards overhaul

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) will add greater value to its greenhouse gas standards and make them 'fit for the future' through a series of amendments.


ISO’s technical committee for greenhouse gas management – TC207/SC7 – is reviewing several of the standards to make sure they meet the ever-changing market needs of the future and continue to act as an effective guideline for programmes aiming to reduce CO2 emissions.

Committee chair Tom Baumann said: “These [requests] are to respond to change in policy and market needs and as the state-of-the-art becomes more advanced. For example, climate change adaptation – a major issue and one that is becoming more important that there be a standard to provide guidance and consistency to the range of issues on climate change adaptation.”

Standards for re-evaluation

1. ISO 14064-1: specification with guidance at organisation level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals

This standard will address some key GHG quantification issues and inclusion of a more standardised reporting frame.

2. ISO 14064-2: specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements.

This standard will be expanded to be applicable to carbon credit and innovative technology projects, and projects internal to organisations.

3. ISO 14064-3: specification with guidance for the validation and verification of greenhouse gas assertions.

4. 14065: requirements for greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition.

These are standards used by greenhouse gas programmes around the world and will be revised to ensure they are as up to date as possible and to serve new market needs such as product carbon footprint verifications.

Lois Vallely

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