The context of the amendments
On 22 February 2024, IAF and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published a joint communiqué to highlight the publication of Climate Action Amendments to new and existing ISO management systems standards, in support of the ISO London Declaration.
The intent is to ensure that Climate Change issues are considered by the organization in the context of the effectiveness of the management system, in addition to all other issues. These additional statements in each management system standard are ensuring that this important topic is not overlooked but considered by all organizations in the design and implementation of the management system.
Amendments are applicable to all MS standards (see List below) and are specified in chapters 4.1 and 4.2 of the HLS, as follows:
Chapter 4.1: ‘The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue’.
Chapter 4.2: “Note: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change”.
What is expected to be considered within the MS content?
Climate Change, along with other issues, must be determined as relevant or not and if so, considered within an evaluation of risk, within the scope of the applied management systems standards, accordingly. The intention is to ensure that Climate Change issues are considered by the organization in the context of the effectiveness of the management system, in addition to all other issues.
Are there changes regarding existing certificate(s)?
No new or revised certificate is required to be issued considering that:
- The publication year of each MS standard will not change.
- There is no change in the scope of application for the certified MS.
- There is no significant impact on the effectiveness of the certified MS.
- The method and actions that certified organizations will eventually enter into, due to the new requirement, will resemble methods and actions they would apply in the case of future changes in any other contextual issue they already address within the scope of the MS.
What evidence will be assessed during the audit
A risk evaluated data/information or any input to the existing context and interested parties description relevant to climate change shall be introduced appropriately in the existing MS. Compliance and relevance to the audited standard will be a subject assessed by the auditor. Provided input from the client will be evaluated accordingly by the Audit Team.
Source: “IAF and ISO Publish Joint Communiqué”, 23 February 2024.