In support of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) London Declaration on Climate Change, two new amendments to be added to a number of existing management system standards, and which will be included in all new standards under development/revision, were published on February 23, 2024 to address the need to consider the effect of climate change on the ability to achieve the intended results of a management system.
Amendments (marked in underline):
4.1 Understanding the organization and its context
The organization shall determine external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended result(s) of its xxx management system.
Added: The organization should determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.
4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
The organization shall determine:
• the interested parties that are relevant to the xxx management system;
• the requirements of these interested parties that are relevant to the xxx management system.
• which of these requirements will be addressed through xxx management system.
Added: NOTE: Relevant interested parties may have requirements related to climate change.
The IAF - International Accreditation Forum, and ISO, believe that these two new texts should not be treated as new requirements, but as a clarification to existing requirements, as transcribed, in translated form, from their joint communiqué:
'The overall intent of the requirements for clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remain unchanged; these clauses already include the need for the organization to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system; these new inclusions are assuring that Climate Change is considered within the management system and that it is an external factor that is important enough for our community to require organizations to consider it now.'
In this sense, no Transition Plan or Transition Period will be issued, nor will Certificates be issued indicating the Amendment. However, since the Amendments are to be complied with immediately, they should already be taken into account in future audits.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which management system standards have amendments published as part of this amendment?
A list of the standards covered is available at the end of the publication of the 'IAF/ISO Joint Communiqué on the addition of Climate Change considerations to Management Systems Standards'.
2. What expectations does this change have for certified organizations?
According to the 'IAF and ISO Publish Joint Communiqué', point 'Expectations on Certified Organizations', Certified organisations should ensure that they have considered Climate Change aspects and risks within the development, maintenance, and effectiveness their own management system(s). Climate change must be determined as relevant or not and, if so, considered in the risk assessment within the scope of the management system standards. If an organization applies more than one management system (e.g. quality management and health and safety management), it should ensure that climate change, if considered relevant, is considered within the scope of each management system standard. For more information, please consult the document provided.
3. What are APCER's expectations of future audits under this change?
According to the IAF and ISO Publish Joint Communiqué, point 'Expectations on Certification Bodies', Certification Bodies should already be ensuring that all internal and external issues have been determined by the organization as relevant or not and if so, considered in the development and effectiveness of the management system(s), as required by clauses 4.1 and 4.2. For more information, please consult the document provided.
