For the first time, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Underwriters Laboratories Standards and Engagement Department (ULSE), along with eight other standard-setting organizations, came together at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in a dedicated standards pavilion to emphasize the critical role of standards in advancing global climate action.
On November 11, at the opening of COP29 in Azerbaijan, these internationally renowned organizations launched the event by underscoring their shared commitment to placing standards at the heart of the outcomes and successful climate actions of the COP negotiations.
The 11 organizations recognized that the world is at a pivotal moment for climate action and collaborated for the first time at COP29, presenting their efforts in the form of a standards pavilion. All the partners involved worked together in this initiative to help climate decision-makers better understand the value of standards in providing sustainable solutions. This unique gathering aimed to leverage the global platform of COP29 to accelerate progress and ensure broader recognition of standards in the global climate agenda.
The standards pavilion will host a series of collaborative workshops and panel discussions on the Convention from November 11 to 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
By joining forces, these organizations aim to promote the integration of standards into national and international climate policies, enabling policymakers and business leaders to make informed, effective, and responsible decisions.
Dr. Sung-Hwan Cho, President of the International Organization for Standardization, emphasized the urgency of the climate agenda, which has reached an unprecedented level of attention at COP29. “With the standards pavilion, we are sending a strong message to the world: international standards play a vital role in accelerating climate action,” he said.
He continued, “International standards are essential for providing recognition, credibility, and accountability, and for supporting the implementation of global climate policies. Trusted, globally recognized standards facilitate the transformation of climate commitments and plans into effective, measurable actions. They provide a coordinated approach that can be adopted across borders. We are proud to bring the standards pavilion to COP29 and to collaborate with all our pavilion partners to accelerate effective climate action.”
Philippe Metzger, IEC Secretary General and CEO, stated, “We hope to see standards incorporated into the COP negotiations’ outcomes. The very reason for the existence of international standards is their ability to be adopted across borders. In fact, many countries have already expanded renewable energy, reduced industrial carbon emissions, and supported circular economy initiatives with the help of international standards and conformity assessment.”
Dr. George Borlase, Interim Executive Director and Vice President of Standards Development at UL Standards & Engagement, commented, “International standards offer a unique opportunity to bring consistency, clarity, and consensus to the global climate challenge, and we view them as part of the solution to key COP issues. The application of international standards helps unite stakeholders in addressing these challenges, as they are developed through collaboration, transparency, and knowledge-sharing, with far-reaching effects on both developed and developing countries.”
The COP conference offers a unique opportunity for the standards sector to elevate the visibility of international climate standards. By strengthening and expanding cooperation with other organizations, multilateral stakeholders, coalitions, and key private-sector participants active in the field, these organizations aim to harness the power of coordinated international standards to build a safer, more sustainable world.
This year’s COP conference focuses on two interdependent, complementary pillars: “enhanced ambition” in national plans and “implementation action,” which means turning ambition into tangible results. Trusted and globally recognized standards are crucial in transforming climate commitments into measurable actions. We invite all participants of COP29 to join our collective efforts and help create a more sustainable and resilient world.
