ISO at COP28

A just energy transition – where no one is left behind – is critical to ensure the move to a low-carbon economy is both effective and equitable. This interactive session will explore the role of international standards in facilitating a just energy transition, with a particular focus on developing countries. We will uncover the hurdles faced by developing economies in their efforts to switch to renewable alternatives, and delve into the potential of standardization as a catalyst for innovation, job creation and economic diversification. Together, we will look at the role of standards in fostering worldwide cooperation to ensure equitable and just energy transitions, and the importance of international collaboration in realizing these objectives.

Speakers:

• Berik Yerbossynov, Deputy Head of the Technical Regulation Department, (KazStandard)
• Abdullah Algarni, Head of Technical Committees Dep. - ISO Climate Change Champion - SASO
• Scott Steedman, Director-General Standards and Executive Director, British Standards Institution (BSI)
• Jason Spensley, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
• Elizabeth Small, Chief Legal Officer and Head of ESG, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP)

As the environmental footprint of the ICT sector continues to grow, the need for standards that govern trustworthy technologies and a green, inclusive future has become more important than ever. Industry leaders and experts will discuss the key standards for environmental sustainability and identify standardization gaps to drive actionable strategies for a sustainable future.

Policymakers and tech innovators passionate about sustainability are invited to join the leading developers of International Standards to discuss the service that standards provide to climate action. International Standards can support the scale of innovation necessary to achieve a sustainable future. Driven by collaboration and consensus decisions, international standardization is a key avenue to make meaningful progress towards the future we want. This session aims to spotlight how sustainability principles inform the development of International Standards for digital tech. It will also highlight the call to COP28 from the World Standards Cooperation (IEC, ISO and ITU) urging for the adoption of International Standards to fast-track climate action.

Speakers:

• Ulrika Francke, President, ISO
• Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU
• Irene Kaggwa-Sewankambo, Acting Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission
• Philippe Metzger, Secretary-General, IEC
• Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, ISO
• Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU

Aligning financial flows with climate action requires increased efforts by all financial market participants, from banks and financial service providers to academic institutions, civil society and regulatory institutions. Many initiatives in the financial sector deal with criteria for sustainable investments. That’s why bridging the gap between these global initiatives, the finance sector and policymakers is essential. This session will focus on the significance of standardization for sustainable finance by examining how assurance and verification standards can contribute to protecting the climate.

Key themes include:

• Using sustainable finance standards for transparency and accountability in achieving the 2050 net-zero goals
• Harmonizing assurance and verification practices for consistency and alignment among financial institutions and markets
• Exploring future standards, prospects and challenges in the coming years

The energy transition, and its unprecedented uptake of renewable energy sources and energy carriers at the global scale, calls for a coordinated approach to the standardization of clean technology solutions – and particularly hydrogen. Standards are critical tools to guide technological development, ensure the effectiveness of low-carbon technologies and certify compliance with safety, environmental and social requirements. They foster trust and consensus, enabling international cooperation for a just energy transition.

A coordinated approach is crucial to create global markets and cross-border flows of decarbonized energy solutions, such as hydrogen and hydrogen carriers, while preventing fragmentation and trade barriers. Key factors in this context include the traceability of clean energy products and the recognition of certificates on a global scale. In this session, we will discuss the status quo of standardization in this area and look at the collaborative efforts between developed and developing countries aimed at facilitating the acceptance and implementation of such frameworks.

There is an urgent need to decarbonize across all industry supply chains if we mean to achieve the world’s global goal of net-zero emissions. This can be done by calculating the full product carbon footprint (PCF) for goods and services. Today, there are a number of standards for measuring the PCF – at the ISO level, it’s called ISO 14067. Yet, the product category rules (PCR) that are the basis for PCF calculations are mostly developed by independent programme operators from various sectors and geographical locations. This means PCRs will vary in terms of their scope, system boundaries and the impacts they address. In this session, we will explore the role of international standardization in developing globally recognized frameworks that make measurement and reporting of PCFs accurate, reliable and comparable across different products and sectors. Join us to find out more.

Speakers:

• Christoph Winterhalter, CEO, DIN, and Vice President Policy, ISO
• Louisa Durkin, Race to Zero, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
• Daniele Pernigotti, Director Carbon Footprint Italy

To effectively address climate change through standardization, we must first determine which climate scenarios to prepare for over the coming decades. Should we focus on the most likely scenarios, or prepare for less likely but more severe climate events? Do different sectors or locations call for different approaches? This discussion needs to happen at the international level to ensure we can establish guidelines for climate adaptation at the regional and national levels. Many countries have already developed national adaptation plans (NAPs), and standardization at the international, regional and national levels can help ensure these NAPs are implemented successfully. This panel discussion will serve to identify climate change adaptation needs in various sectors and regions.

Speakers:

• Mr. Christoph Winterhalter, CEO & Chairman of the Board, DIN Germany
• Mr. Han Xiao, Director-General, SAC China
• Mr. Martin Baxter, Deputy CEO, IEMA, BSI
• Mr. Ricardo Fragoso, CEO, ABNT
• Ms.Karina Ninzoli Luro Nazello, International Relations, ABNT

The global building floor area is expected to increase by 20 % by 2030 – equivalent to building a city the size of Sao Paulo every week. With the built environment responsible for 39 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, 33 % of material consumption and waste, and 25 % of land system change, the need for clear transition pathways towards a net-zero, nature-positive urbanization is stronger than ever. What readily applicable solutions are available for reshaping the built environment in line with climate and nature targets, while simultaneously improving the wellbeing of populations and the resilience of urban spaces? Join us in exploring existing strategies, and much more.

On the agenda:

• Industry solutions that accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive built environment
• Actions by cities that transform buildings and infrastructure in line with climate and nature targets
• Public-private collaboration to drive the net-zero and nature-positive transformation of cities globally

Accreditation, and standard for measuring, reporting and verification, are vital to achieve climate commitment to accelerate the global action. International Accreditation Forum will introduce the latest climate actions and SDGs, and invite Jens Heiede, CEO of Danish Standards, ask how ISO 53001, SDG management system to contribute the climate change. This session will invite active participants to discuss how international standard and the accreditation could ensure credibility and accountability of climate action and SDGs.

Speakers:

• Jens Heiede, CEO, Danish Standards
• Ann Howard, Senior Director of Accreditation, Validation and Verification, ANSI National Accreditation Board

How do we create the trusted goods, products and services of tomorrow’s net-zero economy, and the skilled workforce needed to deliver them? This session looks at what we can do to translate our climate ambitions into action using skills and standards that are fit for purpose. A trusted global ecosystem of standardization, accreditation and conformity assessment is essential to ensure organizations are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to make practical changes that support climate action. This is particularly true for global supply chains, where addressing Scope 3 emissions, and the wider indirect environmental impacts, lies at the heart of any organization’s sustainability strategy. Together, we will explore how greater collaboration among standards, accreditation and conformity assessment bodies supports clear and consistent climate solutions within a recognized framework.

We are in a midst of a climate emergency, and failing to deliver policies and standards that decarbonize our economies could have devastating impacts for society and the environment. The widespread adoption of climate-aligned international standards will play a vital role in helping governments and industries mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, while accelerating the transition to zero-carbon economies. This interactive session will explore the value of using ISO standards as a tool to shape and implement climate policy, both in developed and developing countries. We will discuss how standards can contribute to international and national policymaking that prioritizes climate action, emphasizing the need for cooperation, harmonization and alignment on a global scale to effectively tackle governments’ climate-related commitments.

Speakers:

• Tessa Ferry, Race to Zero Campaign Lead, UNFCCC
• Zakiah Kassam, Chair Elect ISO/TC 207, Environmental Management
• Mauricio Galvan Gomez, Specialist, Climate Change and Risk Management Directorate, Ministry of Environment of Colombia
• Violeta Gonzalez, Advisor to the Deputy General, WTO

Join us for an engaging and informative session focused on the latest advancements in nature and climate reporting and management. This interactive discussion will highlight the ongoing efforts of EFRAG, TNFD and CDP in assessing, reporting and managing nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities, and their links to climate change. It will also explore areas of collaboration, including the upcoming mapping of the TNFD’s recommendations and metrics with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. The session will feature short presentations on the pivotal work of EFRAG, TNFD and CDP, followed by a dynamic panel discussion centred around achieving greater consistency among standards and frameworks, addressing data gaps and challenges, and identifying needs for tools and guidance.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are significant contributors to the global economy and have a pivotal role to play in driving climate action. Their size and agility means they have the potential to harness opportunities in the green economy. Yet they are often unsure how to get started as they struggle to navigate the inflexible supply chain processes of large organizations. This session will examine how SMEs can leverage international standards to advance climate action. We will hear from practitioners about the barriers and enablers to implementation and gain insight on the most effective strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Speakers:

• Miranda Barker OBE, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• Stephen Skyes, Director of 2030Hub
• Lusine Manucharyan, Chair of Environment and Energy Commission, International Chamber of Commerce national committee, Armenia