ISO 9001:2015 and Climate Change: Navigating New Compliance Standards

Overview

In response to growing environmental concerns, the ISO 9001:2015 standards have been updated in February 2024 to include climate change considerations. These amendments specifically enhance Clause 4.1, requiring organizations to assess whether climate change is relevant to their business operations and strategic planning. This clause focuses on understanding the organization and its context, now explicitly incorporating climate change as a critical element of context analysis.

Furthermore, Clause 4.2 has been updated to reflect that stakeholders may have climate-related requirements that need to be considered by the organization. This adjustment aligns with the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility in stakeholder expectations and compliance requirements.

Addressing climate change not only helps in meeting regulatory and stakeholder requirements but also in driving operational efficiencies. Reducing energy waste is a key benefit of these changes, which can result in significant cost savings, potentially leading to higher profits and lower prices for consumers. Importantly, these efforts contribute positively to the environment by minimizing carbon emissions.

The updated ISO standards also urge organizations to proactively manage risks associated with climate-driven weather events. Recognizing and planning for these risks is crucial for maintaining business continuity in the face of potential disruptions.

This webinar will delve into these updates, providing you with the knowledge to integrate climate change considerations effectively into your business management systems. You will learn how to align your operational strategies with the new requirements of ISO 9001:2015, ensuring that your organization remains resilient, compliant, and competitive in an increasingly eco-conscious market.

Key areas covered during the session:

1) Introduction to Upcoming Climate Risk Requirements:

• Explore upcoming modifications to ISO standards, including ISO 9001:2015, that will soon require organizations to consider the implications of climate change.

2) Climate Change: A Real but Non-Urgent Issue:

• Understand the distinction between climate change being an "important" factor for business considerations—posing genuine risks to supply chains and operations—versus being "not urgent," suggesting that drastic, immediate actions like achieving carbon neutrality may not be cost-effective.

3) Economic and Environmental Efficiency:

• Discover how implementing ISO 50001:2018, the standard for energy management systems, can help identify and eliminate energy wastage—boosting economic benefits while reducing carbon emissions.

4) Practical Risk Management Insights:

• Gain insights from historical and practical perspectives on managing risks related to weather and climate, including strategic planning to mitigate potential impacts on operations and supply chains.

5) Critique of Current Climate Mitigation Strategies:

• Analyze the effectiveness and economic implications of various climate mitigation strategies, such as carbon credits and direct air capture plants, compared to more cost-effective solutions like tree planting.

Why You Should Attend

This webinar is designed for professionals looking to deepen their understanding of how evolving ISO standards related to climate change could impact their operations. You will learn not only about compliance requirements but also how to leverage these changes strategically to enhance business efficiency and resilience. The session will equip you with practical strategies for integrating climate considerations into your business practices without compromising on profitability or operational effectiveness.

Who Should Attend

Quality Assurance Managers: Professionals overseeing compliance and quality control within ISO-certified organizations.

Sustainability Officers: Individuals responsible for integrating environmental considerations into corporate strategies.

Operations Managers: Leaders in charge of ensuring smooth, uninterrupted business processes.

Risk Management Professionals: Experts tasked with assessing and mitigating operational risks related to environmental factors.

Corporate Planners: Strategic planners looking to align business models with evolving regulatory landscapes.

Attendees will receive a PDF copy of the presentation slides and accompanying notes, providing a valuable resource for ongoing reference. Please note, this presentation does not constitute engineering advice but offers strategic insights into adapting business practices in response to climate-related ISO standard updates.