4C Consulting

In the face of the increasingly deteriorating environmental situation, global climate policies are becoming tighter. The United Nations Environment Programme now claims that for the world to achieve a manageable 1.5°C global warming, carbon emissions need to fall by 45% by 2030. Against this backdrop, pressure on industries to adopt responsible sustainable practices is increasing with growing demands for enhanced environmental accountability. To facilitate this shift, ISO has implemented some critical updates across its standards to strengthen climate-related policies, risk management, and sustainability reporting. These updates aim to enhance corporate responsibility, improve energy efficiency, and ensure businesses align with global climate commitments. Organizations that take proactive steps in integrating these changes will not only meet regulatory requirements but also build long-term resilience, reduce operational risks, and enhance stakeholder trust in an environmentally conscious marketplace. In this blog we delve into an overview of which key ISO standards cover climate action adaptation from businesses concerning changes and advantages of matching up with renewed frameworks.

.

How ISO Standards Support Climate Action?

With accelerating climate change businesses are expected to approach the risks through structured means that help reduce emissions and create sustainable growth. The ISO standards globally recognized frameworks assist in integrating climate action into operations of organizations and in ensuring environmental regulations and international climate goals like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They guide businesses on reducing carbon footprints, energy efficiency, management of climate risks and the improvement of environmental responsibility across various industries. Adopting climate-focused ISO standards contributes to global sustainability efforts while gaining a competitive edge, reducing operational costs and strengthening resilience against climate-related disruptions. Recent amendments have reinforced ISO’s commitment to helping organizations integrate climate action into their management systems, strengthen corporate responsibility and ensure long-term resilience.

.

KEY ISO STANDARDS ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEIR AMENDMENTS

ISO has updated several management system standards that outline business operations against global climate targets. Here are the main ones that were changed in 2024 with regards to climate:

ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 Quality Management Systems

• The new addition involves integrating climate risk assessment into the quality management frameworks.
• This makes it necessary for businesses to determine climate-related factors that can cause inconsistency in products and services.
• Encourages organizations to develop strategies to mitigate supply chain disruptions due to environmental changes.

.

ISO 14001:2015/Amd 1:2024 – Environmental Management Systems

• Strengthens climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Enhances requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring and lifecycle sustainability assessments.
• Encourages organizations to set measurable climate objectives aligned with global sustainability commitments.

.

ISO 45001:2018/Amd 1:2024 – Occupational Health and Safety Management

• Addresses climate-related workplace hazards, such as heat stress and extreme weather risks.
• Requires the industries to take up climate adaptation measures towards occupational health and safety.
• It promises the workforce protection from the environmental risk due to global change.

.

ISO 50001:2018/Amd 1:2024 – Energy Management Systems

• Promotes energy efficiency best practices for minimizing impacts on the environment.
• Focuses on carbon footprint reduction with optimized energy usage.
• Encourages firms to invest in renewable energy sources for upholding sustainability goals.

.

ISO 14064:2018/Amd 1:2024 – Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions & Verification

• Provides better methods of carbon accounting.
• Aligns verification processes with carbon trading frames developed internationally.
• Enhances GHG reporting as part of ensuring regulatory compliance

.

ISO 14067:2018/Amd 1:2024 – Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Assessment

• This standard has improved the life cycle carbon assessment method.
• Develops clearer and well-defined requirements for carbon neutral product certification
• Develops carbon footprint calculation, as well as its reporting processes to be clear.

.

ISO 22301:2019/Amd 1:2024 – Business Continuity Management Systems

• Climate risks in business continuity must be considered by a business.
• Focuses on resilience strategies against climate-induced disruptions.
• Assists organizations in building up disaster preparedness and risk management.

.

ISO 28000:2022/Amd 1:2024 – Supply Chain Security Management

• Climate-related risk assessment for supply chains.
• Promotes sustainable sourcing and environmentally responsible logistics.
• Improves resilience planning against climate-driven supply chain disruptions.

.

ISO 37001:2016/Amd 1:2024 – Anti-Bribery Management Systems

• Extends ethical considerations to climate-related corruption risks.
• Transparency in sustainability projects and carbon offset initiatives.
• Strengthens environmental fraud and greenwashing governance policies.

.

ISO 31000:2018/Amd 1:2024- Risk Management

• Climate risks include updating enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks, integrating climate into strategic planning and offering tools in the assessment of and mitigation for climate-related financial risks.

.

ISO/IEC 27001:2022/Amd 1:2024- Information Security Management Systems

• Climate-induced cyber risks and strategies for disaster recovery are highlighted with a requirement by businesses to take assessments of environmental threats to the digital infrastructure.
• It enhances data protection policies against climate-related security vulnerabilities.

.

.

How Businesses Can Adapt to These Amendments

As ISO standards introduce climate-related updates, businesses should actively work in integrating the changes for better compliance and strengthening their sustainability initiatives. Here are the key steps that organizations can take:

• Perform Climate Risk Assessment: Review how climate change might impact operations, supply chains, and updated ISO standards’ compliance. Find vulnerabilities in aspects of extreme weather, resource scarcity, and carbon regulation to strategize how to mitigate risks and strengthen climate resilience.
• Upgrade Management Systems for Compliance: Align internal policies and operational workflows with the latest ISO amendments to ensure businesses meet their sustainability goals. This includes the integration of climate risk considerations in the ISO 9001 quality, ISO 14001 environment, and ISO 45001 safety frameworks to ensure a structured approach to sustainability.
• Improve Carbon Reporting & Monitoring: Implement advanced greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement tools based on methodologies of ISO 14064 (GHG emissions) and ISO 14067 (product carbon footprint). Better data accuracy, tracking of emissions, and reporting sustainability for stricter requirements in climate action and better participation in regulatory compliance.
• Optimize Energy Efficiency & Resource Use: The implementation of ISO 50001 best practices will lead to better energy management, reduce consumption, and shift towards renewable energy sources. Businesses should also work on water and material waste reduction to ensure better sustainability and reduce environmental footprint.
• Develop Business Continuity & Climate Adaptation Plans: Integrate climate risk into ISO 22301 based business continuity approach. This requires preparation for extreme weather events or supply chain breakdowns and change regulations in the long run. Companies would also need to assess infrastructure and build resilience regarding climate-related disturbances.
• Implement Climate Training & Awareness Programs: Educate employees and management teams about the specific climate-related ISO amendments and sustainability best practices. By building internal awareness, a proactive engagement in reducing carbon and saving energy occurs as well as embarks on making a proper corporate culture of environmental responsibility.

.

BENEFITS OF ADOPTING CLIMATE-FOCUSED ISO STANDARDS:

ISO amendments on climate will strengthen business sustainability, compliance, and efficiency in operations. Some of the key benefits are as follows:

• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Reduction: Alignment with updated ISO standards ensures compliance with global climate policies, carbon reduction mandates, and sustainability regulations. This will keep organizations away from legal risks, penalties, and operational disruptions and will demonstrate proactive environmental governance.
• Improved Sustainability & ESG Performance: Businesses with effective climate governance and sustainability practices attract environmentally conscious investors, customers, and business associates. ISO-aligned ESG practices strengthen the brand, corporate social responsibility, and long-term stakeholder trust.
• Operational Cost Savings & Resource Efficiency: Optimization of energy and resource usage through ISO 50001 (energy) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) minimizes waste, energy expenses, and carbon footprint. Sustainable operations lead to long-term financial savings and enhance efficiency, profitability, and minimal ecological footprint.
• Resilience to Climate Risks: Climate risks such as extreme weather, disruption of supply chains, and shifts in regulatory landscapes may affect business operations. The implementation of ISO 31000 (risk management) and ISO 22301 (business continuity) assists businesses in buildinadaptation strategies for climate and business continuity, ensuring a stable long-term operation.
• Competitive Advantage in Green Markets: Businesses that align with ISO climate amendments gain a market advantage by meeting global sustainability demands. Compliance with ISO 14064 (GHG reporting) and ISO 14067 (product carbon footprint) enables companies to enter carbon-neutral markets, strengthen supply chain partnerships, and expand into eco-conscious industries.
• Enhanced Transparency & Stakeholder Confidence: ISO’s climate-focused reporting frameworks deliver accurate tracking of GHG, emission disclosures, and sustainability reporting. These fosters trust with regulators, investors, customers, and business partners by brandishing the company as responsible and forward-thinking.
• Climate Regulations Future-Proofing Business: The continuous enforcement of environmental policies makes businesses on the lookout for compliance challenges. By proactively adopting ISO climate strategies, businesses ensure long-term regulatory readiness, leadership in sustainability, and adaptation to future climate-related changes in the industry.

.

HOW 4C CAN HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION GET ISO CERTIFICATION WITH NEW UPDATE?

If the process of getting the certification seems too overwhelming, 4C Consulting is here to help you throughout. We provide consultancy, training and implementation services to organizations for ISO across all industries. We have a qualified, experienced and competent team working across India. Our team is IRCA certified auditors for Consulting Services and have over 15+ years of experience. We have successfully provided 30,000+ Man-days consulting and 20,000+ Hour’s training for multiple organizations in need. Further, we have hands-on experience in implementing other Quality tools such as LEAN, TQM, FMEA, and PPAP that would help to gain early benefits. Today, we are working with more than 50 International & National Certification Bodies and have over 13000+ happy clients. For more contact us now.

.

Frequently Asked Questions

.

What are the major recent amendments in the ISO standards dealing with climate action?

The latest changes to ISO standards are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 27001, now call for organizations to consider climate change impacts on their management systems. Businesses have to scrupulously assess how climate change is affecting their operations and therefore have to discuss this in relation to their stakeholders’ climate-related expectations. Such updates represent ISO reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development, whereby organizations place active focus on climate as part of their enterprise.

.

What is the ISO Climate Action Amendment?

The ISO Climate Action Amendment is a recent revision in ISO management system standards that calls for organizations to take climate change into account as a relevant factor in their processes. The amendments make sure that companies evaluate climate-related risks and opportunities in their management systems. This change ensures that sustainability considerations are integrated into operational decision-making. Organizations must now proactively assess climate-related vulnerabilities and their potential long-term impacts. These measures align businesses with global sustainability goals, reducing environmental risks while enhancing resilience.

.

What is the ISO 22301 Amendment 2024?

The 2024 revision of ISO 22301, the standard for business continuity management systems, requires organizations to assess the effects of climate change on business activities. The revision is intended to improve resilience to environmental disruptions. By incorporating climate-related risks, businesses can better prepare for extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory changes. This amendment strengthens an organization’s ability to maintain operations even during climate-induced crises. Companies must now implement proactive strategies to mitigate climate threats and ensure long-term business sustainability.

.

What is the ISO 9001 Update 2024?

ISO 9001:2015 has been revised to incorporate climate change factors. Organizations are now required to determine if climate change impacts their quality management systems and, if applicable, incorporate mitigation measures. This revision highlights the increasing importance of environmental sustainability in quality assurance processes. Businesses must assess the impact of temperature variations, extreme weather, and resource availability on product quality and service delivery. The integration of climate-related considerations helps improve operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.

. 

What are the ISO 14064 Standards?

ISO 14064 is a series of standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission measurement, management, and verification. These standards provide organizations with a structured approach to quantifying and reducing emissions. Compliance with ISO 14064 supports carbon neutrality initiatives and regulatory reporting requirements. Businesses adopting these standards can enhance their sustainability credentials and meet stakeholder expectations for responsible environmental management it consists of:

• ISO 14064-1 – Organizational-level GHG inventory guidelines
• ISO 14064-2 – GHG reduction project requirements
• ISO 14064-3 – GHG emissions report verification and validation

.

What is the ISO 22000 Amendment for Climate Change?

The ISO 22000 amendment incorporates climate change risk assessment in food safety management systems. The organization now needs to take into consideration the role climate factors play on food safety and supply chain integrity. This includes assessing how temperature changes, droughts, and natural disasters impact food production and distribution. Companies must ensure that food safety measures remain effective despite changing environmental conditions. Adapting to these changes will help maintain compliance with global food safety regulations and prevent disruptions in the food supply chain.

. 

What is the Amended Climate Change Act?

National policies revised to take care of environmental issues are what are called Climate Change Acts. Some countries have added amendments like new targets for carbon cuts and emission trading schemes. These updates are crucial for achieving international commitments like the Paris Agreement. Strengthened climate laws promote investment in renewable energy, carbon reduction technologies, and sustainable industrial practices. Governments are now working more closely with businesses to enforce policies that mitigate climate risks and encourage green innovation.

.

What is the ISO Standard Climate Change Amendment?

The climate change amendment has implications in various ISO standards, incorporating environmental aspects into the management of an organization. Examples of affected standards are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, among others. This amendment promotes a proactive approach to sustainability by requiring organizations to identify and mitigate climate risks. Businesses must now evaluate how environmental factors impact their processes, infrastructure, and compliance obligations. These updates align with global efforts to integrate climate considerations into corporate governance and risk management frameworks.

.

What is the Amendment to ISO 9001:2024?

ISO 9001:2024 does not exist. However, ISO 9001:2015 was previously amended to mandate that organizations consider climate-related risk in the quality management process. This ensures that businesses are not only focusing on product and service quality but also on long-term environmental sustainability. Companies must now conduct risk assessments that include climate-related disruptions, ensuring continuous quality improvement. Integrating sustainability into quality management enhances brand reputation and regulatory compliance.

.

What is the ISO Amendment February 2024?

ISO published an umbrella amendment to several management system standards in February 2024, placing special emphasis on climate change risk assessment as a principle of compliance. This revision affects various industries, ensuring that organizations incorporate climate resilience into their risk management frameworks. The amendment encourages the adoption of strategies that reduce carbon footprints and enhance environmental responsibility. Companies implementing these changes will be better equipped to handle regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations regarding sustainability.