November 13, 2024
In February 2024, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced the Climate Action Amendment to ISO 9001, specifically addressing the impact of climate change within the context of quality management systems (QMS). This amendment was also incorporated into other widely-used ISO standards, including ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 27001.
Key Requirements and Changes
Understanding the context of the organization and the needs and expectations of interested parties is already a mandatory requirement, outlined in Chapter 4 of the ISO standards’ Harmonized Structure. The main change introduced by the Climate Action Amendment is that climate change must always be part of this analysis.
Clauses Affected by the ISO 9001 Climate Change Amendment
- Clause 4.1 – Understanding the Organization and Its Context
Organizations are now required to identify internal and external issues related to climate change that could affect their QMS. This includes assessing how climate factors might impact the organization’s ability to maintain consistent quality in products or services. - Clause 4.2 – Understanding the Needs and Expectations of Interested Parties
Organizations must consider the climate-related requirements of interested parties, such as customers, suppliers, and regulators. This ensures that climate considerations are fully integrated into the QMS.
Practical Steps for Integrating the Climate Change Amendment
The amendment stipulates that organizations must determine whether climate change is a relevant issue for their QMS, and whether relevant interested parties have climate-related requirements. If climate change is deemed relevant, it must be integrated into the development and implementation of the management system. For organizations already certified to an ISO standard, the main change is ensuring that climate change is always considered as part of the contextual analysis.
Here are some practical steps for integration:
- Assessing Climate Change Relevance
Begin by assessing how climate change might impact your operations, products, and services. Identify potential risks and opportunities to determine which climate-related issues are relevant under Clause 4.1. - Addressing Stakeholder Needs
As part of Clause 4.2, identify interested parties who might have climate-related requirements. This could include customers requesting more sustainable products or regulatory bodies imposing stricter environmental regulations. - Documenting the Changes
Update your QMS documentation to reflect the new ISO 9001 Climate Change Amendment requirements. This could involve revising your quality policy, objectives, and risk management processes to incorporate climate change considerations.
Many organizations have already assessed how climate change impacts their businesses. For those who haven’t, this amendment provides an opportunity to start evaluating climate change risks and ensure their management systems are equipped to address these emerging challenges.