Climate Change in Every Management System: The ISO Amendments of February 2024
In February 2024 ISO amended its management system standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000, to add climate change to clauses 4.1 and 4.2. The amendments apply immediately.
Key points
- The amendments were published in February 2024 and apply to existing management system standards.
- Clause 4.1 now asks the organisation to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.
- Clause 4.2 notes that relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.
What was added
Two short texts were inserted. In clause 4.1, the organisation shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue. In clause 4.2, a note states that relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change. No new certificate is issued and there is no transition period.
What auditors will look for
Auditors expect to see that the question was considered, with a reasoned conclusion. For some organisations climate change is clearly relevant, for example through water scarcity, heat stress on workers, cold chain reliability or customer requirements on emissions. For others the conclusion may be that it is not relevant at present, and that is acceptable when it is justified.
What to do
- Add climate change to the next review of context and interested parties
- Where it is relevant, carry it into risks and opportunities, objectives and operational planning
- Record the conclusion in the management review
- Brief internal auditors so that they ask the question