Understanding the New Amendment
Organisations certified to ISO Management System Standards must now consider climate change as part of their operations. This new requirement has been released as the 2024 amendment to all Annex SL System Standards. The change is included in Clauses 4.1 and 4.2 of the standards and is effective immediately.
Who Does This Apply To?
If your organisation is currently certified against ISO9001 (Quality Management), ISO45001 (Safety Management, etc.), ISO14001, ISO27001, or ISO22001, this requirement is relevant for your organisation.
Key Points to Know
- Clause 4.1: Your organisation needs to determine whether climate change is relevant to your operations.
- Clause 4.2: Take into account that interested parties, such as customers or regulators, might have requirements related to climate change.
What This Means for Your Organisation
Climate Change Impact: Consider how climate change might affect your business. This includes thinking about temperature change, greenhouse gas emissions, extreme weather events (like storms or floods), and other climate-related factors.
Assessment Areas:
- Likelihood: How likely is it that climate change going to impact or affect your operations?
- Vulnerability: How vulnerable are your products or services to climate change?
- Resilience: How well can your business withstand climate change?
What Will Happen at Your Next Audit
- Our Client Managers will check whether you have considered climate change in your management system.
- Our Client Managers will use a practical and realistic approach when evaluating this requirement.
- There’s no need for major changes to your existing management system unless significant climate-related risks are identified.
- The climate change consideration will not have an impact on your audit duration.
Please contact your Client Manager if you have any queries or to discuss these requirements further.
