Energy management
To continually improve energy performance and sustain it over time.
There are numerous International Standards being used to support public policy in the field of environmental management.
Standards to help address problems related to climate change are one important example.
Climate change has been identified as one of the greatest challenges facing countries, governments, business and citizens over future decades. Climate change has implications for both human and natural systems and could lead to significant changes in resource use, production and economic activity.
In response, international, regional, national and local initiatives are being developed and implemented to: limit greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere (ISO 14064 series & ISO 14065); enable organizations to establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy performance in order to reduce GHG emissions and other related environmental impacts and energy cost through systematic management of energy (ISO 50001); and manage the organization’s environmental responsibilities in order to reduce environmental impacts and identify ways to reduce waste and energy use (ISO 14001).
Standards
- Greenhouse gasesPart 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals
- ISO 14065:2013 [Withdrawn]Greenhouse gasesRequirements for greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition
- Energy management systemsRequirements with guidance for use
- Environmental management systemsRequirements with guidance for use
Who is involved?
The effects of climate change are impacting economies, societies and the natural environment at both global and local levels. As greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to increase so will the severity of climate change impacts. Addressing climate change involves a complex combination of political, policy, business, technical, social and environmental issues that relate to all economic sectors and countries. In this regards, climate change initiatives and policies are being driven at all levels. At the international level, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has established treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol to reduce GHG emissions. Other international organizations, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), are also actively studying and addressing climate change issues. Regional organizations in various regions of the world, such as Europe and Asia, are also working and coordinating climate change initiatives in addition to country-specific actions (refer to table).
The three major standards organizations – ISO, IEC and ITU – have standardization projects aimed to directly or indirectly tackle climate change. ISO is by far the standards organization with the most committees and projects in that area. For example, the ISO Climate Change Coordinating Committee (CCCC), ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, and, more specifically, ISO/TC 207/SC 7 on GHG management and related activities have published or plan to publish standards in the near future to cover mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Committees
- Environmental management
- Greenhouse gas and climate change management and related activities
How is regulatory cooperation in this field achieved?
Regulatory cooperation is achieved through the establishment of treaties by international or regional organizations, which are adopted as laws and regulations by specific countries. Countries are ultimately responsible for developing the strategies and actions aimed to meet those treaties and laws and, in most cases, International Standards like those developed by ISO are used as the framework or basis for the regulations that support those treaties and laws.
Below are various examples of how ISO standards are being used to support GHG schemes and programmes, as well as environmental management policies in countries around the globe.
Examples of ISO standards used in national, regional or international GHG schemes and programmes
| Country | ISO standard | Programme / Scheme | Mandatory | Voluntary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia -Ongoing | carboNZero/CEMARS (JAS-ANZ accredited) | Yes | ||
|
Belgium - Ongoing |
National Communication | Yes | ||
|
Brazil |
Carbon Disclosure Project |
Yes |
||
|
Germany |
Energy efficiency within the framework of tax capping: the amendment of the Energy and Electricity Act intends to use EMAS and Energy MS according to ISO 50001 |
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|
Germany |
Energy efficiency within the framework of the European Energy Efficiency Directive: Energy Audits according to EN 1624701 or within the framework of EMS according to ISO 14001 or Energy MS according to ISO 50001 |
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| Italy - Ongoing |
Emission Trading Scheme |
Yes | ||
|
Italy |
Voluntary programme |
Yes |
||
|
Italy |
ISO 14064-1 |
Voluntary programme |
Yes
|
|
|
Italy |
Voluntary programme |
Yes |
||
|
Italy |
Emission Trading Scheme |
Yes | ||
|
Italy |
Voluntary programme |
Yes |
||
| Japan - Ongoing |
J-Credit Scheme |
Yes |
||
| Poland - Ongoing |
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 600/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the verification of greenhouse gas emission reports and tonne-kilometre reports and the accreditation of verifiers pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union L 181/1, 12.7.2012 |
Yes | ||
| Poland - Ongoing | COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council Official Journal of the European Union L 181/30, 12.7.2012 | Yes | ||
| Portugal - Ongoing |
Airport Carbon Accreditation Scheme from the Airport Council International (Europe and Asia Pacific) |
Yes |
||
| Portugal - Ongoing | EU ETS Regulation on Accreditation and Verification |
Yes | ||
| Thailand - Ongoing |
Domestic carbon market |
Yes |
||
|
Thailand |
Domestic carbon market |
Yes |
||
|
Thailand |
Domestic carbon market |
Yes |
||
|
Thailand |
Domestic carbon market |
Yes |
||
|
Thailand |
Domestic carbon market |
Yes |
||
|
Thailand |
Thailand carbon footprint for product scheme |
Yes |
||
|
Thailand |
Thailand carbon footprint for organization scheme |
Yes | ||
|
Turkey |
National GHG scheme/programme |
Yes | ||
|
Turkey |
TS EN ISO/IEC |
National GHG scheme/programme |
Yes | |
|
Turkey |
TS EN ISO |
National GHG scheme/programme |
Yes |
|
|
Turkey |
National GHG scheme/programme |
Yes |
||
|
Turkey |
National GHG scheme/programme |
Yes |
||
|
Turkey |
ISO/DIS 14067.2 |
International GHG scheme/programme |
Yes |
|
| UK- Ongoing |
Directive n.2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC |
Yes | ||
|
UK |
Defra (Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) guidance on how to measure and report GHG emissions |
Yes |
||
|
UK |
GHG protocol for GHG accounting |
Yes |
Examples of ISO Environmental Management Standards used in support of other public policies
| Country | Iso standard | Programme / Scheme | Scope and coverage | Mandatory | Voluntary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Germany |
Harmonized standard in the European new legislation framework and the eco-management audit scheme |
Yes |
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|
Germany |
EN |
Harmonized standard in the European new legislation framework and the eco-management audit scheme |
Yes |
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|
Germany |
Harmonized standard in the European new legislation framework and the eco-management audit scheme |
Yes |
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|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Sweden or |
Recycling of electronics |
Yes | ||
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Indonesia |
Third-party certification |
Manufacturing, construction (incl. services), chemical (incl. services), mining (incl. services), etc. |
Yes |
|
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Australia |
Government |
Suppliers requested |
Yes |
|
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Canada |
Yes |
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|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
France |
Sustainable development policy |
Public administration (all sectors) |
Yes | |
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
France |
Common sustainable development policy |
Public account consortium (EDF-GDF Suez-RATP-SNCF-AREVA) |
Yes |
|
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Italy |
Yes |
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|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Japan |
Inspection of management matters for public works |
Public works |
Yes | |
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
Japan |
Support system of local governments |
Yes |
||
|
Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) |
All activities for customer |
|
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| JapanOngoing |
Environmental Management Systems Registration Scheme |
Yes |
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|
UK |
ISO 14000 |
EMAS |
EU | Yes | |
|
UK |
ESOS | UK | Yes | ||
|
UK |
EP-OPRA |
UK | Yes |
Yes |
|
|
UK |
Industrial Emissions Directive |
EU | Yes |
Yes |
|
|
UK |
UK offshore guidance |
UK |
Yes |
||
|
UK |
Executive Order 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management” |
US federal agencies |
Yes |
Examples by sector Overview
Environmental management
To address problems related to climate change, for example.
Food products
To ensure that food is safe for consumption.
Laboratory medicine
To offer an important alternative to prescriptive regulations.
Medical devices
Standards play an important role in allowing the rapid introduction of new medical device technology.
Radio services
IEC/CISPR is responsible for the protection of radio services.
Railways
IEC/TC 9 is responsible for the electrical equipment and systems used in railways.
Road vehicles
Work to harmonize worldwide regulations for road vehicles.
Ships and marine technology
Defining standards and requirements that affect safety, security and the environment.
Transport of dangerous goods
How regulatory needs can lead to revisions and improvements in ISO standards.