Understanding the ISO 9001:2015 – AMENDMENT 1: Climate action changes
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently introduced a significant update to the ISO 9001:2015 standards, known as AMENDMENT 1: Climate action changes. This amendment underscores the growing global recognition of climate change as a critical issue that needs to be addressed within Organisational operations and strategies. A Shift Towards Climate Action.
Key Changes in the Amendment
The amendment introduces focused changes to two key sections of the ISO 9001:2015 standards:
Understanding the Organisation and Its Context
The amendment mandates Organisations to actively consider the implications of climate change on their operations. This ensures that their quality management systems are resilient and adaptive to environmental challenges. The specific change introduced is the addition of the following sentence at the end of the subclause: “The Organisation shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.”
Understanding the Needs and Expectations of Interested Parties
A new note has been added at the end of this subclause, emphasising the relevance of climate change to stakeholder expectations: “NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.” This note highlights the necessity for Organisations to be aware of and responsive to any climate change-related requirements or expectations from their stakeholders.
Implications for Organisations
The explicit inclusion of climate change considerations in the ISO 9001:2015 standards encourages Organisations to:
- Assess the impact of climate change on their operations and strategic objectives.
- Engage with interested parties to understand and address any climate change-related requirements.
- Embed sustainability and environmental responsibility into their quality management systems.
Organisations certified under ISO 9001:2015 are now tasked with revisiting their management systems to ensure that climate change considerations are adequately addressed, in line with the new amendment. This includes reviewing and possibly updating policies, objectives, and processes to incorporate climate change as a critical factor in Organisational planning and decision-making.
Conclusion
The ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 amendment represents a significant shift in the way Organisations approach quality management. By explicitly addressing climate change, it encourages Organisations to take a proactive role in tackling one of the most pressing issues of our time.
The overall intent of the requirements for clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remain unchanged; these clauses already include the need for the organisation to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system; these new inclusions are assuring that Climate Change is considered within the management system(s).
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how Organisations adapt to these changes and the impact this will have on their operations and strategies.
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