The magnitude of the climate challenge demands a coordinated global response across all sectors. To help drive this effort, BSI proposed the London Declaration in 2021, gaining the approval of ISO members for a landmark commitment to reshape the standards system in support of an equitable net zero future.
As part of delivering on the Declaration, BSI played a leading role in introducing a new climate requirement across all ISO Management System Standards (MSS) in February 2024. This means that organizations using these globally leading standards must now explicitly take climate change into account in their management systems.
Our case study explores a global electronics manufacturing organization headquartered in the UK, with a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability. In recent years, it has implemented renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, alongside projects to enhance biodiversity across its operational sites. One of 1.4 million organizations certified to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (ISO Survey 2024), the 2024 climate amendment prompted this organization to formally embed their environmental efforts within their Quality Management System (QMS), turning their existing voluntary initiatives into structured organizational practices.
"It puts the company’s context in the scope of the world… your context is not just your sphere of suppliers and customers — it’s everything."
- Quality Manager
Taking Action
In direct response to the new ISO 9001 climate requirement, the organization took a number of immediate steps to ensure climate change was explicitly considered within its QMS. This included:
- SWOT Analysis: Climate change was embedded in the organization’s SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to ensure wider environmental and social factors were considered within strategic planning.
- Risk Register: Climate-related risks were incorporated into their risk register, supporting a more structured and proactive approach to identifying and managing anticipated physical and transition risks.
- Interested Parties: Climate change was also included in their list of interested parties, strengthening prioritisation and building in further management system oversight.
- Monthly Management Discussions: A recurring agenda item was added to cover climate in monthly management meetings, with the SWOT analysis, risk register and interested parties reviewed and discussed at every meeting.
Together, these changes ensured that climate considerations moved beyond standalone initiatives to became part of their business-as-usual governance.
"This was the push that we needed. We were doing lots to improve our impact on the environment, but it was never regarded as part of our QMS or driven by our QMS."
- Quality Manager
The Impact
By embedding climate considerations into their management systems, the organization has strengthened organizational awareness, accountability, and long-term momentum on climate action.
Climate Conversations: Previously, much of the organization’s environmental activity was driven by a small group of engaged individuals. Following the amendment to ISO 9001, climate is now discussed widely and regularly. This has expanded the climate conversation, making it visible across their operations.
Validating Climate Action: The inclusion of climate change within ISO 9001 also validated the time and effort the organization already invested in environmental initiatives. By linking environmental action directly to their QMS, climate-related projects are now clearly aligned with business priorities, helping to justify the focus and resources dedicated to sustainability.
"It’s supporting and justifying the time spent. People realise these projects are validated, they see it’s in an official international standard and it’s a requirement to consider it."
- Quality Manager
Resilience and Momentum: The London Declaration encouraged the organization to think about climate change not only in terms of environmental impact, but also considering potential climate-related risks to the organization itself. This updated approach is already strengthening anticipated resilience and long-term strategic planning. And one of the most significant outcomes for the organization has been continuity. Embedding climate considerations into their management system has created a mechanism to sustain progress.
"It embeds it into our QMS, so we don’t lose momentum."
- Quality Manager
Looking Ahead
The organization has already integrated a number of meaningful changes as a result of the ISO 9001 climate amendment and anticipates that these will also strengthen external confidence in the organization’s ability to manage and adapt to climate change. As awareness of the new requirement grows, this added layer of governance may help to alleviate stakeholder concerns and reinforce the organization’s credibility.
"I think maybe these additions to 9001 will alleviate some concerns that some of our customers might have that we may or may not be doing enough."
- Quality Manager
This global manufacturer’s experience highlights an important outcome of the London Declaration: it reaches organizations that may not pursue targeted environmental certification but still need to consider climate change in a structured, credible way.
By embedding a climate requirement into ISO 9001, the London Declaration has helped to ensure that climate change is explicitly considered within management systems that shape everyday decision-making. For this organization, it has supported their existing environmental commitment by embedding, validating, and elevating it.
