International Organzation of Standardization (ISO)
2011-03-07
Comments of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)provided at the “Second
Preparato ry Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development” held
March 7/8, 2011 at UN Headquarters, NYC (intervention made on 7 March at 18h00 under
“Session 2 – Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”)
Kevin McKinley, ISO Deputy Secretary-General
“ISO - the International Organization for Standardization - proposes that UNCSD can achieve more
rapidprogress towards an effective global green economy through the increased use of vol untary,
international standardization that is transparent, consensus-based, multi-stakeholder and with
implementation that makes use of market forces that encourageorganizations to takeaction -
actionthat fuels and sustains green economy objectives.
As a global NGO comprising the national standardization institutes of 163 countries, ISO is one of a
number of organizationswell-placed to bridge the interests of public and private sector stakeholders,
in both developed and developing countries, toestablishcoherent international agreement on detailed
approaches that address sustainable development issues at the organizational level.
I provide one concrete example - the development of a voluntary standard that provides definitive
international terminology and guidance on “social responsibility” - ISO 26000.The Working Group that
developed this Standard involved more than 450 participating experts, from 99 countries (most of
these developing countries)and 42 international governmental and non-governmental organizations
in liaison. These experts came from six specifically identifed stakeholder categories of: government,
industry, labour, consumers, NGOs and a final category of ‘service, support, research and others’.
Over five years,, these experts addressedmore than 26000 international comments that were received
on various drafts of the standard.
In the final vote, national members approved the Standard by a resounding margin and ISO 26000
was published on 1November 2010providing social responsibility terms and definitions;and guidance
on the core subjects which include not only the environment, but also organizational governance,
human rights, labour issues, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement
and development.
This is one example of how an international, consensus-based, multi-stakeholder standards -setting
system can achieve global agreement on the pragmatic implementation of green economy issues at
the organizational level. Other examples include International Standards on energy performance,
water services, environmental managementand greenhouse gas measurement and verification.
In closing, we recommend increased support and promotion of international standardization as a
strategic instrument in the tool -box of UNCSD’s efforts to enhance global, voluntary actions that can
have an important impact on achieving green economy objectives, and the sustainable development
objectives of Agenda 21.”
Comments of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)provided at the “Second
Preparato ry Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development” held
March 7/8, 2011 at UN Headquarters, NYC (intervention made on 7 March at 18h00 under
“Session 2 – Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”)
Kevin McKinley, ISO Deputy Secretary-General
“ISO - the International Organization for Standardization - proposes that UNCSD can achieve more
rapidprogress towards an effective global green economy through the increased use of vol untary,
international standardization that is transparent, consensus-based, multi-stakeholder and with
implementation that makes use of market forces that encourageorganizations to takeaction -
actionthat fuels and sustains green economy objectives.
As a global NGO comprising the national standardization institutes of 163 countries, ISO is one of a
number of organizationswell-placed to bridge the interests of public and private sector stakeholders,
in both developed and developing countries, toestablishcoherent international agreement on detailed
approaches that address sustainable development issues at the organizational level.
I provide one concrete example - the development of a voluntary standard that provides definitive
international terminology and guidance on “social responsibility” - ISO 26000.The Working Group that
developed this Standard involved more than 450 participating experts, from 99 countries (most of
these developing countries)and 42 international governmental and non-governmental organizations
in liaison. These experts came from six specifically identifed stakeholder categories of: government,
industry, labour, consumers, NGOs and a final category of ‘service, support, research and others’.
Over five years,, these experts addressedmore than 26000 international comments that were received
on various drafts of the standard.
In the final vote, national members approved the Standard by a resounding margin and ISO 26000
was published on 1November 2010providing social responsibility terms and definitions;and guidance
on the core subjects which include not only the environment, but also organizational governance,
human rights, labour issues, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement
and development.
This is one example of how an international, consensus-based, multi-stakeholder standards -setting
system can achieve global agreement on the pragmatic implementation of green economy issues at
the organizational level. Other examples include International Standards on energy performance,
water services, environmental managementand greenhouse gas measurement and verification.
In closing, we recommend increased support and promotion of international standardization as a
strategic instrument in the tool -box of UNCSD’s efforts to enhance global, voluntary actions that can
have an important impact on achieving green economy objectives, and the sustainable development
objectives of Agenda 21.”
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