International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards can help fight climate change by providing a basis for ensuring trust, integrity, and effective management in the quantification, measurement, and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation efforts, as well as practical tools for the development of energy efficiency and alternative energy sources.

These messages were underlined by ISO at COP15, the 15th conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held 7 to 18 December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

'The suite of ISO Standards on GHG quantification, measurement, verification, and validation provide a foundation for existing and emerging emission trading schemes and confidence systems,' says ISO Deputy Secretary-General Kevin McKinley.

'In addition, potential new ISO sectoral Standards – for steel and concrete manufacturing, and other sectors – may be developed, consistent with the approach and framework of the generic ISO Technical Committee (TC) 207 Standards, to provide needed guidance and specificity to GHG emission quantification, as well as evolving measurement, reporting, and transparency expectations.'

Note: ISO Technical Committee 207 or ISO/TC 207 is the technical committee on environmental management – the committee responsible for developing the ISO 14000 series of Standards and guidance documents. ISO 14000 is a series of international, voluntary environmental management Standards.

At COP 15, ISO representatives participated first in an event on 9 December entitled 'Building governance, trust and integrity in emissions markets,' organised by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA).

It is recognised that success in tackling climate change relies on the ability of industry and other actors to comprehensively contribute to national GHG targets and mitigation objectives. The ISO participants communicated the message that international Standards and benchmarks are a necessary baseline for comparability and the effective trading of emissions, and they ensure that 'one tonne of CO₂ is indeed one tonne of CO₂'.

In its plenary meeting, COP15 encouraged the UNFCCC secretariat and sponsoring agencies of the Global Terrestrial Observing System to implement the framework for the preparation of guidance materials, Standards and reporting guidelines for terrestrial observing systems for climate, as a joint terrestrial framework mechanism between ISO and relevant agencies of the United Nations – such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environmental Programme.

COP15 concluded with the Copenhagen Accord that sets the stage for further commitments by states and governments. The Accord also establishes a framework of expectations where all components of the broader public interest can act now to address the climate change challenge.

ISO provides a needed and credible platform to complement the objectives of the UNFCCC and its members. Further cooperation with between ISO and the UNFCCC Secretariat is planned for early 2010 to review the results of Copenhagen, and to consider standardisation initiatives that can best complement established policy directions on this important global challenge.