ISO standardisation – a route to net zero? 

South Africa hopes to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in its low-emission development strategy. Applying International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) principles and processes could be a gamechanger for businesses under pressure.

While the target has already received significant buy-in from local companies and institutions, nobody is under any illusions about the challenge lying ahead.

As Sune van Niekerk, a consultant and compliance specialist at World Wide Industrial and Systems Engineers (WWISE), points out, South Africa is not currently in a position to inject finances into repairing an environment riddled with the toxins associated with these emissions.

“Consequently, rural communities will be the first to bear the brunt as quality of life, livestock, and the overall surrounding environment deteriorates, making it difficult to survive,” she explains. “Remedying the situation will require tremendous effort from government, and it will involve a significant amount of time to rebuild and remediate those communities.”

Van Niekerk adds that all South Africans will be required to band together to overcome both environmental and economic obstacles, while it is also becoming increasingly important for businesses to determine where they are on the net zero emissions map, so they can identify the gaps between their current state and what is needed to reach their desired state.

“They need to develop strategies; a phased approach is best in terms of measuring and tracking progress. By breaking up what needs to be done into phases, the business can achieve small targets which will hopefully assist them in reaching the bigger goal,” Van Niekerk elaborates.

Given the global target of Net Zero 2050, it is important for businesses to align with international standards. To this end, ISO standardisation principles and processes will be key.

WWISE legal manager, Sibongile Ncwane, says there are several important standards that should be implemented in this regard. These include:

ISO 14064 – Greenhouse Gases:

• Specifies principles and requirements at the organisational level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.
• Details principles and guidelines for GHG projects to quantify, monitor, and report emission reductions and removal enhancements.
• Provides principles, requirements, and guidelines for conducting GHG information validation and verification.

ISO 14067 – Greenhouse Gases – Carbon Footprint of Products: Provides guidelines for quantifying and reporting the carbon footprint of a product based on a lifecycle assessment.

ISO 14090 – Adaptation to Climate Change: Provides principles, requirements, and guidelines for climate change adaptation planning.

ISO 14080 – Greenhouse Gas Management and Related Activities: Provides a framework and guiding principles for methodologies on environmental management, particularly relating to GHG emissions and removals.

WWISE senior consultant and project manager, Simone Samuel, believes leadership plays a big role in the integration of ISO standards into business processes.

“It is important that the commitment from top management is clearly demonstrated through their actions and support for various process owners. Thereafter, the culture change within the organisation will not be met with resistance,” she says.

Implementing these standards carries numerous benefits. From an economic perspective, operational efficiency can be improved, and regulatory risks and costs can be reduced. A company might also be granted access into new markets and appeal to more stakeholders and investors.

In terms of environmental benefits, carbon footprints can be reduced, pollution prevented, and biodiversity protected. These efforts may also aid in mitigating the effects of climate change. South Africa is currently experiencing these effects, including droughts, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and shifting agricultural patterns. For this reason, committing to addressing emissions and contributing toward a sustainable future will enhance South Africa’s appeal to investors and foreign business, the WWISE experts say.