The Contribution of ISO Standards to Sustainable Development Goal 13

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative is a critical framework for individuals and businesses worldwide. Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the guidelines established by these goals to protect both humanity and the planet. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued numerous standards that provide guidelines for organizations to control their operations. These standards have integrated many aspects of the SDGs, to support organizational sustainability efforts. A vital component of the SDGs framework is SDG 13, which addresses climate change, and outlines targets essential for combating its impacts. This study adopts a purely theoretical approach to consolidate information from ISO standards, specifically concerning SDG13- a connection that remains under-explored in current literature. While many ISO standards provide guidance relevant to SDG 13, most focus on environmental management, such as ISO 14001,14064, and 14090. The primary contribution of this article is to provide organizations with a comprehensive set of materials to deal with the challenges of SDG 13.