Update on the GHG Accounting Standard Under Development by ISO

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is currently developing an ISO 14000 series standard on greenhouse gas (GHG) “accounting”. This work was started in summer 2002 by Working Group 5 (WG5) of the Technical Committee 207 (environmental management) of ISO.

Many climate initiatives and environmental NGOs are watching ISO’s work in this area closely. The forthcoming standard may have profound implications for voluntary and regulatory climate initiatives at the national and international levels.

It is possible that ISO will produce a credible standard containing clear uniform rules for establishing GHG accounting. Under such a positive scenario, the standard would assist in addressing the causes of climate change.

A negative scenario is also possible, in which ISO produces a loose, imprecise standard that lends itself to abuse and deception. Under this scenario, companies would be able to make false or biased claims regarding their GHG emissions with reference to the standard. Many climate initiatives would be hindered and global progress to address climate change would slow. Because ISO decision-making has traditionally been dominated by industry and industry consultants, this negative scenario is a real possibility.

ECOLOGIA is currently the only environmental NGO actively negotiating in ISO TC 207 WG5. Our involvement is guided by a Position Paper that we are developing in consultation with other NGOs. Our position emphasizes 4 core principles: transparency, environmental integrity, alignment with best practice (including the WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol) and compatibility with major climate change regimes.

In addition to the position paper, ECOLOGIA is developing specific Issue Papers that detail how the principles in our position should be elaborated in each piece of the standard and what should be the process of developing the standard. We also provide Updates on the status of the standard as it develops, available at http://www.ecologia.org/ems/ghg/.

We invite environmental NGOs and other parties interested in international standardization of GHG accounting to contact ECOLOGIA (at hmcgray@ecologia.org or cherpa@ceu.hu) to find out how your participation can contribute to a better ISO GHG standard. In particular we welcome organizations to comment upon our brief Position Paper. We believe that together, NGOs can pressure ISO to develop transparent, sound and environmentally progressive requirements.

Please join us to make a difference in this important international climate standard.

Aleg Cherp, Policy Advisor,
ECOLOGIA