Auditing With Climate Change Requirements In ISO 9001:2015 QMS – 2
=======
Auditing considerations related to clause 4.2 of ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard
Clause 4.2 of ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard now has an added note that
states, “Relevant interested parties can have needs and expectations related to
climate change.”
An auditor needs to find out whether the organization determined the
existence of applicable requirements related to climate change from relevant
interested parties.
First, we must understand who can be the ‘relevant interested parties’ that
can have requirements (needs and expectations) related to climate change. Here
are a few examples:
(1)
Statutory and regulatory bodies: There may be
statutory and regulatory bodies at local, national and international levels
often require an organization to implement policies, rules and regulations
aimed at mitigating climate change including adhering to specific environmental
needs and expectations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement
sustainability measures etc.
(2)
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): There may be
NGOs including environmental advocacy groups that advocate following policies
and practices addressing climate change. These may require an organization to
adopt sustainable practices, reduce carbon emissions, support renewable energy initiatives
etc.
(3)
Customers and consumers: Presently customers,
including consumers and end-users, are becoming more environmentally conscious.
These may prefer products and services of the organization that have minimal
environmental impact, demanding eco-friendly products, carbon-neutral services,
transparent information about the organization’s environmental practices.
(4)
Investors and shareholders: Presently investors
including shareholders are increasingly considering environmental factors when
making investment decisions. These may expect the organization to disclose its
environmental risks and strategies to mitigate climate-related impacts to
ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.
(5)
Industry associations: Generally, industry
associations develop and establish guidelines, code of conduct, best practices
for their members to follow. They may include guidelines to reduce carbon
emissions, implement sustainable practices, adapting to climate related risks
within specific sectors, such as, energy producers, transportation sector,
manufacturers, food producers, etc.
(6)
Suppliers and partners: Suppliers and business
partners may have their own climate change-related requirements or
expectations. These may expect the organization to prioritize its sustainability,
reduce emissions throughout the supply chain, adhere to specific environmental norms
etc.
(7)
Local communities and residents: Local communities
and residents living near the organization’s facilities may be concerned about
the environmental impact of the operations, including their contribution to
climate change. These may require for cleaner production methods, reduced
emissions, or greater transparency and accountability from the organization.
These are just a few examples of interested parties that can have
requirements related to climate change. The specific requirements may vary
depending on factors such as industry, geography, and stakeholder priorities.
Auditing considerations for relevant interested parties’ requirements
for climate change can include various points. These are described below.
(1)
Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
These are rules and regulations set by statutory and regulatory bodies
concerning environmental protection and climate change, which may directly
impact the organization's operations or the products and services it offers.
Find out: Does the organization comply with relevant environmental and
climate change regulations? How does non-compliance with these regulations
affect the organization's ability to provide its products or services?
Example: A manufacturing plant of the organization verifies if it
adheres to emissions limits set by regulatory bodies to mitigate climate
change.
(2)
Customers’ needs and expectations
Customers may have specific expectations related to climate change, such
as demanding products and services with zero discharge or carbon neutrality.
Find out: Are there any explicit climate change-related requirements
specified by the organization's customers? How does the organization ensure
compliance with these customer requirements?
A car manufacturer assesses how it incorporates customer needs and
expectations for electric vehicle options to reduce carbon emissions.
(3)
Parent organization
policies and strategies
The parent organization may have overarching policies and strategies
regarding climate change that trickle down to subsidiary organizations.
Find out: What are the parent organization's policies and strategies
regarding climate change? How are these policies and strategies implemented
within the organization?
Example: A subsidiary organization examines how it aligns with its
parent organization’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions across all
subsidiaries.
(4)
Product information
requirements
Product (or service) information requirements refers to the need for
accurate and transparent product information related to climate change aspects,
such as sustainability, recyclability, and embedded carbon content.
Find out: How does the organization ensure that product information
accurately reflects climate change-related aspects? Are there any instances of
misleading or "greenwashing" labelling?
Example: A food packaging organization verifies if its product labels
accurately depict the materials' recyclability and environmental impact.
(5)
Industry codes
and subsequent changes
Industry-specific codes and subsequent changes may evolve to address
climate change concerns, imposing new requirements on the organization.
Find out: Is the organization aware of and compliant with updated
industry codes and norms related to climate change? How does the organization
adapt its practices to meet these evolving requirements?
Example: A construction firm examines how it incorporates new building
codes aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
(6)
Environmental Agreements
An organization may enter into agreements with community groups or
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address environmental issues,
including climate change.
Find out: Does the organization have any environmental agreements
related to climate change? How does the organization fulfill its commitments
under these agreements?
Example: A mining organization assesses its compliance with agreements
to minimize carbon emissions and support reforestation efforts in affected
areas.
(7)
Permits, licenses, or authorizations
An organization may require permits, licenses, or other forms of
environmental authorization to operate in compliance with climate change
regulations.
Find Out: Does the organization possess all necessary permits, licenses,
or authorizations related to climate change? Are there any instances of
non-compliance or expired permits?
Example: A chemical plant verifies if it holds valid permits for
emissions and waste disposal in accordance with environmental regulations aimed
at mitigating climate change.
(8)
Process-related
Climate Change Requirements
Climate change considerations may impact various organizational
processes, such as packaging, manufacturing, servicing, and logistics.
Find out: How are climate change-related requirements integrated into
key organizational processes? Are there any gaps or deficiencies in addressing
climate change within these processes?
Example: A shipping organization evaluates how it incorporates
fuel-efficient practices and carbon offsetting measures into its logistics
operations to reduce its environmental footprint.
I request readers to comment / react on the contents of the article.
Regards,
Keshav Ram Singhal
No comments:
Post a Comment