Impact of Climate Change on the Action to Address Risks and Opportunities in ISO 9001:2015 QMS
As you are aware that following are the amendments in ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard:
Clause 4.1 – Added requirement – The organization needs to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.
Clause 4.2 – Added note – Relevant interested parties can have needs and expectations related to climate change.
If climate change is a relevant issue for the organization, then the determined climate change issues may impact the action to address risks and opportunities in the quality management system of an organization. If it is so, then the organization should take appropriate action, although this is not specifically written in the year 2024 amendments of ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard.
The of ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard clause 6.1 requires an organization to consider determined issues to determine risks and opportunities. As such, if climate change is a determined relevant issue for an organization, the organization should consider climate change issues to determine risks and opportunities, including the following:
(1) What are the associated risks that need to be addressed?
(2) What are the associated opportunities that need to be addressed?
(3) Should the organization change its infrastructure, monitoring / measuring equipment, other support such as communication, knowledge, etc?
(4) Should the organization change any operational processes?
(5) Should the organization change any monitoring / measuring processes?
(6) Should the organization change its products or services?
Actionable points with example
(1) Associated risks: Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change could pose risks to the organization's supply chain, leading to disruptions in material availability and production processes.
(2) Associated opportunities: Growing consumer demand for sustainable products and services in response to climate change presents an opportunity for the organization to develop and market eco-friendly offerings, potentially gaining a competitive edge in the market.
(3) Infrastructure and equipment changes: The organization may need to invest in renewable energy sources or energy-efficient technology to reduce its carbon footprint and mitigate climate-related risks such as energy price fluctuations.
(4) Operational process changes: Implementing water-saving measures or waste reduction initiatives to minimize environmental impact and comply with regulations related to climate change mitigation.
(5) Monitoring and measuring process changes: Enhancing monitoring systems to track greenhouse gas emissions or environmental performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of climate change mitigation strategies.
(6) Product or service changes: Modifying product designs or service offerings to align with sustainable practices and meet the evolving needs and expectations of environmentally conscious consumers.
Impact on Intended Results
The organization should determine how the determined risks and opportunities impact the intended results of the organization's quality management system. The organization should plan its actions for these risks and opportunities.
Considerations related to climate change can significantly impact the organization's quality objectives and customer satisfaction.
Quality Objectives: If the organization's quality objectives include reducing environmental impact or improving sustainability metrics, addressing climate change-related risks and opportunities becomes crucial for achieving these objectives.
Customer Satisfaction: Meeting customer expectations for environmentally friendly products or services can enhance brand reputation and customer loyalty. Conversely, failure to address climate change concerns may lead to negative feedback or loss of business from environmentally conscious consumers.
By integrating climate change considerations into its quality management system, the organization can better align its strategic objectives with environmental sustainability goals and enhance overall performance and competitiveness in the marketplace.
Regards,
Keshav Ram Singhal
