Standards Pavilion concludes COP30 with call to embed International Standards in every step of climate action

As COP30 draws to a close, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), conveners of the Standards Pavilion, are calling for ambition to be matched with implementation - urging policymakers to embed International Standards in the next phase of global climate action.

Friday 21 November - 11AM BRT / 3PM CEST – Belém, Brazil: As COP30 wraps up in Brazil, the Standards Pavilion, led by IEC, ISO, and ULSE alongside 18 other global organizations, hailed significant momentum in embedding International Standards at the heart of the climate agenda, marking a step-change in how governments, investors, and implementers turn climate ambition into accountable action.

The Pavilion Partners acknowledge the following key milestones from COP30, see a role for International Standards to support their implementation, and are ready to partner with other organizations on these initiatives:

• The COP30 Action Agenda directly recognizes International Standards as key tools to removing barriers to climate action. They are being more readily referenced in plans and outcome documents during the negotiations process as concrete mechanisms toward enabling solutions to scale faster, cheaper and more credibly across countries and sectors.

  • The COP30 Action Agenda underscored the need for a "whole-of-society" approach to implementation, which is strongly supported by the Pavilion initiators, IEC, ISO and ULSE, thanks to their global, multi-stakeholder system and strong partnerships. This is further amplified by the work of the other 18 Pavilion partners.

• IEC, ISO and ULSE released a landmark climate action policy paper: the paper explores the potential of standards to ensure comparability, credibility, and accountability for climate action.

• International Standards featured prominently in multiple high-priority Plans to Accelerate Solutions, the COP30 Presidency’s flagship mechanism to unblock systemic barriers.

  • Harmonization of Global Carbon Accounting - hosted by the ISO–GHGP partnership and the upcoming joint standards architecture.

  • Transition Plans for Financial Institutions - supported by the forthcoming ISO Standard on Net Zero Transition Planning (ISO/TC 322).

Renewable & Low-Emissions Hydrogen - ISO/TS 19870 integrated into the Hydrogen Breakthrough pathway.

• ISO & GHGP welcomed the publication of the COP30 Action Agenda plan to accelerate carbon accounting solutions, supporting the COP30 Presidency in elevating detailed solutions to turn commitments into concrete actions.

• UNDP and ISO advanced a new global partnership to build ‘impact economies’: UNDP and ISO brought together multistakeholder representatives through their ImpactWorks Alliance to accelerate efforts to build "impact economies," where financial and organizational decisions drive meaningful progress on sustainable development.

• Report launch on Policy matters: From pledges to delivery a decade after Paris: the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy report offers the most comprehensive update on net zero policy progress, gaps and suggested best practice for governments, companies and financial institutions.

• WBCSD and One Planet Network announced the launch of the Global Circularity Protocol for business (GCP): the GCP is the world’s first voluntary science-based, globally harmonized framework designed to help companies of all sizes measure, manage, and communicate their circular performance and impacts across value chains. It aligns with ISO’s standards on circular economy.

• Strengthening Climate Action: ISO welcomes UN System-Wide Effort on NDC Implementation: ISO welcomed the UN Secretary-General’s call for a coordinated UN system-wide effort to support countries in preparing the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), building on the architecture of UNDP’s Climate Promise. ISO commends UNDP’s leadership and strongly affirms that International Standards serve as essential tools in turning national climate ambition into credible, transparent practical, accountable implementation.

Looking ahead to COP31, the Partners of the Standards Pavilion reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening implementation across the climate agenda by advancing the use of trusted, globally recognized International Standards. The International Standards community welcomes continued collaboration with the COP30 Presidency and incoming COP31 hosts, and stands ready to support governments, industries, and communities in delivering credible, scalable, and inclusive climate action. Together, these efforts can continue to turn climate ambition into practical progress.

For more information on the Standards Pavilion and COP30 highlights, visit www.standardspavilion.org.

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About the Organizations:

About IEC

The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a global, not-for-profit membership organization that brings together close to 170 countries and coordinates the work of 30 000 experts globally. IEC International Standards and conformity assessment work underpins international trade in electrical and electronic goods. It facilitates electricity access and verifies the safety, performance and interoperability of electric and electronic devices and systems, including for example, consumer devices such as mobile phones or refrigerators, office and medical equipment, information technology, electricity generation, and much more. Conformity assessment refers to any activity that determines whether a product, system, service and sometimes people fulfil the requirements and characteristics described in a standard or specification. Such requirements can include performance, safety, efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, durability or environmental impacts such as pollution or noise. Verification is generally done through testing and/or inspection. Learn more: www.iec.ch

About ISO

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 170 national standards bodies. Through its global network, it facilitates the development of voluntary and market-relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. ISO has published more than 25,000 International Standards and related documents covering almost every industry, from technology to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare. More information about ISO is available at www.iso.org.

About UL Standards and Engagement

UL Standards & Engagement is a nonprofit organization that translates safety science into action through standards development, partnerships, and advocacy. Since 1903, we have developed nearly 1,700 standards and guidance documents for products ranging from fire doors to autonomous vehicles. ULSE enables innovation and grows trust by convening experts and informing policymakers and regulators as we work toward a safer, more secure and sustainable future. Visit ULSE.org for more information.