(ISO: Geneva) -- World War II made an indelible mark on the world. As fighting ceased in 1945, the world was in dire need of rebuilding and reformation at an unprecedented scale. ISO was one of the key global organizations to rise from the ashes to do exactly that. Today, it can once again help the world reform to address another existential threat: climate change. 

As policymakers gather in Dubai to discuss how to accelerate climate action, a good place to start is with the reminder that standards are a powerful tool. 

Standards provide us with the assurance that change is both real and meaningful. They ensure results and help cut through any potential “greenwashing.” They also affect the speed of change. Enacting laws and implementing policies for climate action can take years—and we don’t have years. Using standards can get us there faster by reducing the time it takes to design and implement government policies. 

COP28 is a key checkpoint on the global climate trajectory. As a united front, we need to act together in three key areas: the curbing of emissions, risk planning, and financing. Standards are our most effective tool in driving action on all three. 

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