BSI: Facilitating the Path to Carbon Neutrality

BSI employs transparent standard reporting to assist organizations in achieving carbon neutrality and net zero emissions.

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Achieving net zero is a goal for many organizations - some have already reached it, while others are progressing towards it. To maintain global warming within 1.5°C, per the Paris Agreement, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 at the latest and decrease by 43% by 2030. Carbon neutrality serves as a significant step towards net zero, though the process can be intricate for large organizations.

**Understanding Carbon Neutrality**:

Carbon neutrality means achieving a balance between the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into and removed from the atmosphere.

Founded in 1901, BSI has consistently aimed to positively impact society, evolving from setting early standards for steel to addressing future challenges in nanotechnology. Now a robust global community of 15,000, BSI operates from the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, the US, and South Africa. It collaborates with clients to offer impactful solutions across certifications, security, software, and consulting, and plays a pivotal role in the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), underlining its commitment to climate action and carbon neutrality.

**Timeline and Standards for Reaching Net-Zero**:

BSI oversees ISO 14068-1, a standard that outlines principles for achieving and demonstrating carbon neutrality with transparency, accuracy, and scientific validity. BSI supports organizations in embracing climate solutions through robust standards and a bold approach.

Organizations can achieve tangible and sustainable outcomes by adhering to specific standards, including:

- **ISO 14064-1**: Managing event sustainability.

- **ISO 14064-2**: Quantifying, monitoring, and reporting on greenhouse gas emission reductions.

- **PAS 2080**: The world’s first framework for decarbonizing buildings and structures, addressing a major source of emissions.

**Integrating Sustainability**:

Previously seen as a choice between ethical considerations and financial performance, sustainability is increasingly recognized as integral to strategic success. Accurate reporting and clear standards help stakeholders support businesses making environmentally conscious decisions, reducing the risk of greenwashing—misrepresenting environmental impact—and ensuring reliable sustainability metrics within the construction industry.

**Complex Challenges Ahead**:

Managing and communicating sustainability, especially in the realm of complex Scope 3 emissions, remains a daunting task for companies. Staying current with international standards is crucial for meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations.

BSI is pioneering in this area with the London Declaration, a commitment initiated by BSI and adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to incorporate climate science into standard development. Since its endorsement at the ISO General Assembly in 2021, BSI has been updating its extensive catalog of national standards and collaborating globally to align all standards with the latest climate science.

**Susan Taylor Martin, CEO of BSI**, remarked on the progress: “As the originator of the London Declaration, we are pleased to see it embraced by ISO and other standards bodies, enabling us to join forces internationally to ensure that standards facilitate a swift transition to a more sustainable world for organizations of all sizes.”

Source: Sustainability Magazine