World Standards Day 14 October 2020

Each year on 14 October, the members of the (International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) celebrate World Standards Day, which is a means of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of the thousands of experts worldwide who develop the voluntary technical agreements that are published as international standards.

This year, the three organizations have agreed on the theme “Protecting the planet with standards“. The theme underlines the work done by the three organizations to protect the planet. Thousands of standards published each year help to save energy, prepare the ground for renewable energy usage and integration into the electricity grid and pave the way for circular economy processes, including the recycling and re-use of materials. They also facilitate the use of less polluting forms of transport, such as electric vehicles or hydrogen-powered trains and trams. Smart cities rely on these standards for energy efficient lighting, new mobility systems and waste management. The list could go on…As we all try to reduce our carbon footprint to avert climate change, which is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, standards are there to help us succeed.

World Standards Day 14 October 2020

Protecting the planet with standards

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C3ReHb-v2wblsliDR32twPJs15PsrlWD/view?usp=sharing

Earth, a finite vessel of life in the vastness of our solar system. Life on earth depends on energy coming from the sun. However, over the last century human and large-scale industrial activities of our modern civilization have added to earth’s natural greenhouse gases. They negatively impact our climate and with it all forms of life. At the same time rapid population growth and broad urbanization call for the responsible use of limited resources.

To reduce human impact on our planet, we need the political will, concrete action and the right tools. International standards are one such tool. The international standards prepared by IEC, ISO and ITU take into account tried and true solutions to technical challenges. They help share expertise and expert know-how broadly within developed and developing countries alike. Standards cover all aspects of energy savings, water and air quality. They lay down standardized protocols and methods of measurement. Their broad use helps reduce the environmental impact of industrial production and processes, facilitates the reuse of limited resources and improves energy efficiency.