Climate change poses increasingly challenging, complex and unavoidable challenges for organizations, both public and private, especially in our country , which is first in Europe for economic losses caused by extreme weather events.As noted by Confartigianato in this negative ranking, in the decade 2013-2022 Italy reached the figure of 50 billion euros in damages, with an annual average of 5 billion euros and an impact of 284 euros per inhabitant in 2022 (well above the 117 euros per capita of the EU average).
This area also directly involves the assessment of accredited conformity and accreditation for the certification of new technical standards , which revolve around the management of climate change by companies and organizations.
Measures that are increasingly and rapidly becoming part of national legislation , as well as of the European Green Deal which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
ISO amendments against climate change
In 2024, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced the Climate Action Amendments to management system standards , marking an important step in the fight against climate change, in line with the commitments of the 2021 London Declaration.These amendments, part of the Harmonized Structure (HS) of the standards, require organizations to assess the impact of climate change already in the definition of the scope of their management systems , adopting practices that reduce environmental impact and include concrete mitigation objectives.
The certification accredited to the standards, therefore, attests that companies respect these requirements , promoting awareness and concrete actions in favor of the climate.
These measures represent a fundamental advance in promoting sustainable organizational change , helping to create a more resilient economic ecosystem that is attentive to environmental challenges, as well as developing tools for qualitative differentiation within the reference markets.
The value of accreditation for food safety
Climate change also represents an increasingly significant threat to global food security , impacting the availability, accessibility and quality of products.In Italy, Accredia accredits bodies that certify thousands of agri-food production and processing sites, both in regulated and voluntary contexts, promoting high standards of safety and sustainability.
The attestation of the competence and impartiality of the accredited bodies translates into added value for the certified companies.
An accredited certification system encourages the transition to environmentally friendly practices, making businesses more competitive and resilient in a global market that is increasingly focusing on sustainability.
The relationship between accreditation and food safety ensures the international recognition of certifications which also contribute to promoting a harmonious interaction between voluntary adoption and mandatory regulation.
Currently 7 bodies issue the accredited certification to the FSSC 22000 scheme (Food Safety System Certification Scheme) and 17 certify food safety management systems according to the UNI EN ISO 22000 standard.
Accredited checks for emission reduction
The European Green Deal aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, including through instruments such as the European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) in key industrial sectors and aviation.Among the novelties of 2025 , the ETS 2 includes new areas such as buildings and road transport, while the CBAM Regulation sets a fair price for carbon-intensive imports , aiming to rebalance competitiveness between European and non-EU companies.
Added to this is the Anti-Greenwashing Directive, effective from 2026, which will prohibit misleading environmental communications to promote market transparency and consumer awareness.
In this regulatory context, the system of accredited checks , carried out by bodies compliant with the UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17029 and UNI EN ISO 14065 standards, not only guarantees transparency and trust , but also guides companies and citizens towards informed choices , promoting an economy in which sustainability becomes a priority.
The centrality of accreditation in this context highlights how a systematic and measurable approach can concretely support the climate transition . (Source: https://www.accredia.it/ )