On October 14, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recognizes World Standards Day, an annual celebration that raises awareness of the role that standards play in addressing global priorities, and pays tribute to the thousands of people around the world who participate in standardization activities. The 2021 World Standards Day theme, "A Shared Vision for a Better World," underscores the many ways in which international standards contribute to the success of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDGs—the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all—were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and aim to address social imbalances, develop a sustainable economy, and slow the rate of climate change. Cooperation of public and private partners, and the use of all available tools, including international standards and conformity assessment, are key to realizing the 17 goals by 2030.
“Every SDG is a call for action, but we can only get there if we work together,” noted the World Standards Cooperation (WSC) – an alliance of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “International Standards offer practical solutions we can all stand behind. By using international standards, you become a part of the solution…as we face an urgent challenge to “build back better” brought by COVID-19, IEC, ISO and ITU, the world's leading developers of international standards, call on the global community to join forces.”
There are multiple ways to get involved in World Standards Day this year. Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #WorldStandardsDay.
Access more information about World Standards Day by watching videos featuring messages from:
The Festivities Continue! Join ANSI for the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day
Join the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day! The event, with the theme, Standards for Sustainable Development Goals, was rescheduled as an in-person event on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is serving as the WSD administrating organization for the event.
A second U.S. WSD celebration will take place on Thursday, October 13, 2022, as an in-person event in Washington, DC, with ICC serving as the administrating organization.
Access more information about the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day and the World Standards Day paper competition via ANSI’s webpage.