Management System for UN Sustainable Development Goals: ANSI Seeks Comments on Proposed New ISO Standard

As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) seeks comments by October 28 on a proposal for a new management system standard related to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the proposal, submitted by DS, the ISO member from Denmark, the International Standard would specify requirements for a Sustainable Development Goals Management System when an organization:

• Needs to demonstrate and enhance its work and performance towards the UN SDGs
• Seeks to manage its responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the pillars of sustainability

The intended outcome of an SDG management system, the proposal asserts, is to enhance an organization’s performance, fulfill compliance obligations, achieve selected SDG objectives, increase success, and create trust and confidence to relevant existing and future stakeholders.

Read the proposal and submit comments to Steven Cornish, ANSI senior director of international policy and strategy, [email protected], by close of business on October 28, 2022.

What are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals serve as a call to action for all nations to promote health, safety, and prosperity while protecting the planet by the year 2030. At the center of UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 17 Sustainable Development Goals are intended to:

• support the end of poverty and hunger everywhere;
• combat inequalities within and among countries;
• build peaceful, just and inclusive societies;
• protect human rights and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and
• ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources.

The goals also support the UN’s commitment to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities.

Related news: ANSI Announces 2023 Student Paper Competition Theme: Standards Supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).