Hot topics
ISO International Standards provide the international community with practical tools for tackling global challenges such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, climate change, health, safety, security and the dissemination of innovative technologies.
This section presents topics of international concern and highlights published ISO standards, standards under development and ongoing standardization initiatives that are relevant to these concerns and that can contribute to resolving them.
Accessibility
At least 650 million people are affected by a disability. They are the world’s largest minority. But this is an issue not just for the elderly or disabled: anybody at any stage in life can experience temporarily reduced accessibility. When this happens, simple, everyday activities become very complicated. ISO standards for accessible design, usability, ergonomics and assistive products help spread best practice around the world and improve quality of life for all.
Climate change
Out of a current total of more than 19 000 ISO normative documents, some 570 are environment-related, including recent standards specifically developed to support greenhouse gas (GHG) emission accounting, claim verification and trading.
Energy
Facilitating energy efficiency and renewable energy sources is a strategic focus area for ISO. This section presents related material, including the special issue of ISO Focus developed for the November 2007 World Energy Congress.
Health informatics
Health care providers are increasingly relying on electronic processes for acquiring, storing, retrieving and using information, such as personal patient data. ISO standards offer solutions to help ensure the privacy and longevity of electronic data independent of technology, as well as for the design, planning and implementation of eHealth systems.
Nanotechnologies
Nanotechnologies require the integration of many scientific, engineering and technical disciplines whose unifying theme is the control of matter on the atomic and molecular scale. International Standards contribute at three levels: assisting the innovation process, addressing the challenges in measurement at the nanoscale, and helping to alleviate concerns over potential health and environmental impacts.
Social responsibility
The International Standard ISO 26000, Guidance on social responsibility, provides harmonized, globally relevant guidance for private and public sector organizations of all types based on international consensus among expert representatives of the main stakeholder groups and so encourage the implementation of best practice in social responsibility worldwide.
Sustainable development
Impacts on the environment, energy consumption, health and safety risks, security, traceability and social responsibility are issues which must be taken into account in the design, production and distribution of products and services. International Standards help to avoid such considerations becoming unjustified barriers to trade and facilitate the dissemination of good practice and related technical solutions.
Current issue of ISO Focus+
Discover the current issue of ISO Focus+
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