ISO at COP30:
Convening partnerships, driving climate action

Despite their power to build trust and transparency, International Standards remain an untapped resource in global climate policy. This dynamic workshop convenes policymakers, negotiators and standardization experts to chart practical pathways for embedding standards into climate policy and implementation. Building on ISO’s Climate Commitment under the London Declaration, participants will explore what’s holding back the wider use of standards in policy – and what can unlock it. Together, they’ll identify the institutional, financial and technical enablers that can make standards a core part of climate governance, linking their insights to the COP30 Action Agenda.

• Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head Sustainability and Partnerships, ISO
• Marco de Rosis, Deputy-head, Carbon Accounting Coordination Unit, Secretariat for Climate, Energy and Environment; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil

Climate action only works when the world’s frameworks, targets and financial systems move in the same direction. This high-level dialogue brings together senior leaders from ISO, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the ISSB to explore how greater coherence across global frameworks and standards can build credibility in progressing climate action. Discussions will examine how alignment between standards and targets can drive investment, underpin the mobilization of policymakers and business leaders, and turn collective goals into tangible outcomes.

• David Kennedy, CEO, SBTi
• Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, ISO
• Elizabeth Seeger, ISSB Member

The road to net zero runs through the financial system, yet transition finance still struggles to reach the scale and consistency the world needs. Join us for the third ISO Sustainable Finance Roundtable, where senior sustainable finance leaders will shape the future of credible transition finance and advance work around ISO 32212 on net-zero transition planning for financial institutions. Discussions will unpack what’s holding transition finance back, how the upcoming ISO 32212 can boost credibility and alignment across institutions, and what complementary standards are needed to strengthen integrity and data comparability. Participants will leave with a clearer view of how standards can help align climate ambition with financial practice – and make transition finance truly work at scale.

• Antonina Scheer, Policy Fellow and Research Project Manager at the TPI Global Climate Transition Centre at LSE
• Simon Weaver, Global Head of ESG Advisory, KPMG
• Daan van der Wekken, Head of Sustainability, BSI

Join this workshop organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, with the support of ISO, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP), and UNIDO. This session will focus on the draft Acceleration Plan to Harmonize Global Carbon Accounting Standards, addressing the lack of alignment at corporate, product, and project levels. By 2028, the plan aims to deliver a common global language to drive decarbonization and accelerate climate action.

Achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement means turning national climate pledges into coordinated, investable action. This session explores how International Standards can help countries deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by aligning climate policy with trade, finance and private-sector investment. Panellists will uncover how standards build trust across borders, unlock finance, and create the conditions for credible, measurable implementation. Discussion will also address the importance of coherent governance and quality infrastructure in turning climate commitments into measurable action on the ground.

Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head of Sustainability and Partnerships, International Organization for Standardization (moderator)

Tom Beloe, Director Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP

Kerry Constabile, Director of Decarbonization, Amazon

Aik Hoe Lim, Director, WTO Trade and Environment Division

Faig Mutallimov, Senior Advisor, Office of the Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Climate Issues, Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Jimena Mora, Director of GHG Mitigation of the Ministry of Environment of Peru

Mathilde Mesnard, Deputy Director, OECD Environment Directorate

Emma Stewart, inaugural Sustainability Officer, Netflix

Achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement depends on one thing above all: trust. This high-level panel explores how International Standards and quality infrastructure are driving transparency and accountability in the global race to deliver on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Discover how these frameworks are shaping credible, verifiable pathways to net zero and strengthening multilateral climate governance. The session will include an update on the ISO Net Zero standard, currently in development, highlighting its potential to accelerate climate action worldwide.

A networking reception with refreshments will follow from 18:00.

• Emily Faint (moderator), Senior Policy Manager, Net Zero, BSI
• Mike Hayes, Partner, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, KPMG
• Mathilde Mesnard, Deputy Director, Environment, OECD
• Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, ISO
• Ricardo Mussa, Chair, Sustainable Business COP

Join ISO's Secretary-General at this official UNFCCC side event organized by UNCTAD to explore how International Standards provide trusted frameworks that make climate and trade policies measurable, interoperable, and credible. The session will highlight collaboration with UNCTAD, WTO, and other global institutions to align trade and sustainability for a resilient future.

As hydrogen takes centre stage in the global energy transition, credible and comparable greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting is essential. This session explores how the ISO 19870-x series provides harmonized methodologies for measuring emissions across hydrogen production, conditioning and transport. By building a common language for verification and certification, these standards are enabling market interoperability and cutting compliance costs. Join us to discover how early adopters are applying these frameworks to align with evolving regional requirements – from EU RED II/Delegated Acts and U.S. IRA §45V to Brazil’s SBCH2 and beyond.

• Paulo Emílio de Miranda, IPHE; ABH2

  Gabriel Lassery, ISO TC 197/SC1; ABH2

  Patrícia Naccache, UNIDO

  Ali Zerouali, HIF Global

This Fireside Chat explores how international hydrogen standards support the global energy transition. Experts from Brazilian Hydrogen Association (ABH2), Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) will discuss Brazil’s integration of ISO standards into national policies, highlighting their role in transparency, emissions certification, and alignment with Paris Agreement goals.

• Gabriel Lassery, Executive Superintendent, Brazilian Hydrogen Association (ABH2); Project Leader, ISO/TS 19870:2023 and ISO 19870-1 standards

  Paulo Emílio de Miranda, Brazilian Hydrogen Association (ABH2); IPHE

  Patricia Naccache, UNIDO

In a world where sustainability and trade are increasingly intertwined, the real challenge isn’t choosing between them, it’s making them work together. This roundtable gathers representatives from ISO, the UNFSS platform, UN agencies, governments, business and academia to tackle one of the defining questions of our time: how can global trade support environmental ambition? Through real-life examples, panellists will unpack how International Standards help countries and businesses meet their sustainability commitments, while staying competitive and connected to global markets. Be part of the conversation driving a new vision for global trade – one where sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand.

• Axel Marx (moderator), Deputy Director, Centre for Global Governance, KU Leuven; Co-Chair, UNFSS Academic Advisory Council
• Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, ISO
• Luz María de la Mora, Director, Division of International Trade, UNCTAD
• Matías Urrutigoity, Chief, Office for Latin America & the Caribbean, ITC
• Hugo Salamanca, Steel Breakthrough Facilitator, UNIDO
• Liva Kaugure, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment Officer, FAO
• Reyna Ubeda, Standardization Bureau Officer, ITU
• Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
• Danielle Morley, CEO, Bonsucro
• Minnie Degawan, Director General of the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC)
• Rodrigo Fagundes Cezar, Professor, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)

Delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) means rethinking how economies create and measure value. This invitation-only session explores how the ImpactWorks Alliance is bringing the Compromiso de Sevilla to life, helping governments build impact economies and empowering organizations to turn ambition into lasting change. Panellists will share how new frameworks – including the forthcoming ISO/UNDP 53001 management system standard – help embed sustainability into strategy, policy and performance. Expect practical insights, bold ideas examples and a first-hand glimpse at how these tools can accelerate the global shift toward inclusive, impact-driven economies.

• Andrew Andrea (moderator), Senior Advisor, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships, ISO

  Opening remarks by:

• Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, ISO & 
  Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary General; Assistant Administrator, UNDP; Director, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS)

In response to the COP30 Key Objective 29, UNCTAD was asked to lead the Bioeconomy Challenges Working Group on Market Development.

Following the official launch of the Bioeconomy Challenge on 10 November 2025, this session will launch the Bioeconomy Challenges Working Group on Market Development with the aim to expand global markets and value chains for sustainable bioeconomy products/services while reducing trade barriers via evidence-based policy alignment, market differentiation schemes, and capacity building.

• Carina Pimenta (moderator), Vice Minister, Bioeconomy, Brazil

  Chantal Line Carpentier, Head of Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch, UN Trade and Development

  Julie McCarthy, CEO, Nature Finance, and Secretariat of Bieconomy Challenge

  Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head of Sustainability and Partnerships, ISO

  Representatives of the additional 3 working groups

As climate impacts intensify, the resilience of our health systems will determine how well societies can protect lives and recover from shocks. This interactive workshop brings together policymakers, development banks, the private sector and the standards community to explore how the ISO 14090 series can help strengthen the climate resilience of health systems. Participants will unpack what defines a health system, assess how climate hazards disrupt its core components, and identify threshold indicators to monitor system capacity under stress. The session will also showcase how the WHO-INTEGRATE framework can guide smarter, fairer investment decisions, helping decision-makers design healthcare systems that are resilient by nature.

• Noelia Garcia, Head of Sustainability, ISO
• Zakiah Kassam, ISO/TC 207 Chair

Industry drives growth – but it also drives a large share of global emissions. Decarbonizing the sector is one of the defining challenges of our time. This important session brings together standards experts, policymakers and industry practitioners to explore how new international standards and frameworks can help industries worldwide design credible, transparent and comparable transition plans. Participants will explore how harmonized standards and best practices can build trust, strengthen accountability and spark greater international cooperation on the path to a sustainable, low-carbon future.

• Lina Ismail (moderator), Head of sustainability activities, AFNOR
• Clare Broadbent, Head of Sustainability, World Steel Association
• Ben Caldecott, Chair, ITPN Advisory Group
• Sofia Carra, Research Lead, Climate Finance Hub Brasil
• Romain Poivet, Climate and energy engagement lead, World Benchmarking Alliance
• Kylie Turner, Sustainable Economies System Lead, Climateworks Centre

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global economy – and with it, the environmental footprint of the digital world. As AI accelerates, so does its energy demand, raising urgent questions about how innovation and sustainability can evolve together. This session looks at how International Standards can help guide the responsible development and use of AI, ensuring transparency, accountability and resource efficiency while cutting emissions across the tech ecosystem. Organized with the Coalition for Sustainable AI, it will showcase how ISO, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and other partners, are joining forces to build an eco-responsible digital future.

• Lina Ismail (moderator), Head of Sustainability standardization activities, AFNOR
• David Dao, Founder on GainForest, on behalf of Climate Change AI
• Benoit Faraco, French climate Ambassador
• Esther Finidori, Chief Sustainability Officer, Schneider Electric
• Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division at UNEP
• Sergio Mujica, Secretary General, ISO
• Josh Parker, Head of Sustainability, Nvidia
• Reyna Ubeda, Engineer, ITU

Credible climate action starts with credible measurement. Yet today, a maze of overlapping frameworks makes it hard to compare progress or link climate goals with broader social and economic outcomes. This invitation-only session looks at how greater technical convergence can turn impact management into a powerful driver of climate action. Discussions will focus on strengthening accountability, aligning metrics across systems, and creating coherence between climate, social and economic targets. By connecting these threads, participants will help shape the future of impact management, laying the groundwork for measurable, trusted and effective climate action worldwide.

• Andrew Andrea, Senior Advisor, Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships, ISO
• Mark Gough, CEO, Capitals Coalition
• MDB representative

Join the Transformational Finance for Climate Group, the German Ministry for the Environment and ISO for a high-level discussion on unlocking finance for climate through systems transformation. Zakiah Kassam, Chair of ISO’s technical committee on environmental management, will share how internationally harmonized standards enable credibility, comparability, and systemic change across public and private finance.

Climate impacts are already here – disrupting economies, reshaping ecosystems and testing the limits of resilience worldwide. The question is no longer if we should adapt, but how. This interactive workshop looks at how International Standards can turn adaptation plans into action, helping communities, industries and governments prepare for a changing climate. Participants will share experiences, identify urgent needs and uncover practical solutions to strengthen resilience where it’s needed most. With a special focus on least-developed countries and small island developing states, the session will highlight how standards can transform vulnerability into strength and build the foundations for a truly resilient future.

• Lina Ismail (moderator), Head of sustainability standardization activities, AFNOR
• Monorde Civil, Director of Standardization, BNH
• Emmanuel Escoto Gonzalez, Manager, Global Cooperation, ASTM International
• Zhang Jian, Deputy Secretary-General, GAUC-Global Alliance of Universities on Climate/Climate Alliance/University Alliance
• Kamala Mammadzada, Director, Department of Standardization, AZSTAND
• Abdourahmane Ndione, Director, ASN (Senegal Standardization Association)
• Daniel Trillos, Director of Standardization, ICONTEC

Circularity isn’t just about recycling – it’s about rethinking how we design, produce and consume. But to make circular systems work, we need trust, interoperability and measurable impact. That’s where standards and national quality infrastructure come in. Join ISO and partners for a fast-paced, interactive session showcasing how countries are using standards to turn circular economy policies into action. From Colombia’s experience with ICONTEC, the country’s national standards body, to global insights from diverse sectors, this discussion will spotlight collaboration between governments, the private sector and international organizations. Expect live polls, dynamic exchanges and inspiring takeaways on how standards can drive the shift from concept to impact – powering a truly circular future.

• Jean Pierre Maugendre (moderator), Group's Nature and Biodiversity VP, Veolia

• Daniel Trillos, Director of Standardization, ICONTEC

• Rebeca Madrigal, Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), Government of Costa Rica

• Paula Pelaez, Director of MSMEs, IDB Invest

Young people are driving climate action worldwide, but their influence is often fragmented, uneven or short-lived. This workshop brings youth leaders, policymakers and standards experts together to explore how International Standards can make youth engagement in climate policy more consistent, inclusive and impactful. Through an interactive mapping exercise, participants will identify barriers and opportunities for meaningful participation across climate policy and implementation. Join us for a dynamic session on how standards can serve as catalysts for youth-led climate action.

• Hannah Eriksen (facilitator)
• Nicole Vargas (facilitator)

Climate action is only as strong as the data behind it. Reliable, comparable environmental data is essential to track progress, guide investment and build trust in global efforts – yet gaps in access, quality and interoperability still limit impact. This interactive workshop explores how International Standards can bridge those divides and make environmental data more effective for climate policy and decision-making. Through breakout discussions, participants will tackle key challenges – from data accessibility and equity to interoperability, trust and climate finance – and explore how stronger data systems can power real, lasting impact for the climate.

• Adam Stingemore (moderator), Chief Development Officer, Standards Australia
• Jamal Waqar, Head of Research, Experience, Data and Analytics, Standards Australia