International News
THERE IS NO MORE TIME
TO WASTE
By the International Organisation for Standardisation ( ISO )
The world is behind schedule when it comes to climate action . Reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement calls for bold new approaches .
This encompasses not only game-changing new technologies but also innovative approaches to policy , finance , and every other aspect of climate action .
At the ISO Annual Meeting in Abu Dhabi , representatives from all around the world agreed that this calls for everyone to work together : different types of organisations , different disciplines and industries , and different countries . Standards , they all agreed , would help lay common ground for collaborative innovation .
TECHNOLOGICAL PROMISE New technologies are recognised as powerful instruments of climate action . For instance , while carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) technology remains at an early stage , the latest UN IPCC report acknowledged that it must be deployed on a massive scale to offset hard-to-abate emissions in order to meet the aims of the Paris Agreement .
CCS is just one area in which rapid innovation is required to meet climate goals – others include grid-scale energy storage , green hydrogen production , and electrification of aircraft and ships .
As these technologies emerge , standards have a vital role to play in ensuring that all parties – from manufacturers and governments to regulators and consumers – share common definitions and terminologies . Standards ensure technologies are fit for purpose . Particularly in this context – in which every year counts – standards enable rapid investment , development and deployment of new technologies without compromising on safety .
In Canada , for example , the government is showing leadership in the procurement of low‐carbon building materials , including cement and concrete products . Based in Nova Scotia , CarbonCure Technologies Inc . is on a mission to decarbonise concrete and reduce emissions associated with building materials . Its patented technology permanently sequesters or “ locks in ” carbon dioxide by injecting it into concrete as it is mixed . This makes for a concrete product that meets or exceeds the benchmarks for quality and strength , while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering manufacturing costs . What ’ s more , the standard allowing for the use of injected carbon dioxide in cement is referenced in the National Model Construction Codes as well as in provincial and territorial adoptions of the Codes .
BEYOND TECHNOLOGY For all the promise of technology , the climate effort requires more than just technological innovation . In fact , as many of these technologies – from direct air capture to green hydrogen – have no existing demand and innovative policies are required to finance their development .
New technologies are recognised as powerful instruments of climate action .
ISO www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I January 2023 9