In Episode 216 of #QualityMatters, we explore the climate change amendment, a concise yet impactful update to ISO 9001 that compels organizations to identify and address climate-related risks within their quality management systems. This climate change amendment—just two lines of text—requires companies to determine whether climate change is an issue and to integrate relevant controls into their existing processes.

ISO 9001 has long embraced risk-based thinking, but until recently, “environmental” considerations focused on product conformity and resource usage. The new ISO 9001 amendment explicitly brings climate risk into scope, aligning quality management with global sustainability goals. By articulating climate change as an “interested party” requirement, the amendment extends the standard’s reach into environmental stewardship without creating a separate ISO document.

The amendment reads:

Though minimal, this language integrates seamlessly into Clauses 4 and 6 of ISO 9001:2015, reinforcing the risk-based framework and ensuring that climate considerations become an embedded part of continual improvement.

“Determine whether climate change is an issue” may sound broad, but organizations can ground this in real-world examples. For instance:

By mapping these risks in a dedicated section of the risk register, companies demonstrate compliance with the climate change amendment and strengthen overall process resilience.

Shortly after publication, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF guidance) issued a complementary document outlining how auditors should verify compliance:

This IAF guidance ensures consistent treatment across certification bodies, preventing arbitrary interpretations and audit surprises.

Incorporating the amendment into audit planning involves:

Organizations should update their audit checklists and risk-based audit plans to reflect these changes, ensuring no climate-related requirement is overlooked.

Different certification bodies have nuanced approaches:

Regardless of format, all audit reports must clearly note climate-risk identification and associated controls, with nonconformities raised where evidence is insufficient.

To get ahead of the climate change amendment and streamline future audits:

While the amendment itself is brief, its implications span procurement, production, and strategic planning. Embedding climate considerations today not only satisfies the ISO 9001 amendment but also positions organizations to meet evolving stakeholder expectations around sustainability and corporate responsibility.