Standards to solve systemic challenges at Davos 2023

ISO is taking an active part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, running from 16 to 20 January 2023. The Annual Meeting will provide a platform to engage in constructive, forward-looking dialogues and help find solutions through public-private cooperation.

ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica and ISO Deputy Secretary-General Silvio Dulinsky are attending through active involvement in many sessions where International Standards are discussed as solutions to address global challenges. With many crises presenting themselves all at once, climate change ranks as one of the most severe threats. One of the big challenges around climate change this year is set to be the process of decarbonization industries and the energy transition.

The Davos meeting is held on the theme “Cooperation in a Fragmented World” and convenes leaders from government, business and civil society to address the state of the world and discuss priorities for the year ahead. These priorities reflect the WEF’s annual review of global risks contained within the recently published Global Risks Report 2023 and feature prominently on the Davos 2023 agenda.

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at ISO; we have always taken an inclusive approach to developing and drafting standards. This results in an approach that transcends national borders while providing economic, environmental and social benefits.

Sergio Mujica

Secretary-General, ISO

Tipping point

Published in the run-up to the WEF Annual Meeting, the Global Risks Report 2023 explores some of the most severe risks we may face over the next decade. Now in its 18^th edition, some of the risks described in this year’s report are close to a tipping point. This is the moment to act collectively, decisively and with a long-term lens to shape a pathway to a more positive, inclusive and stable world.

“International organizations will continue to play an essential role in global preparedness,” highlight the authors of the report. “Re-invigorating multilateral processes and organizations is critical to the future of preparing for and managing global risks.”

Climate and environmental risks are the core focus of global risks perceptions over the next decade – and are the risks for which we are seen to be the least prepared. The deadly heat waves, floods and droughts that are upending the lives of thousands of people, from the American West to southern Europe and Central China, may be a taste of years to come, according to the report.

The time is now 

The Global Risks Report 2023 argues that the window for action on the most serious long-term threats is closing rapidly and concerted, collective action is needed. More effective cooperation on climate mitigation and climate adaptation will be needed over the next ten years to avoid global warming and ecological breakdown.

With over 24 000 published standards, ISO’s existing contributions to these challenges are already extensive. International Standards underpin a common global approach for matters of sustainable development, such as climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable finance, trade, as well as numerous environmental and societal benefits for communities all over the world.

ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica commented: “Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at ISO; we have always taken an inclusive approach to developing and drafting standards. This results in an approach that transcends national borders while providing economic, environmental and social benefits.”

So where can cooperation take us in a fragmented world? Davos 2023 reminds us there is cause for optimism. The WEF Annual Meeting brings together parties compelled to connect for a better future. It also represents a universal call to action involving multistakeholder measures for effective and long-lasting change.