Naturally caused disruptions and disasters, ranging from earthquakes and fires, over floods to hurricanes and tornadoes, but also man-made disruptions and disasters, can completely change our lives and represent one of humanity’s biggest concerns. Such disasters also hamper economic growth, deepening poverty levels and lead to great suffering in the affected communities.

In the past decade, global economic losses caused by natural disasters amounted to nearly 200 billion US dollars - while according to the World Bank in the 1980s, these losses amounted to some 50 billion US dollars.

In order to contribute to more secure, as well as more resilient planet, ISO technical committee - ISO/TC 292, Security and resilience was established. The aim of the committee is to find ways to prevent and reduce risk, while increasing preparedness and ability to respond to such catastrophes and disasters.

ISO 37120, Sustainable development of communities - Indicators for city services and quality of life, is the first ISO standard for sustainable and resilient cities. Also, working group WG 2 of the technical committee ISO/TC 268 develops a new family of ISO standards in order to complete the ISO 37120. It includes ISO 37121, Technical report on the elasticity of the frame and indicators, as well as work on the recently approved project on developing a new standard for smart cities.

The technical committee BAS/TC 59, Social security and protection follows up the work of the mirror committee ISO/TC 292.