The amendment A1 to ISO 9001:2015 has been published, introducing certain changes related to the application of requirements for climate change within the quality management system. These adjustments reflect a growing global recognition of the need for environmental sustainability to be a core consideration in organizational operations and strategy of organizations.

The amendment ISO 9001:2015/Amd1:2024 brings a focused changes to two key sections of the ISO 9001:2015:

-   Clause 4.1 - Understanding the organization and its context:

The specific change introduced by the amendment ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 is the addition of the following sentence at the end of the subclause:

„The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.“

These adjustments mandates organizations to actively consider the implications of climate change on their operations, ensuring that the quality management system is resilient and adaptable to environmental challenges.

-   Clause 4.2 - Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties:

A new note has been added at the end of this subclause, emphasizing the relevance of climate change to stakeholders expectations:

„NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.“

This note highlights the necessity for organizations to be aware of and responsive to any climate change-related requirements or expectations from their stakeholders, further integrating environmental considerations into the quality management process.

The explicit inclusion of climate change considerations in the ISO 9001:2015 standards encourages organizations to:

• Assess the impact of climate change on their operations and strategic objectives.
• Engage with interested parties to understand and address any climate change-related requirements.
• Embed sustainability and environmental responsibility into their quality management systems.

The amendment ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 represents a significant step forward in aligning quality management practices with environmental sustainability goals. It reflects an understanding that quality management is not just about internal processes and customer satisfaction, but also about how organizations interact with and impact the broader environmental context.

The amendment ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 is available for free on the ISO website link, and will be adopted into the standardization system of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the near future.