A new Net Zero Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) has been formed by the UK National Standards Body, BSI, which will set out to ensure that ‘standards accelerate the transition to net zero’, it says.
The SAG intends to drive positive change across the international standards community by overseeing a shift in all standards so that they best reflect net zero requirements and are compliant with net zero policies.
Its activity will include articulating industry requirements and policy ambitions and providing guidance to BSI to ensure its standards and wider work to support the transition to a net zero economy.
COP26 served as a major watershed moment for nations, governments and businesses – if we want to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global temperatures from rising above 1.5C, then now is the moment to turn our climate change commitments into climate change actions.
The SAGs diverse membership is drawn from government, academia, research bodies and industry. Members represent a broad range of sectors, disciplines and bring an international perspective. The group is independently Chaired by Laura Sandys Non-Executive Director SGN, & Energy System Catapult, Chair of the UK Government’s Energy, Digitalisation Taskforce, Chair & Founder Food Foundation.
The 2022 founding members include:
- Chris Stark – Chief Executive, The Climate Change Committee
- Benet Northcote – Senior Advisor, Seahorse Environmental and Trustee, Green Alliance
- Gillian Cooper – Head of Energy Policy, Citizens Advice
- Sarah Tennison – Head of Clean Growth Strategy and Impact, Innovate UK – UKRI
- Simon Harrison – Group Head of Strategy, Mott Macdonald
- Gudrun Cartwright – Climate Action Director, Business in the Community.
Sebastiaan Van Dort, Associate Director, Energy and Sustainability Standards, BSI said: “Over the last twelve months the journey to net zero has gathered pace.
“COP26 served as a major watershed moment for nations, governments and businesses – if we want to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global temperatures from rising above 1.5C, then now is the moment to turn our climate change commitments into climate change actions.
“The international standards community has a critical role to empower standards users to accelerate their transition. The Net Zero Strategic Advisory Group will oversee our delivery of this.”
Laura Sandys (CBE), Chair of the BSI Net Zero SAG said: “Industry standards are often the crucial but forgotten component of change required for reaching Net Zero. The work that BSI are doing nationally and as importantly internationally will be one of the most important drivers of embedding change across the economy.
“I am very privileged to be chairing such a group of experts to support BSI deliver on its important role in driving Net Zero economy wide.”