Taking place every year on 14 October, World Standards Day offers the opportunity to increase understanding of the importance of standardization.
It is a collaborative initiative of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who each year develop campaign elements to empower the global community, including you, to join the movement.
Theme for the year: SHARED VISION FOR A BETTER WORLD
We want a world that is better, fairer and more sustainable. A world that can be enjoyed today and protected for future generations.
The important role of International Standards
Guidelines provided by International Standards are universally understood.
Technical, economic, and societal benefits can be gained from making critical information and knowledge accessible to all. The purpose of standards is to provide guidelines, processes, and strategies that are designed to meet quality and safety measures while maximizing productivity.
Businesses benefit from Standards not only because they enable them to adhere to compliance regulations, but also because they enable them to keep up with the latest technological developments.
World Standards Day was created as a collaborative effort between ISO, IEC, and ITU to help spread the awareness of International Standards in meeting critical global challenges.
Sustainable Development Goals, the roadmap for a better world
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a shared vision for peace and prosperity, for people and planet. Every SDG is a call for action, but we can only get there if we work together.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals include:
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequality
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 14: Life Below Water (Oceans, sea and marine)
- Goal 15: Life on Land (Biodiversity, forests, desertification)
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Tackling Sustainable Development Goals with Standards
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which project to address social imbalances, develop a sustainable economy, and slow the rate of climate change, are highly ambitious. To reach them will require the cooperation of many public and private partners, and the use of all available tools, including international standards and conformity assessment.
The International Standards (IEC) publishes around 10 000 IEC International Standards which together with conformity assessment provide the technical framework that allows governments to build national quality infrastructure and companies of all sizes to buy and sell consistently safe and reliable products in most countries of the world. IEC International Standards serve as the basis for risk and quality management and are used in testing and certification to verify that manufacturer promises are kept.
IEC work directly underpins the targets of all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
More than 24,000 International Standards and related documents have been published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which represent internationally recognized guidelines and frameworks for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
In order to promote sustainable development, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) works closely with other organizations on issues such as climate change, energy efficiency, e-waste, and rapid urbanization.
The membership of IEC, ISO and ITU brings together experts and national standards bodies from all over the world, allowing experts to present solutions on an international platform.
For more information on World Standards Day: https://www.worldstandardsday.org/home.html
