STANDARDS IN FOCUS...International standard developed to improve community sustainability

STANDARDS IN FOCUS…International standard developed to improve community sustainability

Sep 11, 2016 News

The International Organisation for Standardisation has developed the ISO 37101 standard, Sustainable Development in Communities which sets out requirements for guidelines to help communities become more sustainable.
It can be a useful standard for Guyana, particularly if there is need for a structured approach to help communities set objectives and define a strategy for sustainable development at the local level that takes into account the views of all interested parties.
Sustainable development is development that meets the environmental, social and economic needs of the present without compromising the future ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today and the subject of much debate by politicians and business leaders.
In the end, many of the concrete actions to build a sustainable future are made at the local community level by citizens themselves and this is what the standard has been designed to support.
The ISO 37101 standard sets out the broad principles of what a community may wish to achieve with a sustainable development strategy, such as responsible resource use, preserving the environment, and improving the well-being of citizens. In addition, it requires communities to take into account sustainability issues such as governance, empowerment, education, health and mobility which will help to define its sustainable development objectives.
The ultimate goal of implementing the ISO 37101 is to create a more sustainable feature for communities. This means an improved local environment, a happier and healthier place for citizens, and a community that can better anticipate and adapt to natural disasters, economic shocks and climate change.
The standard will also bring a host of additional benefits to communities, including the following:
· The creation of a specific structure within a community that is mandated to drive the sustainable development process.
· The standard puts a strong emphasis on involving all interested parties in discussions to define and implement a sustainable development strategy, which means that the community’s ability to connect with all its stakeholders will improve
· The principles and themes included in the standard reflect international best practice on sustainable development, and are wholly compatible with evolving ideas in the sector.
· The standard will give greater visibility to a wider number and category of stakeholders within communities.
Using the ISO 37101 standard is very simple. Firstly, define the structure or group that will drive the implementation of the standard. It is important that the interests of as many stakeholders as possible be reflected in this group. Secondly, assess the current situation of sustainable development in the community and define who else will need to be involved in the process. Lastly, define the sustainable development strategy for the community by looking at the six principles and issues highlighted in the standard. These will help you to create a framework and identify the objectives that are important to your specific community.
For further information, please visit www.iso.org or contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062, 219-0065, and 219-0066.

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STANDARDS IN FOCUS…International standard developed to improve community sustainability

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