What is ISO 37101?
ISO 37101 is an international standard which specifies the requirements of and provides guidance on the establishment of a management system for sustainable development in communities. The standard aims to help communities establish a framework that allows them to improve their standing in their social, economic and environmental aspects. The requirements of the standard can be applied to communities of all sizes in their sustainable development efforts towards smart, more resilient and more efficient infrastructure and ultimately help improve their overall well-being. The standard addresses specific sustainability issues such as governance, education, innovation, health care, interdependence, safety, inclusivity, etc., and has the flexibility of adding other sustainability issues which may prove relevant to the community implementing it.
Why is the ISO 37101 important for communities?
Alongside the issue of the depletion of finite resources (shortages of clean/drinking water, deforestation, infertile soils, food shortages, etc.), the issue of sustainable development is taking a global and eminent character. Our current way of living is not sustainable, and it will unavoidably leave younger generations with the burden of resource exhaustion. As such, it is imperative that we change our way of living and make our communities around the globe more sustainable.
The need for a more sustainable lifestyle in our communities is also reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Zero Hunger, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities. The ISO 37101 standard takes these goals into consideration and adds its specific requirements with regard to making communities more sustainable.
