World Accreditation Day takes place every year on 9 June. This year, International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) have requested that everyone celebrate the day with them through the promotion of the WAD 2022 theme – Sustainability in Economic Growth and the Environment, focuses on how accreditation supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
The linkage between Accreditation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is deemed of utmost importance as both aim to deliver a sustainable future through economic growth and environmental management.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were published in September 2015 and encompass the period 2016 to 2030. With 17 goals and 169 sub-targets, the aim is to ensure prosperity while protecting the environment.
WAD 2022 is focusing on the following SDGs:
- Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy. Giving access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030
- Goal 8 -Decent Work and Economic Growth. Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
- Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation by 2030
- Goal 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities. Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
- Goal 12 -Responsible Consumption and Production. Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Goal 13- Climate Action. Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Goal 14-Life Below water. Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development
- Goal 15-Life on Land. Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, combat desertification, and halt biodiversity loss
The positive impact of accreditation aligns with each of these goals through the provision of standards which enables organisations to apply a systematic approach to efficiently use natural resources, protect the environment, and implement circular economy principles.
Standards such as ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018 are tools that assist organisations in implementing environmentally friendly practices, optimise their overall energy use, and mitigating undesirable environmental impacts. In addition, conducting accredited conformity assessments ensures that organisations meet the standard requirements, enabling them to respond to changing environmental situations while balancing socio-economic needs.
For more detail on #WAD2022, you may find the official brochure and poster below:
