Work Programme 2022: a critical year for international climate action
2022 has the potential to be a critical year for environmental policy, with a focus on international climate action, negotiations for a global treaty on plastics, making sustainable products the norm, and leveraging environmental policy as a key tool of the economic stimulus following the COVID-19 pandemic.
For global environmental challenges, standardisation will play a key role in providing a common language and methods. ECOS will work to make sure that standards are drafted taking into consideration the highest level of environmental ambition, that they reflect the technical expert input that we have provided, and that they are developed smoothly and in a timely manner. Importantly, we will continue to work to ensure that standards are not misused, particularly to replace legislation or political action.
In Europe, standardisation is higher than ever on the political agenda – 2022 will see the adoption of the EU Standardisation Strategy, a unique opportunity to ensure standards work for the environment.
In 2022, the European Commission will also be halfway through its mandate and it will be time to deliver on the European Green Deal, its Circular Economy Action Plan and a major file that could make sustainable products the norm: the Sustainable Product Policy Initiative. A plethora of initiatives will follow, notably the Circular Electronics Initiative, the Packaging and Ecodesign Directives revision, the Construction Products Regulation revision, the new Ecodesign Working Plan, the EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles, and the Empowering Consumers Initiative.
As the only NGO at the table where standards are developed, ECOS is perfectly placed to drive, define and assess how to improve the environmental sustainability of key sectors and products. Among the wide range of work areas we cover, several will stand out in 2022 for their relevance in terms of standardisation or policy opportunities, or both.
In 2022, we will focus on the following areas:
