Welcome to the Climate Change Corner, a new column dedicated to raising awareness, providing education, and inspiring action on one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, it is crucial for individuals, communities, and businesses in Lesotho to stay informed and engaged. Our goal is to offer you valuable insights, practical advice, and inspiring stories to help you understand and address the challenges posed by climate change.
Why Climate Change Matters
Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it is a global challenge that affects every aspect of our lives. From extreme weather events and rising temperatures to shifts in agricultural productivity and biodiversity loss, the consequences of climate change are far-reaching. In Lesotho, communities are already experiencing the impacts, making it essential for us to take action now. The Climate Change Corner aims to be your trusted source of information and support, helping you navigate this complex issue.
What’s in store for you:
Each week, the Climate Change Corner will bring you a diverse range of content designed to inform, educate, and inspire.
So it begins…
This publication has been prepared by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the overall guidance of Steffen Kaeser, Chief of the Division of SME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation and Dorina Nati, Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO. The publication is based on the work of Nigel Croft and Verónica García Malo.
The work benefitted greatly from the valuable review and cases contributed by the members of the International Network on Quality Infrastructure (INetQI), in particular the International Organization for Standards (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). We acknowledge the valuable contribution and support of several UNIDO divisions: Division of Capacity Development, Industrial Policy Advice and Statistics; Division of Circular Economy and Chemicals Management; Division of Decarbonization & Sustainable Energy; and Division of Climate & Technology Partnerships.
The document was edited by Brigitt Roveti and designed by Radhika Nathwani. This publication was funded by UNIDO and by Switzerland through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) under the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP).
Climate change is the biggest challenge of our times. From shifting weather patterns that threaten human health, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, emphasizes the importance of the “5 Ps” of sustainable development: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships. Climate change presents multifaceted challenges across these pillars.
Today, there is no doubt that Quality Infrastructure (QI) plays a crucial role in supporting climate action, particularly in promoting environmental sustainability and a green economy. Despite the traditional QI’s roots in trade facilitation and economic development, there are now many ways:
PART 1 describes the reasons why climate change and associated adaptation and mitigation initiatives have become a strategic imperative in recent years to support inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
PART 2 considers how the concepts of “quality” and “quality infrastructure” have evolved in recent years from an almost exclusive traditional focus on “product and service” to include social, environmental and other aspects that relate to the ways in which those products and services are provided.
PART 3 explains what is meant by a Quality Infrastructure System (QIS) and how it can support global initiatives such as the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (“Climate action”). It explains each of the key components of a QIS and how these can contribute to climate action initiatives. These include metrology, standardization/technical regulations, accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance. The importance of establishing a sound quality culture to support each of these components is also explained.
PART 4 describes how individual enterprises can make use of the QIS to support their climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives.
PART 5 examines how countries—particularly developing countries—can transition towards a more sustainable QIS and outlines a set of key takeaways for future QI development, in which it is linked to environmental topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, waste management, water management, eco-friendly construction, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
An effective National Quality Infrastructure has therefore become a key consideration for businesses, governments and consumers when there is a need to demonstrate compliance with environmental commitments, when organizations decide to analyze their environmental impact and define environmental strategies, or even when a financial credit is required and the investors need to have valid data to help them to understand the environmental impact of any associated project.
In the upcoming issue, we get to know more about WHY CLIMATE ACTION HAS BECOME A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE.
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