Standards and environmental data 

International standards have a key role to play in supporting high quality, effective governance, and interoperability of environmental data.  

By establishing common formats, definitions and methodologies, standards make it easier to collect, share and compare environmental data. They ensure consistency across diverse systems, sectors and regions, supporting transparency and trust in environmental reporting and enabling collaboration between governments, scientists, and industry. 

Ultimately, standards provide the foundation for high-quality data and data governance that drives effective environmental action and sustainable development.  

Global environmental data strategy 

In support of the UN Environment Programme’s Global Environmental Data Strategy, ISO partnered with Standards Australia to conduct research to help governments, academia, businesses and other users gain a better understanding of existing ISO standards related to environmental data.

What is environmental data? 

According to UNEP’s working definition, environmental data encompasses “measurements, observations or records that describe or quantify the state of the environment, the human and natural drivers and pressures causing environmental change, the resulting impacts on people and ecosystems, and the effectiveness of societal responses.”

Interactive platform 

The research identified over 1000 ISO standards that support environmental data objectives, across diverse topics – from circular economy to water quality. These standards meet a wide range of users’ needs. The research also identified standards from other organizations referenced within relevant ISO standards, highlighting the importance of effective collaboration between standards bodies to support interoperability.  

Navigate our interactive platform on environmental data standards below:  

Get involved

If you have any questions specific to this research, please contact the Standards Australia Research Team.  

If you’re from a Standards Development Organization and looking to conduct your own mapping of environmental data standards, this Methodology Note was created especially for you.  

To participate in the development of ISO standards related to environmental data, contact the ISO member in your country.  

To find out more about ISO’s environmental sustainability standards, explore iso.org, follow-us on LinkedIn, or contact the Sustainability & Partnerships Unit at the ISO Central Secretariat.