Who would have imagined that the world would grind to a halt in 2020? COVID 19 global pandemic lockdown measures have restricted personal movement and greatly disrupted travel, commerce and production activities...
The efficient use of energy has long been considered an unexploited energy resource. According to the International Energy Agency (IAE), energy efficiency is the ‘first fuel of a sustainable, global energy system’. But...
Pierre Maruzewski has been nominated Chair of IEC Technical Committee 4: Hydraulic turbines, until end of November 2026. He gives us his outlook for the hydro sector over the coming years as well as his priorities as new...
When most people think of renewable energies, they generally picture solar panels on roofs or wind turbines on the top of breezy hills. One source of renewable energy that tends to be a little under the radar is the heat...
According to the United Nations (UN), 840 million people in the world still do not have access to electricity, and most of them - around 580 million - live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2015, the United Nations defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the foundation for its plan to build a better world by 2030. Also known as the 2030 Agenda, it recognizes that economic development, social...
The circular economy offers a new approach to achieving sustainable economic growth. Replacing a linear model where products are made, used and disposed, the circular economy calls for a reconsideration of how resources...
The circular economy calls for a radical shift in production and consumption. Continual cycles recover and restore products, components and materials through strategies such as reuse, repair, remanufacture and...
The circular economy calls for a paradigm shift in production and consumption across society. Continual cycles recover and restore products, components and materials through strategies such as reuse, repair...
Industry is becoming increasingly aware that it contributes to global warming by emitting greenhouse gases (GHG). It also produces waste that can be polluting for the environment and difficult to dispose of. IEC...
The work of Technical Committee 21 reflects the changes in battery technology over the last 20 years. Standardizing safety requirements is more essential than ever before.
As the topics of the circular economy (CE) and material efficiency (ME) receive greater importance around the world, the Advisory Committee on environmental aspects (ACEA) recently conducted a survey to identify how it...
From mounting piles of waste to the depletion of natural resources, the current modes of production and consumption are unsustainable. Based on the current linear economic model, products are made, used and discarded...
In the last 50 years, the global population has consumed more goods and services than the combined total of all previous generations. This has fostered economic growth and improved the quality of life for many while...
ISO and IEC produce many joint standards which specify how to improve the energy efficiency of information and communication technology (ICT). A number of these publications deal specifically with the excessive energy...
IEC Technical Committee (TC) 111 prepares horizontal International Standards which are key in helping to ensure electrical and electronic products are designed with the environment in mind. They are essential tools in...
A new mobile phone is released and millions of consumers purchase it even though they already own a working phone. A television set breaks down and is replaced by a new one, rather than being repaired. Based on a linear...
IEC is paving the way for the growth of concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity around the world by issuing a number of new publications in the field, while technical breakthroughs are making the technology more...
More and more governments and industry players recognize the importance of taking measures to safeguard the environment. But do International Standards have a role to play in the process?
