ULSE’s Sustainability Program Goes Global at COP29

By Caitlin D’Onofrio, Senior Program Manager, Sustainability

A research report issued earlier this year by UL Standards & Engagement found that American adults have broad support for sustainable practices and policies. There is also strong support for a transition to clean energy, such as solar, wind, and hydrogen. As someone who leads a team working to advance sustainability through standards, this was highly encouraging. 

However, the survey also found these same consumers have reservations about whether renewable energy sources could compromise the reliability and resilience of the electrical grid. This might appear disheartening on the surface, but it speaks to exactly why standards are essential to achieving the vision of a more sustainable future. 

Specifically applied to clean energy, products and systems meeting applicable standards provide assurance which directly address these consumer concerns—which are often shared by other stakeholders, including governments, energy providers, and the insurance and financial industries that are backing energy transition projects.

I recently participated in COP29 – where delegates from around the world came together to support the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. UL Standards & Engagement co-led the inaugural Standards Pavilion with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and other partners. Our objective was to elevate standards in the conversation of how to address climate change and its effects to build upon all that has been achieved at previous COPs.

We covered a lot at the Standards Pavilion with a robust program consisting of presentations and discussions on a variety of topics. Having moderated one panel and participating on others, I am pleased to share some of the questions that were discussed and my thoughts on these as I reflect on the tremendous experience at COP29. 

Batteries are a central aspect of clean energy, but they come with certain environmental challenges, including effective reuse and recycling. How can standards help address such challenges in ensuring battery circularity? 

Standards are highly effective at assuring trust. Products and systems which are certified to applicable standards have been rigorously tested to ensure safety, efficacy and other relevant factors. Applied to battery circularity, standards can provide specific frameworks to reduce or eliminate waste while also establishing best practices for the reuse/recycling process and performance and reliability criteria for the batteries – among other things. 

ULSE is developing the first edition of UL 3601, the Standard for Measuring and Reporting Circularity of Lithium-ion and Other Secondary Batteries. The standard’s purpose is to enhance circularity and diminish adverse environmental impacts associated with the lifecycle of in-scope batteries. As proposed, the standard assesses environmental performance in two ways: assessing levels of performance and scoring the overall product circularity. 

Once published, the standard sets a clear framework to help assure consumer trust as well as allow producers in the battery reuse/recycling sector to demonstrate whether batteries have been assessed—and to quantify their circularity performance. Among the benefits is the mitigation of greenwashing – the practice of making false or unverified claims about sustainability. 

UL 3601 will be our second standard for circularity. In 2023, ULSE published UL 3600, the Standard for Measuring and Reporting Circular Economy Aspects of Products, Sites and Organizations. 

How are building codes and product standards evolving to incorporate climate adaptation measures?

The examples cited above of ULSE’s efforts to establish frameworks for circularity are just some of the ways we are working to use standards to advance sustainability and sustainable practices. We believe these are impactful measures. However, the climate crisis is already here, and we need to adapt to the effects of climate change affecting the livability of our environment.

This adaptation is achieved through greater resilience. In the example of wildfires, these are occurring more frequently, in more places and with more severity. There are updates being made to codes and standards to require building materials such as roofing tiles and door or window frames which are less susceptible to the spread of fires. 

This is important work that can deliver more immediate impact when codes and standards with enhanced resilience factors are adopted. They are an important measure to not only help protect people and property, but to help relieve the potential fiscal crisis for consumers, governments and insurers in the wake of these disasters. 

The question of how to finance the transition to clean energy and other tactics to address the effects of climate change was a key focus of COP29. How do standards play a role in that discussion?

There is, understandably, great concern about the cost involved in securing a more sustainable future. With limited resources—particularly in the developing world—it is crucial that resources are used effectively, and standards can help. 

For the institutions who fund or insure projects supporting clean energy or other sustainable initiatives, they are reasonably concerned about investing carefully—especially amid past challenges with the durability and performance of renewable energy systems, such as solar panels. We need to demonstrate that sustainability-focused capital projects are safe investments to help ensure that funding continues to flow and expands over time. 

The trust and assurance that standards provide to consumers can also help financiers recognize viable environmentally focused investments. As I said at COP29, standards organizations must take the responsibility for establishing partnerships with these stakeholders to build the understanding that products and systems certified to applicable standards – or large capital projects involving them – can contribute to the safety of these investments.

Conclusion

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate at COP29. Likewise, I am grateful to all who attended and shared their knowledge—particularly my fellow panelists at the Standards Pavilion—to collectively advance our work. I also extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to IEC and ISO and all our partners at the Standards Pavilion for establishing why standards are part of the global approach to addressing climate change. 

In day-to-day work, it can sometimes be difficult to see the impact that we have. However, I returned from COP29 with a new energy and the recognition that the work that my team at UL Standards & Engagement is contributing greatly to the goal of a more sustainable future. 

Photo credit: IEC