Abstract
The urgent need to address climate change is widely recognized, yet a significant gap persists between scientific knowledge and effective policy implementation. Industry plays a crucial role in bridging this gap, with standards acting as key facilitators. Initiatives such as the International Standardization Organization’s (ISO) London Declaration and the 2022 G7 standardization strategy’s commitment to climate protection have set important benchmarks. However, many industries have been slow to prioritize environmental concerns over economic interests, exacerbating the knowledge-action gap in standardization efforts. Despite the potential of standards to drive the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable economy, challenges such as slow adaptation and inadequate implementation remain significant obstacles. This paper explores the discrepancy between scientific knowledge and policy implementation in the context of climate-related standardization. It draws on insights from the 2021 German Standardization Panel survey, expert interviews, and existing literature. By using stakeholders’ perceptions as a proxy for assessing action, the study examines standardization efforts aimed at combating climate change, with a specific focus on standards associated with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, climate action. The combination of survey data and expert interviews provides a comprehensive view of the current state of standardization efforts and the obstacles faced. The findings offer valuable insights for future research aimed at closing the knowledge-action gap, improving standardization processes, and identifying industries with the greatest potential to contribute to climate change mitigation. Additionally, the study highlights areas where the knowledge-action gap is most pronounced, informing targeted interventions.
Presenters
Luzie KromerResearch Associate and Ph.D. Candidate, Innovation Economics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
Standardization, Climate Policy, Sustainability, Knowledge-Action Gap, Industry Regulation
