ISO and UNDP launch world's first International Standard to advance action on the Sustainable Development Goals

PARIS, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ISO and UNDP today launched ISO/UNDP 53001, Management systems for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Requirements, live from the first day of the ISO Annual Meeting. The new standard is the world's first International Standard providing organizations with a structured management system to integrate the SDGs into strategy, governance and operations.

As governments, businesses and institutions face growing expectations to demonstrate meaningful progress on sustainable development, ISO/UNDP 53001 provides a globally agreed approach to help organizations move beyond commitment towards measurable implementation and continual improvement.

ISO/UNDP 53001, for the first time, provides tools to enable organizations to identify priorities, establish objectives, integrate them into existing processes and measure performance over time. As a requirements-based management system standard, it provides a consistent basis for demonstrating that an organization's approach meets defined requirements, strengthening accountability and confidence in the actions taken.

ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica said the launch represents an important step in supporting organizations to make measurable progress towards the SDGs.

"The SDGs have provided a shared global vision for a decade. Today, organizations are looking for concrete ways to translate that vision into action," Mr Mujica said.

"International Standards have long helped organizations address complex global challenges by providing a common language and a shared framework for action. We are delighted to launch ISO/UNDP 53001 today, extending this proven approach to the SDGs and helping organizations create positive impact for people and planet."

UNDP identified ISO as its international standards development partner for the initiative, bringing together UNDP's expertise in sustainable development with ISO's global standardization system and network of national standards bodies.

Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support stated that achieving the SDGs will depend on organizations of every kind playing an active role in advancing sustainable development.

"The SDGs provide a shared blueprint for a more inclusive and prosperous future. Achieving that requires organizations everywhere to turn ambition into action," Mr Neto said.

"We are proud to launch ISO/UNDP 53001 alongside ISO as a crucial tool to help organizations embed the SDGs into the way they operate, lead and govern. By making sustainability part of everyday decision-making, the standard can help accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda."

Jens Heiede, Chief Executive Officer of Danish Standards, said developing the world's first International Standard dedicated to the SDGs required international collaboration to build consensus across a broad range of sectors and perspectives.

"Creating a standard that could be applied by organizations of every size, sector and geography required extensive collaboration between experts from around the world. Together, we developed a practical and internationally agreed set of requirements that organizations can apply with confidence," Mr Heiede said.

ISO/UNDP 53001 is designed to provide long-term value by supporting the current SDGs and any subsequent global goals that supersede the 2030 Agenda.

ISO/UNDP 53001 is available at https://www.iso.org/standard/53001.

SOURCE ISO