“Integration of Climate Change into the Fight Against Corruption: The New ISO 37001”

"Integrazione del Cambiamento Climatico nella Lotta alla Corruzione: La Nuova ISO 37001"

Here is the English translation of the provided text:

The 2025 revision of the ISO 37001 standard, related to anti-corruption management systems, introduces significant innovations to tackle the challenges of increasing complexity in global contexts. One of the most noteworthy innovations is the explicit inclusion of climate change as a crucial factor in corruption risk analysis. This recognition is essential for understanding how environmental pressures can create opportunities for illicit behavior, particularly in strategic sectors related to the ecological transition.

The new edition of the standard is not merely a technical update; it amplifies attention to organizational culture, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) training, and strategic planning. An integrated and cross-functional approach to combat corruption is thus promoted, consistent with the needs of the current world, characterized by rapid and interconnected transformations.

In an era marked by a profound climate crisis and a growing interest in sustainability, combating corruption requires more than just regulatory tools. The revision of ISO 37001 aims to address this need by offering an updated regulatory framework to promote integrity and transparency.

Introduced in 2016, the standard has become an international reference for public and private organizations that wish to establish effective systems to prevent, detect, and respond to corruption. However, the rapid evolution of the global context has necessitated a broad revision. The 2025 version shifts focus by recognizing climate change as a factor to be considered in corruption risk assessment, innovatively linking ethical governance issues to major global topics.

A central aspect of this revision is the holistic and systemic approach to corruption, which considers the phenomenon not just as an isolated event but places it in a broader context influenced by external pressures such as those generated by environmental crises. For example, events like floods and droughts can increase opportunities for corrupt practices, leading to rapid interventions and regulatory exceptions.

Organizations are now called upon to identify the internal and external factors that influence their ability to achieve the objectives of their anti-corruption management systems. In this process, climate change is introduced as a fundamental element to consider, not only as an operational risk but also as a potential generator of conditions favorable to corruption.

This new interpretation of risk stimulates organizations to map the relationships between climate and ethical risks and to assess how environmental degradation can impact their operations. Sensitive areas include public procurement related to ecological projects, waste management, and energy efficiency interventions. It is also necessary to monitor potential irregularities in operational variables of reconstruction projects following extreme climate events, such as opaque management of compensation funds.

To implement such regulatory demands, organizations must develop new risk assessment methods capable of:

1. Identifying the interaction between climate and business functions, including supply chain and governance,
2. Evaluating risks in unstable environmental contexts, considering territorial vulnerabilities and natural resources,
3. Integrating ESG analysis tools into ethical assessments, combining environmental and reputational indicators,
4. Strengthening due diligence on partners and suppliers, especially in high environmental impact sectors.

Good practices can support the implementation of point 4.1, such as the creation of collaborative climate risk analysis units, training for decision-makers on climate and corruption issues, the adoption of joint indicators for environmental and ethical performance, and the execution of audits on high-exposure activities.

In this context, point 4.1 represents not only an obligation but also a great opportunity for organizations to evolve towards systemic ethics. The integration of climate risk into anti-corruption management enhances… [the text appears to be incomplete].

Share Button