ISO 37101-2016 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 37101:2016 — "Sustainable development in communities — Management system for sustainable development — Requirements with guidance for use." The standard specifies requirements and guidance to establish a management system that helps communities (including cities) plan, implement, monitor and communicate sustainable development actions and outcomes.

Abstract

ISO 37101:2016 establishes requirements for a management system for sustainable development in communities using a holistic, multi‑actor approach. Its intended outcomes include guiding governance and policy for sustainability, improving community contributions to sustainable development, assessing performance (including smartness and resilience), and meeting compliance obligations. The standard is designed to be implemented by an organization designated by a community (or by the community itself) and is applicable to communities of all sizes, types and territorial levels.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: July 2016 (main standard); Amendment 1 published February 2024
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 03.100.70 (Management systems); 13.020.20 (Environmental economics; sustainability)
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2016); ISO 37101:2016/Amd 1:2024 (Amendment 1 — climate action changes)
• Number of pages: 32 (main standard) + 1 (Amendment 1:2024)

Scope

ISO 37101:2016 applies to communities of all sizes, structures and types (urban, rural, local, regional and national) and to organizations designated to establish and operate a community’s management system for sustainable development. The standard can be used in whole or in part to improve management of sustainability, but claims of conformity are acceptable only when all requirements are incorporated and fulfilled without exclusion. The 2024 amendment introduces climate‑action related changes to strengthen the standard’s treatment of climate issues.

Key topics and requirements

• Establishing a management system for sustainable development built on the Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle.
• Understanding the community context, territorial boundaries and interested parties; stakeholder engagement and multi‑actor approaches.
• Leadership, policy and governance arrangements for sustainability purposes and objectives.
• Identification, integration and prioritization of social, economic and environmental sustainability purposes (including resilience and smartness).
• Planning and resource provision to implement strategies, programmes, projects, plans and services.
• Performance evaluation, monitoring, reporting and continual improvement of sustainability outcomes and indicators.
• Compliance obligations and risk/opportunity management; incorporation of climate action considerations (per Amendment 1:2024).

Typical use and users

Typical users include municipal and regional governments, local authorities, community development organizations, public service providers, planning and sustainability departments, consultants and advisors working on community sustainability, and organizations designated to manage a community’s sustainability system. ISO 37101 is used to create or strengthen sustainability policies, align stakeholders, structure programmes and projects, measure progress, and communicate achievements.

Related standards

ISO 37101 is part of the ISO 37100 family ("Sustainable cities and communities") and is commonly used alongside indicator and guidance standards such as ISO 37120 (indicators for city services and quality of life), ISO 37122 (indicators for smart cities), ISO 37123 (indicators for resilient cities), ISO 37106 (guidance on smart city operating models) and ISO 37104 (guidance for local implementation of ISO 37101). Guidance on certification/auditing competence is provided in related conformity documents (for example ISO/IEC 17021‑8 for auditing management systems for sustainable development in communities).

Keywords

sustainable development, community management system, municipalities, resilience, smart city, sustainability purposes, stakeholder engagement, PDCA, performance indicators, climate action, ISO/TC 268

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 37101:2016 is an international standard that specifies requirements and guidance for a management system to plan, implement, monitor and improve sustainable development in communities.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the structure and processes needed to set sustainability purposes and objectives, engage stakeholders, manage programmes and services, measure performance (including resilience and smartness), and continually improve outcomes; Amendment 1:2024 adds or clarifies climate action considerations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Local and regional governments, designated community organizations, sustainability and planning teams, consultants, and others involved in community development and public service delivery.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was published in July 2016 and remains current; an amendment (ISO 37101:2016/Amd 1:2024) addressing climate action was published in February 2024 to update the original text.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 37101 sits within the ISO 37100 series (Sustainable cities and communities) and is intended to be used alongside related indicator and guidance documents in that family.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Sustainable development, community management system, resilience, smart city, stakeholder engagement, PDCA, performance indicators, climate action.