International Standards: reflections from Davos on why collaboration is key to a sustainable, inclusive future

The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025 united more than 3,000 global leaders to tackle technological, economic and climate challenges under the theme “Collaboration in the Intelligent Age”.

For me, as Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the gathering served as a powerful opportunity to reinforce the crucial role international standards play in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

From advancing the responsible use of technology to driving the energy transition and fostering inclusivity, standards provide the trust and shared frameworks needed to unlock progress.

Davos is more than a meeting of minds – it is a catalyst for collective action on the defining challenges of our time: achieving net zero, adapting to climate impacts, harnessing technology responsibly, and ensuring innovation benefits everyone.

The discussions emphasized that by fostering collaboration across sectors and regions, we can truly transform global challenges into opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The week’s key themes and takeaways reinforced why standards are essential to these efforts:

From the climate crisis to technological governance, no single sector, country or organization can solve these challenges alone. Collaboration – fueled by shared frameworks and tools – is key to creating long-term, sustainable solutions.

ISO is a global platform that brings together international experts from around the world to create unified solutions for today’s most urgent challenges. Through fostering collaboration and building consensus, we ensure that our standards harness collective expertise, driving global progress and instilling trust. International standards serve as a common framework for cooperation.

This cross-sectoral collaboration is more important than ever. In Davos, leaders from business, government and civil society repeatedly emphasized that progress will only come when we break down silos and foster partnerships that are inclusive, equitable and rooted in trust.

The transformative power of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), was a recurring theme at the Annual Meeting. AI holds immense potential to accelerate progress on everything from energy efficiency to public health.

At ISO, we understand the dual nature of innovation: while it offers opportunities for growth and improvement, it also presents risks that must be managed thoughtfully. That’s why ISO, together with IEC and ITU, announced the 2025 International AI Standards Summit, which will be held in Seoul this December.

International Standards play a pivotal role in guiding the responsible scaling, development and deployment of AI technology. The upcoming summit marks a crucial step in shaping the future of AI, fostering collaboration and creating a framework that ensures innovation is aligned with global values of fairness, safety and inclusivity.

The urgency of the climate crisis was palpable throughout the week. Discussions in Davos highlighted the critical need for solutions that can address the environmental challenges we face while supporting sustainable economic growth.

International standards are a key enabler of this transformation. They provide practical guidance for organizations and governments to reduce emissions, optimize resource use, and build resilience to climate impacts. Trusted, internationally agreed standards help turn climate commitments and plans into effective, measurable action.

From climate action to AI governance, this year’s Davos discussions reinforced the importance of aligning innovation with shared values. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the global challenges we face – but more importantly, it was a chance to take action. As we look ahead, the role of international standards will remain central to shaping a world where innovation, quality and sustainability know no boundaries.

I am deeply grateful to the World Economic Forum, its many stakeholders and the dedicated team at ISO for their work in making this week so impactful. The progress we have made together serves as a strong foundation to accelerate action in the months and years ahead.

Let us continue to join forces, ensuring that the challenges we face today become opportunities for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.