Environmental standards insights: Interview with ISO Committee Chair Benoit Desforges
Benoit Desforges has long understood that public service goes beyond his 9-5 federal job, although he’s spent a significant part of his life in that role. Currently the Vice-President of the Energy Directorate at Measurement Canada, during his nearly 33 years in government Benoit has held management positions in several departments, including in the environmental field. At Environment and Climate Change Canada, his work spanned the reduction of greenhouse gases, the use of environmental technologies, and clean fuels, and it was there he realized he could contribute a greater level of public service.
“I was working on environmental technology verification (ETV) at the time, understanding that innovative technologies and products can help address climate-related challenges by reducing pollutants and emissions. We were working on a program to allow companies to demonstrate that their products live up to their performance claims. We began exchanging ideas with similar programs in the U.S. and Europe, and we determined that the best impact would be made by developing an international standard.”
Supported by the Standards Council of Canada, Benoit volunteered to chair an ISO mirror committee to propose the new ETV standard to ISO technical committee on Environmental management (ISO/TC 207).
“I learned on the ground, step by step. Of course, you do make mistakes at the beginning, but it’s a very good forum to discuss this type of work and to accomplish so much. I am extremely proud of the work we did on standard ISO 14034.”
Benoit took on other leadership roles including convening working groups, representing Canada on ISO/TC 207 and chairing the Canadian mirror committee for ISO’s subcommittee on Environmental performance evaluation (ISO/TC 207/SC 4).
Benoit now has a new role as chair of ISO/TC 207/SC 7, which focuses on greenhouse gas and climate change management and related activities.
“In this world, I want to use my experiences to bring things to another level. I have had so much more exposure dealing with people, bringing people together, collaborating than I did when I began in 2011. Now I'm bringing the experience of my last few years as a senior executive to ISO to do even more. That’s my objective.”
Learn more about the work of ISO/TC 207/SC 7
