Mandating indoor air quality for public buildings
Lidia Morawska1, Joseph Allen1, William Bahnfleth1
1The list of author affiliations is provided in the supplementary materials.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 28, 2024
Summary
Leading countries can set examples to normalize international standards. This approach fosters wider adoption and global alignment on best practices.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- International Relations
- Policy Studies
Background:
- International standards are crucial for global cooperation and trade.
- The adoption of standards can be influenced by leadership and demonstrated success.
- Varied adoption rates pose challenges to global harmonization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of leading countries on the normalization of international standards.
- To analyze the mechanisms through which 'leading by example' influences standard adoption.
- To identify factors that facilitate or hinder the normalization of global standards.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of international standard adoption across different countries.
- Case studies of specific international standards and their implementation.
- Qualitative assessment of policy documents and expert interviews.
Main Results:
- Countries that proactively adopt and implement international standards often see them become more widely accepted.
- Demonstrated benefits and successful application by leading nations encourage other countries to follow suit.
- The normalization process is gradual and influenced by economic, political, and social factors.
Conclusions:
- Leadership by example is a significant driver for the normalization of international standards.
- Proactive adoption can accelerate global harmonization and reduce implementation barriers.
- Further research should investigate the long-term effects and scalability of this normalization model.
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