AAA officially celebrated the World Metrology Day in May 2024. This year is the first time World Metrology Day is recognised as an official UNESCO international day, a celebration marking 149 years since the signing of the Metre Convention in Paris, France in 1875.
The theme for World Metrology Day 2024 is Sustainability, chosen for its relevance to various measurement opportunities crucial for fostering a sustainable global economy and environment. Examples include measuring energy use in industries, buildings and transportation, managing resources in agriculture and forestry, identifying pollution sources, and setting targets for environmental protection. Accurate measurements of vehicle emissions and fuel consumption are vital for regulatory compliance and designing sustainable transportation options. The assessment and management of manufacturing processes and waste streams, facilitated by accurate measurements, contribute to improved environmental stewardship.
Across the world, national metrology laboratories continually advance measurement science by developing and validating new measurement techniques at the necessary level of sophistication. The national metrology institutes participate in measurement comparisons coordinated by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) or by the Regional Metrology Organizations, to ensure the reliability of measurement results worldwide.
Metrology provides the foundation for data-driven decision-making and policy development in sustainability. By ensuring accurate measurements across various aspects of sustainability, it helps organizations, governments and individuals make informed choices that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Sustainable measurements are also being used in smart electrical energy meters to determine better ways to manage energy, especially in the cooling systems that are becoming more common as global warming increases temperatures around the world, and to introduce alternative fuels like hydrogen or compressed gases.