Should ASHRAE take stronger policy positions internationally?

• A. We are not and neither should we take political stances. We are a technical organization.
• B. Yes, we should actively lobby governments worldwide.
• C. We should publish policy whitepapers regularly.
• D. We should avoid any policy influence.

Answer: (A)

The question is about how a technical society should handle international policy and advocacy. The best approach is to stay neutral and focused on technical work, rather than taking political stances or trying to influence policy. This preserves credibility with a diverse global membership, avoids entanglement in political disputes, and keeps resources directed toward standards development, research, and technical guidance rather than lobbying or advocacy activities.

Choosing to actively lobby governments or publish policy whitepapers would shift the organization from its core technical mission into political influence, requiring new governance controls, costly ongoing efforts, and the risk of alienating members with differing viewpoints. Even aiming to avoid policy influence would diminish the organization’s ability to contribute meaningfully to technical discourse, whereas clearly staying non-political ensures the organization remains a trusted, objective source of technical expertise.