diff --git a/pubchempy.py b/pubchempy.py
index 8de112f..ce18de0 100644
--- a/pubchempy.py
+++ b/pubchempy.py
@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import os
+import ssl
 import sys
 import time
 import warnings
 import binascii
+import certifi
 
 try:
     from urllib.error import HTTPError
@@ -268,7 +270,8 @@ def request(identifier, namespace='cid', domain='compound', operation=None, outp
     try:
         log.debug('Request URL: %s', apiurl)
         log.debug('Request data: %s', postdata)
-        response = urlopen(apiurl, postdata)
+        context = ssl.create_default_context(cafile=certifi.where())
+        response = urlopen(apiurl, postdata, context=context)
         return response
     except HTTPError as e:
         raise PubChemHTTPError(e)
diff --git a/requirements/common.txt b/requirements/common.txt
index 5bdd187..a0b8c8a 100644
--- a/requirements/common.txt
+++ b/requirements/common.txt
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 pandas>=0.16.2
+certifi>=2024.8.30