Técnicas e instrumentos de recolección de datos

MODULE 7: BASIC ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND

2.0 Objectives

At the end of this unit, student should be able to:

i. Define Environmental Management System ii. State the basic environmental practices

iii. List the factors determining the choice of any Environmental Management System

iv. Discuss the broad categories of Environmental Management System

3.0 Main Content

3.1 Definition and scope of Environmental Management System

An environmental management system (EMS) is a set of procedures and techniques enabling an organization to reduce environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency. This can be made possible since, organization can manage environmental issues on which they can exert a controlling influence upon. An environmental management system (EMS provides a mechanism for systematically managing the environmental effects of an organization.

According to UNCED (1992), EMS provides a framework to:

i. Identify significant environmental effects ii. Document regulatory requirements

iii. Set objectives and targets for future environmental performance implement procedures and measures for achieving the objectives and targets.

iv. Undertake audits to assess environmental performance and the effectiveness of measures to achieve the defined objectives and targets.

In order to ensure that employees and any other stakeholders understand the management system, environmental management systems usually rely heavily on documentation.

Environmental effects, regulations, objectives, targets, and the procedures are usually documented.

Self-Assessment Exercise

 Define the concept of Environmental Management System and identify three objectives of the scheme?

3.2 Best Environmental Management Practices

The best environmental management practices include procedures that:

 Match facilities, operations or projects with environmental components.

 Link environmental components with regulatory requirements.

 Assess risks, impacts and responsibilities.

 Identify environmental issues to be addressed.

 Consider commercial strategies and operations of private and public sector organization.

 Introduce best practices.

 Undertake continuous monitoring and auditing.

These issues must be clearly understood and addressed before designing a particular framework of environmental management for any organization.

Self-Assessment Exercise

 Enumerate four best environmental practices procedure known to you?

3.3 Factors Determining the Choice of Environmental Management System

There exist numerous environmental management systems; the choice of a system for implementation is specific to each enterprise in relation to the:

i. Problem, ii. Risks, iii. Impacts

iv. Responsibilities identified and

v. Geographical environment in which the enterprise must operate.

Self-Assessment Exercise

 Identify three factors which can determine the choice of specific environmental management system?

3.4 Types of Environmental Management System

The two commonly mentioned type of environmental management systems are Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and International Standard Organization (ISO) 14 001:

3.4.1 Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. This was created by European Union in 1993 to provide European firms with a framework and operational tools that will better protect the environment. EMAS has developed a handbook entitled “Identification of environmental aspects and evaluation of their importance”. This approach rests on the necessity to identify environmental impacts and the various types of environment that are affected by the operations and activities of any types of organizations. The impacts are evaluated according to a step-by-step procedure that examines activity of each enterprise and their impact on the environment. Each impact is then assessed in relation to criteria developed by the organization. These criteria must evaluate the potential damage to the environment, the fragility of the environment, the size and frequency of the activity, the importance of that activity for the organization, the employees and the local community, and the legal obligations emanating from environmental legislation.

3.4.2 The International Standard Organization (ISO) 14001, this approach developed a set of norms that represent the main industrial reference in terms of environmental management systems and sustainability. ISO 14001 offers three categories of indicators to measure the environmental performance that could be applicable to any industry:

i. The Indicators of Environmental Conditions (IEC), presenting the information on the environmental conditions permitting a better understanding of the impacts or the potential impacts of such operations.

ii. The Indicators of Management Performance (IMP), presenting information on the management efforts that are being made to influence the environmental performance of transport operations and

iii. The Indicators of Operational Performance (IOP) presenting information on the environmental performance of any operations.

Generally, these indicators assist in the identification of the significant environmental impacts that are associated with any operations, evaluate, review and increase the environmental performance of corporations, identify new practices and opportunities for a better management of the enterprise, and to have constant, credible and measurable data on the relationship between the environmental performance of the firm and its environmental objectives, targets and policies.

Self-Assessment Exercise

 Discuss the two broad types of Environmental Management System?

4.0 Conclusion

The utilization of the environment for man’s survival has been stressed and this is seen to under threat. There is therefore no doubt that man has to preserve the environment in order to attain a reasonable level of sustainable development, hence the need for the study of environmental management system.

5.0 Summary

Environmental Management System (EMS) is defined as a set of procedures and techniques enabling an organization to reduce environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency, this can be achieved by seven best practices and procedures. Two broad categories of environmental management system (EMAS and ECO 14 001) are commonly adopted for the exercise, the choice of any one to be adopted is determined by the problem, risks, impacts, responsibilities identified and the geographical environment in which the enterprise operate.

6.0 Tutor Marked Assignment

a) Define the concept of Environmental Management System?

c) Enumerate four factors which determines the choice of Environmental Management System?

c) Identify and discuss two broad common environmental management system?

d) Discuss the various categories of indicators used in measuring environmental performance under ISO 14 001 system?

7.0 Reverences Further Reading

Aliyu, H. I. (2019), ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Pollution, Planning and Education, Ahmadu Bello University Press Limited, Zaria- Nigeria.

Claude C. (2013) Transport Environmental Management in the Geography of Transport Systems, Hofstra University, New York, USA

Jimoh H.I. and Ifabiyi I.P. (eds), Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies, Haytee Press and Publishing Co. Ltd, Ilorin- Nigeria (2000)

Unit 2: Techniques of Environmental Monitoring and Management