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CESGI

Unit – 8B

Environmental Management covering

Q1) What is Environmental management?

A1)

Environmental management is “a purposeful activity with the goal to maintain and improve the state of an environmental resource affected by human activities.

Definition of Environmental Management:

Environmental Management can be defined as “the management of the interaction and impact of human activities on the natural environment”.

Environmental management further aims to ensure that ecosystem services and biodiversity are protected and maintained for equitable use by future human generations, and also, maintain ecosystem integrity as an end in itself by taking into consideration ethical, economic, and scientific (ecological) variables. Environmental management tries to identify the factors that have a stake in the conflicts that may rise between meeting the needs but protecting the environment.

Identification: Via complaints/concerns from the community we identify a certain environmental problem

Evaluation: Inspections with relevant Government Departments (Provincial and National) we determine the extent of the problem

Control: The problem is brought to the attention of the transgressor/polluter and the person/company who is informed to stop the illegal activity and address the problem or concerns which include the rehabilitation of the area(s).

Q2)What is the key performance area of Environmental management?

A2)

Key Performance Areas

Environmental Management is part of sustainable development principle as outlined in NEMA and Integrated Development Plans (IDP’s) of municipalities. Environmental Management includes the following:

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Environmental Education and Awareness Raising – Calendar days and outreach programmes for the youth, including Marine Week, International Coastal Clean-up, Arbor Month, etc.

Integrated Coastal Management – Implementation of the ICM Act and Municipal Coastal Management Programme (CMP)

Estuary management (Estuary Management Plans and Forums/Task Teams for Olifants, Verlorenvlei and Berg River)

Inland Water Management with regard to the management of recreation and boating activities on the water surfaces for Bulshoek and Misverstanddam through a boat licensing process (Agreement with Department of Water Affairs)

Addressing Environmental complaints – pollution, degradation and rehabilitation/restoration with various stakeholders and Government Departments and conservation associations

Alien Clearing and Rehabilitation and Training Programmes – Partnership Project with DAFF and Landcare and registered as an EPWP Environmental Sector Project and part of the Social Responsibility Programme

Q3) What is obligations and Acts with regard to Environmental Management?

A3)

Statutory obligations and Acts with regard to Environmental Management:

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996)

The Constitution of the Western Cape (Act 1 of 1998)

The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act 107 of 1998)

Off Road Vehicle (ORV) Regulations

All SEMA’s (“Specific Environmental Management Acts)

NEMA: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004)

NEMA: Air Quality Act (Act 39 of 2004)

NEMA: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003

NEMA: Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act24 of 2008)

NEMA: EIA Regulations

Environmental Conservation Act – ECA (Act 73 of 1989)

Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000)

Municipal Structures Act (Act 117 of 1998)

National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998)

Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997)

Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) (Act 43 of 1983)

Disaster Management Act (Act 57 of 2002)

National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) (Act 25 of 1999)

National Forests Act (Act 84 of 1998)

National Veld and Forest Fire Act (No 101 of 1998)

Q4. How does a Firm/Company put into service environmental management?

A4)

The significance of sound environmental management we are now in agreement that that environmental management is worth investing. Now there is a need for a company or an organization to know how to go about it. To undertake any task one needs appropriate tools. This learning material describes a range of environmental management tools - tools that a company or an organization can use to effectively manage its environmental and social affairs. In the early 1990s the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recognized the need for standardization in the field of environmental management tools and in 1993 it set up a committee to write standards relating to the following environmental management tools:

environmental management systems

environmental auditing

environmental labelling

life cycle assessment

environmental indicators

environmental policies

eco-balances

environmental reporting

Q5) What is an Environmental Policy?

A5)

An environmental policy is a document prepared by a company or an organization which clearly sets out its overall aims and intentions with respect to the environment. An environmental policy provides a sense of direction for a company and shows that it is committed to managing its environmental affairs in a responsible way. The policy should be endorsed by the company’s senior management and should be publicly available. It should be an integral part of the business strategy and be compatible with company’s other policies (e.g. on quality and on health and safety).

NEED TO FORMULATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

There are a number of reasons for producing and formulating an environmental policy. Producing a policy is an important first step towards achieving effectiveenvironmental management. Setting out your aims and intentions with respect to the environment is an important first step towards achieving effective environmental management. Having done this, a company can then take the measures necessary to achieve them. By taking appropriate measures i.e. by carrying out effective environmental management, a company can gain the benefits that such management brings. An environmental policy provides important information to external stakeholders on company’s aims and intentions with respect to the environment. Having an environmental policy can enhance company’s reputation with external stakeholders such as customers and the local community. It shows that an organization have made a start on dealing with environmental performance. However, to make sure a company’s reputation isn’t tarnished in any way, it is important that all stakeholders see evidence that a company is taking action to realize the aims and intentions set out in environment policy

Q6) What is an Environmental Management System?

A6)

A system can be thought of as a number of interrelated elements functioning together to achieve a clearly defined objective. We can therefore say that an environmental management system (EMS) consists of a number of interrelated elements that function together to achieve the objective of effective environmental management. So what are the elements that make up an environmental management system? Many larger companies have had environmental management systems in place for a number of years. As each company has designed its system to meet its particular needs, these systems have differed widely i.e. they contain a differing combination of elements. Recently, however, a common model for an environmental management system has been formulated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which standardizes the elements that an environmental management system should contain. The model has been designed to be applicable worldwide and to organizations of all types and sizes and is set out in the standard.

Q7) Explain ISO 14001 Environmental Management System?

A7)

The environmental management system model set out in ISO 14001 is described below. The section then goes on to look at a second environmental management system scheme – EMAS the EC Eco-management and audit scheme

The elements of ISO 14001 are organized around 5 steps, each of which is briefly described below.

STEP 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY: A firm drafts a policy setting out its intentions in relation to the environment. The policy must contain commitments to:

i. Continual improvement

ii. Prevention of pollution

iii. Compliance with relevant environmental legislation and other legal requirements. ISO 14001 defines “continual improvement” as the process of enhancing the environmental management system in order to achieve improvements in environmental performance in line with the organization’s environmental policy

STEP 2 – PLANNING: The firm must then set itself objectives and targets relating to its policy commitments and devise a plan to meet these objectives and targets.

STEP 3 - IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION: Having devised its plan, the firm must then put in place the various elements necessary for its successful implementation and operation.

STEP 4- CHECKING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION: Having implemented its plan, the firm must then check to see it has been successful in meeting its objectives and targets. If any have not been met, then corrective action must be taken. The entire management system must be periodically audited to see that it meets the requirements of the standard

STEP 5 -MANAGEMENT REVIEW: Management must periodically review the system to ensure its continuing effectiveness.

Q8) How to create awareness, training and competence for environmentmanagement?

A8)

Training, awareness and competence

All staff whose work may create a significant impact on the environment must receive the appropriate training. The firm must make them aware of:

i. The importance of conformance with the requirements of the EMS

ii. The significant environmental impacts of their work activities and the environmental benefits of improved personal performance

iii. Their roles and responsibilities in the successful functioning of the EMS Staff performing tasks which can cause significant environmental impacts must be deemed competent to do so. (Competence is assessed on the basis of their education, training and/or experience).

Communication The firm must establish and maintain suitable procedures for communication between various parts of the firm regarding the EMS. It must also make provisions for receiving and responding to relevant communications about its EMS from external parties.

Environmental management system documentation

The firm must establish and maintain information - in paper or electronic form to;

describe the elements of the management system and their interaction

provide direction to related documentation Document control The firm must establish procedures for controlling all the documents required by ISO 14001 to ensure, for instance, that they can be located and that they are periodically reviewed, revised as necessary and approved by authorized personnel. Operational control The firm is required to identify those of its activities that are associated with the significant environmental aspects covered in its objectives and targets. The firm then needs to produce documented operating procedures for these activities to cover situations where, if no procedures existed, the objectives and targets might not be met.

Q9) What is difference between ISO 14001 AND EMAS?

A9)

i. Whereas ISO 14001 is applicable worldwide, only EU member states can participate in EMAS.

ii. Unlike ISO 14001, EMAS is not a standard but a Regulation (A Regulation is a type of EU legislation).

iii. Whereas a whole company, a specific site or a specific activity can be certified to ISO, only individual sites can be registered under EMAS.

iv. Whereas ISO 14001 is applicable to all organizations, only companies performing industrial activities specified in the EMAS Regulation can participate in EMAS.

Whereas ISO 14001 only contains requirements for an environmental management system, the EMAS Regulation;

i. Contains requirement for an environmental management system

ii. Requires a firm to produce an environmental statement, and

iii. Requires that a firm’s EMS and statement be independently verified

Q10) What is the need to implement an Environmental Management System?

A10)

Whilst there are obviously costs involved in setting up and operating an environmental management system, the system can also bring great benefits. A firm should establish an environmental management system if it believes that the benefits from doing so will outweigh the costs involved. COSTS The costs involved can include: i. staff time spent establishing and maintaining the system ii. payment of consultants, if used to help establish the system iii. payment of ISO 14001 certifier/EMAS verifier BENEFITS

Some of the benefits that arise from establishing an EMS are set out below:

A COST EFFECTIVE APPROACH An EMS takes a systematic approach to environmental management and a systematic approach is a cost-effective approach. The environmental review highlights all the areas of the firm where improvement in performance is possible. With this information, a firm can assess which improvements will produce the greatest benefits in terms of cost savings and reduction of risk, and deal with these areas first. The firm can then set targets that benefit both itself and theenvironment.

TARGETS NOT JUST SET BUT MET An EMS not only requires firms to set themselves targets but ensures that they meet them. A firm must devise a management programme for achieving its targets, ensure that the resources are available for it to be carried out, monitor its environmental performance to check if it has met its targets and take corrective action if it finds it has not.

LEGISLATIVE COMPLIANCE ENSURED As well as bringing about a continual improvement in environmental performance, an EMS enables a firm to ensure it is complying with relevant legislation and regulations. The environmental review identifies all the legislation and regulations with which the firm should be complying and the firm must then establish procedures for checking compliance and for taking corrective action should it discover instances of non-compliance.

IMPROVED PUBLIC IMAGE AND INCREASED MARKET OPPORTUNITIES Not only do ISO 14001 and EMAS enable a firm to meet its environmental policy commitments and its objectives and targets, they also enable the firm to demonstrate sound environmental management to stakeholders. There may be considerable public relations benefits and increased market opportunities for a firm that can demonstrate to the outside world that it has a sound system of environmental management.

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