meeting the needs but protecting the environment, Environmental education and training, Environmental degradation and pollution, Resource management, Environmental impact assessment, Environmental Management System, Elements of an EMS, ISO 14001 standard
1. Mr. Manoj H. Mota
Department of Civil Engineering
SITCOE
2. Environmental Management
Environmental Management can be defined as
“the management of the interaction and impact of human
activities on the natural environment”.
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.
3. An environmental management system protects public
health and safety by establishing procedures to limit or
eliminate harmful substances from entering
the environment, including public water systems. Every
organization in some way affects the environment, which
directly affects public health.
In brief, environmental management is necessary
for environmental planning which implies the optimal
utilization of the earth's resources and preservation of the
quality of environment for the healthy growth of society.
4. The components of environmental management
are based on five fundamental aspects.
Environmental perception and public awareness
Environmental education and training
Resource management
Control of Environmental degradation and pollution
Environmental impact assessment
5. Why is Environmental Management
Necessary?
Strictly speaking, environmental management is
necessary because it is a nationally mandated
requirement for nearly every type of business.
Various national regulations, regulates and
limits the impact that businesses have on local
environmental quality and public health.
Essentially, environmental management focuses
on resource consumption and waste generation
6. What is an EMS?
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is
a framework that helps an organization achieve
its environmental goals through consistent
review, evaluation, and improvement of its
environmental performance.
This consistent review and evaluation will
identify opportunities for improving and
implementing the environmental performance of
the organization.
The EMS itself does not dictate a level of
environmental performance that must be
achieved; each organization's EMS is tailored to
the own individual objectives and targets
7. Basic Elements of an EMS
Reviewing the organization's environmental goals
Analyzing its environmental impacts and legal requirements
Setting environmental objectives and targets to reduce
environmental impacts and comply with legal requirements
Establishing programs to meet these objectives and targets
Monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the objectives
Ensuring employees' environmental awareness and competence
Reviewing progress of the EMS and making improvements
8. An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of
processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce
its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency
An EMS helps an organization address its regulatory demands
in a systematic and cost-effective manner. This proactive
approach can help reduce the risk of non-compliance and
improve health and safety practices for employees and the
public.
10. ISO 14001 standard
The most commonly used framework for an EMS is the
one developed by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) for the ISO 14001 standard.
Established in 1996, this framework is the official
international standard for an EMS which is based on
the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology.
11. Stages of an EMS
The five main stages of an EMS, as defined by the ISO
14001 standard ,
1. Commitment and Policy
2. Planning
3. Implementation
4. Evaluation
5. Review
12. 1. Commitment and Policy -
Top management commits to environmental improvement and
establishes the organization's environmental policy. The policy is
the foundation of the EMS.
2. Planning -
Identification of environmental aspects of its operations. (e.g.
air pollutants or hazardous waste)
Determination of significant aspects. (e.g. worker health and
safety, environmental compliance, cost etc.)
Setting objectives and target (e.g. reduce use of chemical X by
25% by September 2020).
Devising an action plan for meeting the targets. (e.g.
designating responsibilities, establishing a schedule, and
outlining clearly defined steps to meet the targets)
13. 3. Implementation - A organization follows through with the action
plan using the necessary resources (human, financial, etc.). An
important component is employee training and awareness for all
employees. Other steps in the implementation stage include
documentation, following operating procedures, and setting up
internal and external communication lines.
4. Evaluation - A company monitors its operations to evaluate whether
targets are being met. If not, the company takes corrective action.
5. Review - Top management reviews the results of the evaluation to
see if the EMS is working. Management determines whether the
original environmental policy is consistent with the organization's
values. The plan is then revised to optimize the effectiveness of the
EMS. The review stage creates a loop of continuous improvement for
a company.
14. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process which
ensures that all environmental matters are taken into account
quite early in the project at planning process itself.
It takes into consideration not only technical and economic
considerations but also, traditional aspects like impact on local
people, biodiversity etc.
15. Essential Elements
• Identification of possible positive or negative
impacts of the project.
• Quantifying impacts with respect to common base.
• Preparation of mitigation plan to offset the
negative impacts.
16. Why EIA?
EIA is intended to prevent or minimize potentially adverse
environmental impacts and enhance the overall quality of a
project. The main benefits and advantages of EIA are:
Lower project costs in the long-term
Increased project acceptance
Improved project design
Informed decision making
Environmentally sensitive decisions
Increased accountability and transparency
Reduced environmental damage
Improved integration of projects into their environmental and
social settings
17. The EIA should identify, describe and assess the direct and
indirect effects of a project on the following factors:
Human beings
Fauna and flora
Soil, Water & Air
Climate and the landscape
Material Assets
Cultural Heritage
Interaction between all above factors
EIA therefore should have a very strong social dimension
18. EIA Clearance
Total EIA clearance is required for 32 categories of developmental
works broadly categorized into following industrial sectors:
Mining
Thermal power plant
River valley
Infrastructure (Road, highway, ports, harbour, airports,
Industries including very small electroplating or foundry units
Certain activities permissible under Coastal Regulation Zone Act
1991, also require similar clearance
19. Summery…
Environmental management can be considered all of
the practices, policies, and procedures that a facility
undertakes in order to comply with local, state
and/or federal environmental legislation.
This means monitoring the releases of pollutants to
the air, water, or waste streams resulting
environmental degradation.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a
set of processes and practices that enable an
organization to reduce its environmental impacts
and increase its operating efficiency.