Environmental Protection & Management

(18CV762)
BLDEA’s CET Vijayapur
G-Classroom code: ztt4tix S P Wathar
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Introduction

What is environmental management?

If financial management is managing the finances of a company, and quality management is managing the quality of its products and
processes, then it stands to reason that environmental management is managing the environment that the company operates in.
Accepting this, environmental management does not seek to manage the environment directly. Instead, it concentrates on the more
indirect, but nonetheless effective, route of managing an organization’s activities that give rise to impacts upon the environment. The
focus of the work becomes the interaction between the organization and the environment, and the rather fluid interface between the two.
It is the environmental aspects (as opposed to the financial or quality aspects) of an organization’s activities, products and services that
are the focus of management.

2
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

National Environmental Policy 2006

The present national policies for environmental management are contained in

National Forest Policy, 1988
National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development, 1992
Policy Statement on Abatement of Pollution,1992
National Agriculture Policy, 2000
National Population Policy, 2000
National Water Policy, 2002
All of these policies have recognized the need for sustainable development in their specific contexts and formulated necessary
strategies to give effect to such recognition. The National Environment Policy seeks to extend the coverage, and fill in gaps that still
exist, in light of present knowledge and accumulated experience. It does not displace, but builds on the earlier policies.

3
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

National Environmental Policy 2006

The National Environment Policy is a response to our national commitment to a clean environment, mandated in the Constitution in
Articles 48 A and 51 A (g), strengthened by judicial interpretation of Article 21. It is recognized that maintaining a healthy
environment is not the state's responsibility alone, but also that of every citizen. A spirit of partnership should thus be realized
throughout the spectrum of environmental management in the country. While the state must galvanize its efforts, there should also be
recognition by each individual - natural or institutional, of its responsibility towards maintaining and enhancing the quality of the
environment.

4
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

National Environmental Policy 2006

The National Environment Policy is intended to be a guide to action: in regulatory reform, programs and projects for environmental
conservation; and review and enactment of legislation, by agencies of the Central, State, and Local Governments. The dominant
theme of this policy is that while conservation of environmental resources is necessary to secure livelihoods and well-being of all, the
most secure basis for conservation is to ensure that people dependent on particular resources obtain better livelihoods from the fact
of conservation, than from degradation of the resource. The policy also seeks to stimulate partnerships of different stakeholders, i.
e. public agencies, local communities, academic and scientific institutions, the investment community, and international development
partners, in harnessing their respective resources and strengths for environmental management.

5
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Objectives of the National Environment Policy

1. Conservation of Critical Environmental Resources

2. Intra-generational Equity
3. Livelihood Security for the Poor
4. Integration of Environmental Concerns in Economic and Social Development
5. Efficiency in Environmental Resource Use
6. Environmental Governance
7. Enhancement of Resources for Environmental Conservation

6
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Principles

8. Legal Liability
a) Fault Based Liability
Human Beings are at the Centre of Sustainable Development Concerns b) Strict Liability
1.
9. Public Trust Doctrine
2. The Right to Development
10. Decentralization
3. Environmental Protection is an Integral part of the Development Process 11. Integration
4. The Precautionary Approach 12. Environmental Standard Setting
5. Economic Efficiency 13. Preventive Action
a) Polluter Pays 14. Environmental Offsetting
b) Cost Minimization
6. Entities with “Incomparable” Values
7. Equity

7
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Unique characteristics of environmental problems.

1. Uncertainties: Most environmental problems that emerge on the political agenda are accompanied by a non-trivial degree of
uncertainty. Typical examples include climate change, nuclear waste and micro pollutants in water. Problems such as these may raise
uncertainties about their causes and effects, as well as appropriate response strategies. Three types of uncertainty can be
distinguished:
a) unpredictability (unpredictable system behavior)
b) Incomplete knowledge (lack of information; unreliable information)
c) Multiple knowledge frames (conflicting interpretations of human–environment relations).
The main governance challenge is to develop policies and tactics to successfully cope with these types of uncertainties.

8
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Unique characteristics of environmental problems.

2. Mismatches across sectors, levels, space and time:

a) An important characteristic of many environmental problems is a mismatch between those who create the problems and those forced to deal with the
consequences. This mismatch can lead to uneven distributional effects across sectors, levels, space or time. First, different sources and sectors
(such as agriculture, industry or transportation) might generate environmental problems, while their consequences might affect different sectors of
society (e.g., children, communities, and neighboring contaminated sites). The governance challenge is to compensate for negative effects among the
involved parties and sectors.
b) Second, environmental problems can have a multi-level and spatial dimension. While some arise on the local level (e.g., noise nuisance), others are
transboundary in nature (e.g., water quality and safety) or have global dimensions (e.g., climate change). However, even when causes are local, their
effects can be global, and vice versa. The governance challenge here consists of identifying the appropriate level and area to address the problem.
c) Third, many environmental problems imply a temporal dimension. Some environmental problems occur after a substantial delay (e.g., climate change,
biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity), demanding enduring solutions. Other problems are short-term (e.g., noise nuisance or extreme weather
events) but more frequent, requiring preventive solutions or fast-response measures. One of the main challenges for environmental governance is
coping with distributional inequalities resulting from temporal mismatches.

9
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Unique characteristics of environmental problems.

3. Plurality of norms, values and interests:

• Environmental problems are characterized by different norms, values and interests within the network of involved public and/or private actors. This
refers to a fundamental belief system with different worldviews and value systems, varying perceptions of cause–effect relationships and different
assessments of the effectiveness of policy instruments and regulations.
• Moreover, it includes individuals’ or organizations' personal interests and agendas, further influencing their definitions of environmental problems.
This plurality of norms, values and interests challenges governance with a variety of often divergent preferences for different solutions to emerging
environmental problems.
• The resultant value-laden discourses in terms of policy-making can be defined as ambivalent or compromising with respect to policy goals.
Governance modes are required that can reconcile such views and interests.

10
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Evolution of Environmental Stewardship

11
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Classification of Environmental impact reduction efforts.

12
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Classification of Environmental impact reduction efforts.

Pollution prevention includes both the modification of industrial processes to minimize the production of wastes and the
implementation of sustainability concepts to conserve valuable resources.
Pollution prevention activities range from product changes to process changes to changes in methods of operation.
The main premise underlying pollution prevention is that it makes far more sense for a generator not to produce waste than to
develop extensive treatment schemes to ensure that the waste poses no threat to the quality of the environment
An established hierarchy for determining how pollution should be managed. It established source reduction as the preferred method
to be used for waste management, if it is feasible and cost effective.

13
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Classification of Environmental impact reduction efforts.

The preferred alternative for management of residuals that remain after all viable source reduction measures are taken. Anything that remains after
these steps should be treated to render it less hazardous and more compatible with the environment. Disposal into secure chemical landfills or direct
release into the environment is allowed only as a last resort.

In almost all cases, total pollution elimination through source reduction or recycling will not be possible. There will always be some residuals that cannot
be prevented or reclaimed. Recovery systems are not 100 percent efficient, and residual streams may not be pure enough to recycle directly or to
recover economically. The remaining pollution requiring treatment after source reduction and recycling should be greatly reduced in volume, however,
thus making treatment easier and much less expensive. Again, it is unlikely that treatment will detoxify all pollution. Some will always need to be
disposed of, either to a secure chemical landfill or directly to the environment at levels that the environment can safely assimilate. This amount should
be much reduced from the amount of the original waste, though. Thus the pollution prevention hierarchy can be depicted as an inverted triangle, where
the area of the band denoting the management option is indicative of the amount of pollution involved (see Figure). The objective of pollution prevention
is to make the pointed base as small as possible.
14
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Systems approach to corporate environmental management.

15
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Business charter for sustainable production and

consumption

Sustainable economic growth provides the foundation and resources for societies to develop and prosper, and for people to meet their
needs and pursue their aspirations. It helps enable economic empowerment and poverty eradication, advance environmental stewardship;
and contribute to dealing with the trans-boundary global challenges highlighted by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

At the heart of economic growth are innovative, successful, and responsible businesses operating within strong, forward-looking
governance and policy frameworks. Now more than ever, sustainable development depends on the solutions, capabilities, contributions and
engagement of business.

16
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Business charter for sustainable production and

consumption

Innovation in all dimensions of sustainable development so as to develop more integrated strategies, policy and decision-making.

Leadership and collaboration to leverage the mutually-reinforcing and cross-cutting elements of integrated policy-making.

Integrated governance structures fostering greater policy coherence between economic, environmental and development objectives.

Efforts by all actors to reconcile short-term pressures with longer-term strategies to deal with the multiplicity of economic, societal, and
environmental challenges and opportunities in an integrated manner.

Bottom up and top down actions pursued simultaneously by governments and business in support of sustainable growth. A one-size-fits-all approach
will not be effective, nor will policies that work in silos.

Multilateral and cross-cutting approaches across countries and sectors, which are indispensable in the global marketplace.

17
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Charter on Corporate responsibility for Environmental

protection.

To recognize and assess environmental impacts associated with business activities.

To implement an effective environmental management system to minimize actual and potential adverse environmental impacts.

To maximize resource efficiency of all natural resources, particularly water, energy and soil.

Shifting to more sustainable growth requires that the environmental footprint of economic activities be further minimized and that the efficient use of
natural resources be further enhanced. In this context, business is taking steps to improve “life-cycle approach” metrics that also reflect externalities, as
well as to enhance product stewardship across value-chains. Business intra-industry and collaborative actions taken or that could be undertaken to
further enhance environmental management and resource efficiency include

18
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Charter on Corporate responsibility for Environmental

protection.

Adopting a value-chain approach, based on life-cycle thinking and focusing on resource efficiency.

Working within corporate value-chains to measure, manage and reduce environmental impacts, for instance of manufacturing activities,
transport, distribution, as well as of end-of product-life options.

Providing incentives and policy guidance to drive efficiency in the use and re-use of all natural resources (beyond carbon and energy).

Ensuring access to sustainable resource use, and especially to sustainable use of scarce resources.

Helping companies scale up and accelerate technology developments enabling or supporting sustainable production, as well as efficiency
improvements to achieve economies of scale, through new policy instruments.

19
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Charter on Corporate responsibility for Environmental

protection.

Creating and delivering new platforms for public-private co-operation at the national and international levels, including on R&D.

Promoting synergistic approaches reaffirming the intrinsic and universal value of biodiversity.

Developing efficiency plans, e.g. for water management and infrastructure.

Establishing global co-operation initiatives to share best practices and experiences, as well as to develop pilot projects on metrics and
measures, for both business and government.

Supporting public-private co-operation to more accurately calculate and further reduce environmental footprints.

20
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Strategies and Actions

1. Regulatory Reforms
a) Revisiting the Policy and Legislative Framework: The following specific actions would be taken:
i. Institutionalize a holistic and integrated approach to the management of environmental and natural resources, explicitly identifying and integrating environmental concerns
in relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, through review and consultation, in line with the National Environment Policy

ii. Identify emerging areas for new legislation, due to better scientific understanding, economic and social development, and development of multilateral environmental
regimes, in line with the National Environment Policy.

iii. Review the body of existing legislation in order to develop synergies among relevant statutes and regulations, eliminate obsolescence, and amalgamate provisions with
similar objectives, in line with the National Environment Policy. Further, encourage and facilitate review of legislation at the level of State and Local Governments with a
view to ensuring their consistency with this policy.

iv. Take steps to adopt and institutionalize techniques for environmental assessment of sector policies and programs to address any potential adverse impacts, and enhance
potential favorable impacts.

v. Ensure accountability of the concerned levels of Government (Centre, State, Local) in undertaking the necessary legislative changes in a defined time-frame, with due
regard to the Objectives and Principles of National Environment Policy, in particular, ensuring the livelihoods and well-being of the poor by ensuring improved access21
to the
necessary environmental resources.
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Strategies and Actions

1. Regulatory Reforms
b) Process Related Reforms:
i. Approach: The objective is to reduce delays and levels of decision-making, realize decentralization of environmental functions, and ensure greater transparency and
accountability.

ii. Framework for Legal Action: A judicious mix of civil and criminal processes and sanction will be employed in the legal regime for enforcement, through a review of the
existing legislation.

c) Substantive Reforms
i. Environment and Forests Clearances

ii. Coastal Areas

iii. Living Modified Organisms (LMOs)

22
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Strategies and Actions

1. Regulatory Reforms
c) Substantive Reforms
iv. Environmentally Sensitive Zones: Environmentally Sensitive Zones may be defined as areas with identified environmental resources having “Incomparable Values” which
require special attention for their conservation.

v. Monitoring of Compliance

vi. Use of Economic Principles in Environmental Decision-making

23
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Strategies and Actions

2. Enhancing and Conserving Environmental Resources

f) Mountain Ecosystems
a) Land Degradation
g) Coastal Resources
b) Desert Ecosystems
h) Pollution Abatement
c) Forests and Wildlife i) Conservation of Manmade Heritage
d) Biodiversity, Traditional Knowledge, and Natural Heritage j) Climate Change
e) Freshwater Resources

24
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Pollution Abatement

Pollution is the inevitable generation of waste streams from the production and consumption of anything. Pollution directly impacts the quality of the
receiving medium, i.e. air, water, soil, or electromagnetic spectrum, and when this impaired medium acts upon a receptor, say, a living being, also
impacts the receptor. In general, the impacts on the receptor are adverse, but not always. Typically, ecosystems have some natural capacities to
assimilate pollution; however, these vary considerably with the nature of the pollutant and the ecosystem. In general, it is cheaper to reduce the
emissions of pollution, than to mitigate it after generation, or to treat the receiving medium or receptor. The impacts of pollution may differentially
impact the poor, or women, or children, or developing regions, who may also have relatively low contributions to its generation, and accordingly the
costs and benefits of abatement may have important implications for equity.

25
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Pollution Abatement

I. Air Pollution:
o Take an integrated approach to energy conservation and adoption of renewable energy technologies, including hydropower, by appropriately linking efforts to
improve conversion, transmission, distribution, and end-use efficiency, and R&D in, and dissemination of renewable energy technologies. Remove policy, legal,
and regulatory barriers to setting up decentralized generation and distribution systems for power and other secondary energy forms, based on local primary
energy resources.

o Accelerate the national programs of dissemination of improved fuelwood stoves, and solar cookers, suited to local cooking practices and biomass resources.
o Strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of emission standards for both point and non-point sources.

26
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Pollution Abatement

I. Air Pollution:
o Prepare and implement action plans for major cities for addressing air pollution for both point and non-point sources, relying on a judicious combination of fiats
and incentive based instruments.

o Formulate a national strategy for urban transport to ensure adequate investment, public and private, in low pollution mass transport systems.
o Promote reclamation of wastelands by energy plantations for rural energy through multi stakeholder partnerships involving the land owning agencies, local
communities, and investors.

o Strengthen efforts for partial substitution of fossil fuels by bio-fuels, through promotion of biofuels plantations, promoting relevant research and development,
and streamlining regulatory certification of the new technologies.

27
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Pollution Abatement

II. Water Pollution:

Develop and implement, initially on a pilot scale, public-private partnership models for setting up and operating effluent and sewage treatment plants. Once the
models are validated, progressively use public resources, including external assistance, to catalyze such partnerships. Enhance the capacities of municipalities
for recovery of user charges for water and sewage systems.
Prepare and implement action plans for major cities for addressing water pollution, comprising regulatory systems relying on a appropriate combination of fiats
and incentive based instruments, projects implemented through public agencies as well as public-private partnerships for treatment, reuse, and recycle where
applicable, of sewage and wastewater from municipal and industrial sources, before final discharge to water bodies.
Take measures to prevent pollution of water bodies from other sources, especially waste disposal on lands.

28
 Module 1: Environmental management standards

Pollution Abatement

II. Water Pollution:

Enhance capacities for spatial planning among the State and Local Governments, with adequate participation
By local communities, to ensure clustering of polluting industries to facilitate setting up of common effluent treatment plants, to be operated on cost recovery
basis. Ensure that legal entity status is available for common effluent treatment plants to facilitate investments, and enable enforcement of standards.
Promote R&D in development of low cost technologies for sewage treatment at different scales, in particular, replication of the East Kolkata wetlands and
other bio-processing based models for sewage treatment, to yield multiple benefits.
Take explicit account of groundwater pollution in pricing policies of agricultural inputs, especially pesticides, and dissemination of agronomy practices.
Encourage Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and use of biodegradable pesticides.

29