Introduction to Environmental Ma
Environmental management appeared by the 1970s as a
problem-solving field, providing practical assistance
mainly to state officials.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw an upsurge of
public interest in environmental policy in Europe
and North America. The beginnings of modern
environmental management practices in American
corporations can be traced back to this time, in
particular with the passing of landmark legislation
such as the Clean Air Act 1970 and the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act 1972
Bangladesh is a latecomer in the EIA arena at least in a formal way. Some
form of EIA was in place and used in 1985 in the planning of the Jamuna
River Multipurpose Bridge project, where the World Bank and the Asian
Development Bank as the funding organizations helped conduct EIA of
the proposed project. There were also some environmental laws
(Pollution Control Act) for environmental protection.
In 1992, the first EIA guidelines for the water sector were published.
However, it was not until 1995 that the country passed its first EIA
legislation titled Environmental Conservation Act (ECA ’95) to be
followed by Environmental Conservation Rules 1997 (ECR ’97).
For the first time in the history of Bangladesh, ECA ’95 legally required
all development projects to systematically consider in advance their
environmental consequences. The Rules (ECR ’97) further clarified the
provisions of the Act and were intended to facilitate the enforcement of
ECR ‘9
Environmental Management
Definition
Formulation of environmentally sound development
strategies.
Seeking the best possible environmental option to
promote sustainable development
For Everyone: Govt, Business, NGOs, Schools,
hospitals, people, communities and etc.
Goals of Environmental Managem
1. Sustaining and, if possible, improving existing resources
2. Establishing limits
3. Warning of threats and identifying opportunities
Goals of Environmental Managem
Goals of Environmental Managem
4. Prevention and resolution of environmental problems
Goals of Environmental Managem
Goals of Environmental Managem
5. Founding and nurturing institutions that effectively support
environmental research, monitoring and management
6. Identifying new technology or policies that are useful
Goals of Environmental Managem
7. Where possible improving ‘quality of life’
Goals of Environmental Managem
1. Sustaining and, if possible, improving existing resources
2. Establishing limits
3. Warning of threats and identifying opportunities
4. Prevention and resolution of environmental problems
5. Founding and nurturing institutions that effectively support
environmental research, monitoring and management
6. Identifying new technology or policies that are useful.
7. Where possible improving ‘quality of life’
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE):
A typical IEE needs to provide the following information:
• Description of the project,
• description of the existing background environment around
the project site (generally this should cover an area of 1-km
radius)
• potential significant impacts (both during construction and
operational phases),
• mitigation and reduction measures,
• Identifying the residual impacts,
• and monitoring program.
Steps of EIA
For the projects where environmental issues are not fully
addressed in IEE because of lack of information or due
to the higher magnitude impacts, an EIA is required.
The EIA study is to focus on addressing issues which remained
unresolved in the IEE.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and social
impact assessment (SIA) are used to identify and
evaluate the likely consequences of a proposed
development, project, program or policy.
Steps of EIA
The steps involved in conducting an EIA are similar to those followed
elsewhere around the developed and developing world.
a. Screening
b. Baseline studies
c. Impact identification
d. Evaluation of the significance of the
impacts
e. Development of mitigation measures
f. A monitoring plan
Steps of EIA
a. Screening decides whether the EIA process should be applied to a development
b. Baseline studies are similar to scoping that is conducted to identify issues
and affected interest groups and to determine study boundaries. They
usually involve site selection and effects, material to be used, storage and
transport, machinery and equipment, and requirement of utilities;
c. Impact identification involves compilation of a list of key sources of
impacts of the project on environment and study in detail the sources of
impacts of the project such as emissions, water consumption, wastewater
generated, noise generated, etc;
d. Evaluation of the significance of the impacts, i.e., whether the impacts
are positive or negative, long term or short term, significant or insignificant,
reversible or irreversible, avoidable or unavoidable, and the determination
whether mitigation measures are required
e. Development of mitigation measures through change in project site,
processes or raw materials; changes to operating methods, disposal routes
or locations; and changes to engineering design and methods of
construction; and
f. A monitoring plan would need to be developed and presented as a part of
a Management Plan. The Management Plan will also outline how mitigation
measures are going to be implemented with clear indications of responsible
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Benefits of EIA
1. A reduction of unexpected impacts and more advance warning of problems
2. Some degree of public involvement
3. More accountable, and hopefully more cautious development
4. Access to local knowledge that might otherwise be overlooked
5. Increased likelihood that developers will be made aware of local environmental
and social factors that might otherwise have been overlooked
6. Awareness of social issues which may bring technical innovation or economic
changes
7. Improve company/ business/ project reputation
8. Better use of resources is a blessing in any organization. Can manage wastage
better and reduce costs by using your resources much better
Barriers of Environmental Manage
1. A general lack of environmental awareness
2. Emphasis on short term profitability (particularly the case in small to medium
sized enterprises, especially those that are economically marginal)
3. The lack of senior management commitment to environmental management is
a common cause of failure of environmental initiatives. ( Without active support,
middle managers and employees will get the impression that environmental
issues are of relatively low importance to senior managers)
4. Organizational culture can be significant barriers
5. Lack of sufficient man power (need for external consultant)
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 14001
ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that
sets out the requirements for an environmental
management system.
It aims to “Control and reduce its impact on the
environment.”
It helps organizations improve their environmental
performance through more efficient use of resources
and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive
advantage and the trust of stakeholders.
[Link]
ISO 14001
Other ISO standards that look at different types of
management systems, such as ISO 9001 for quality
management and ISO 45001 for occupational health
and safety
ISO 14001 can be integrated easily into any existing
ISO management system. ISO 14001 is suitable for
organizations of all types and sizes, be they private,
not-for-profit or governmental.
It requires that an organization considers al
environmental issues relevant to its operations, such
as air pollution, water and sewage issues, waste
management, soil contamination, climate change
mitigation and adaptation, and resource use and
efficiency.
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 should not promote guilty feelings within
the organization!
The Standard does not require organizations to
feel guilty and apologetic.
There is no hidden agenda to close the business
down.
The Standard requires management, by forethought
and action, to use less scarce resources by better
planning, use recycled materials and perhaps operate
the process differently.