Introduction

What are Environmental management standards?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines an environmental
management system as “part of the management system used to manage environmental
aspects, fulfill compliance obligations, and address risks and opportunities.”

What is Environment Management System?

An Environment Management System. (EMS) is a tool for managing the impacts of. an
organization's activities on the environment. It provides a structured approach to planning.
and implementing environment protection.
Characteristics of environmental issues
First, we outline three key environmental problem characteristics: uncertainties, cause–
effect mismatches

Key characteristics of global environmental problems:

Global environmental change, e.g., rain-forest deforestation, desertification, long-range
transfrontier air pollution, including acid rain, marine pollution, destruction of the ozone
layer, global climate change, and the endangerment of species

The Biggest Environmental Issues

o Genetic Modification Of Crops
o Waste Production
o Population Growth
o Water Pollution
o Deforestation
o Urban Sprawl
o Overfishing
o Acid Rain
o Ozone Layer Depletion
o Ocean Acidification
o Air Pollution
o Lowered Biodiversity
o The Nitrogen Cycle
o Natural Resource Use
o Transportation
o Polar Ice Caps
o Climate Change

17. Genetic Modification Of Crops

Environmental issues caused by man-made chemicals are becoming clearer. For example,
there has been a 90% reduction in the Monarch butterfly population in the United States that
can be linked to weed killers that contain glyphosate.

There is also some speculation that genetically-modified plants may leak chemical
compounds into soil through their roots, possibly affecting communities of microorganisms.

16. Waste Production

The average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day, with the United States alone
accounting for 220 million tons per year. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, which
generate enormous amounts of methane.

Not only does this create explosion hazards, but methane also ranks as one of the worst of the
greenhouse gases because of its high global warming potential.

15. Population Growth

Many of the issues listed here result from the massive population growth that Earth has
experienced in the last century. The planet’s population grows by 1.13% per year, which
works out to 80 million people.

This results in a number of issues, such as a lack of fresh water, habitat loss for wild animals,
overuse of natural resources and even species extinction. The latter is particularly damaging,
as the planet is now losing 30,000 species per year.

14. Water Pollution

Fresh water is crucial to life on Earth, yet more sources are being polluted through human
activities each year. On a global scale, 2 million tons of sewage, agricultural and industrial
waste enters the world’s water every day.

Water pollution can have harmful effects outside of contamination of the water we drink. It
also disrupts marine life, sometimes altering reproductive cycles and increasing mortality
rates.

13. Deforestation
The demands of an increasing population has resulted in increasing levels of deforestation.
Current estimates state that the planet is losing 80,000 acres of tropical forests per day.

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This results in loss of habitat for many species, placing many at risk and leading to large-scale
extinction. Furthermore, deforestation is estimated to produce 15% of the world’s greenhouse
gas emissions.
12. Urban Sprawl
The continued expansion of urban areas into traditionally rural regions is not without its
problems. Urban sprawl has been linked to environmental issues like air and water pollution
increases, in addition to the creation of heat-islands.

Satellite images produced by NASA have also shown how urban sprawl contributes to forest
fragmentation, which often leads to larger deforestation.

We have written an article outlining exactly what is urban sprawl? the issues it creates, along
with potential solutions to those issues.

11. Overfishing
It is estimated that 63% of global fish stocks are now considered overfished. This has led to
many fishing fleets heading to new waters, which will only serve to deplete fish stocks
further.

Overfishing leads to a misbalance of ocean life, severely affecting natural ecosystems in the
process. Furthermore, it also has negative effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing
to support their economies.

10. Acid Rain

Acid rain comes as a result of air pollution, mostly through chemicals released into the
environment when fuel is burned. Its effects are most clearly seen in aquatic ecosystems,
where increasing acidity in the water can lead to animal deaths.

It also causes various issues for trees. Though it doesn’t kill trees directly, acid rain
does weaken them by damaging leaves, poisoning the trees and limiting their available
nutrients.

9. Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone depletion is caused by the release of chemicals, primarily chlorine and bromide, into
the atmosphere. A single atom of either has the potential to destroy thousands of ozone
molecules before leaving the stratosphere.

Ozone depletion results in more UVB radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. UVB has been
linked to skin cancer and eye disease, plus it affects plant life and has been linked to a
reduction of plankton in marine environments.

8. Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification is the term used to describe the continued lowering of the pH levels of the
Earth’s oceans as a result of carbon dioxide emissions. It is estimated that ocean acidity
will increase by 150% by 2100 if efforts aren’t made to halt it.

This increase in acidification can have dire effect on calcifying species, such as shellfish. This
causes issues throughout the food chain and may lead to reductions in aquatic life that would
otherwise not be affected by acidification.
7. Air Pollution
Air pollution is becoming an increasingly dangerous problem, particularly in heavily-
populated cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that 80% of people living
in urban areas are exposed to air quality levels deemed unfit by the organization.

It is also directly linked to other environmental issues, such as acid rain and eutrophication.
Animals and humans are also at risk of developing a number of health problems due to air
pollution.

We have written a sperate article breaking down 6 Causes of Air Pollution, their effects along
with some solutions to this growing problem. After doing extensive research we were able to
see how these issues may impact our future.

6. Lowered Biodiversity
Continued human activities and expansion has led to lowered biodiversity. A lack of
biodiversity means that future generations will have to deal with increasing vulnerability of
plants to pests and fewer sources of fresh water.

Some studies have found that lowered biodiversity has as pronounced an impact as climate
change and pollution on ecosystems, particularly in areas with higher amounts of species
extinction.

5. The Nitrogen Cycle

With most of the focus being placed on the carbon cycle, the effects of human use of nitrogen
often slips under the radar. It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for half of the
nitrogen fixation on earth, primarily through the use and production of man-made fertilizers.

Excess levels of nitrogen in water can cause issues in marine ecosystems, primarily through
overstimulation of plant and algae growth. This can result in blocked intakes and less light
getting to deeper waters, damaging the rest of the marine population.

4. Natural Resource Use

Recent studies have shown that humanity uses so many natural resources that we would
need almost 1.5 Earths to cover our needs. This is only set to increase as industrialization
continues in nations like China and India.

Increased resource use is linked to a number of other environmental issues, such as air
pollution and population growth. Over time, the depletion of these resources will lead to an
energy crisis, plus the chemicals emitted by many natural resources are strong contributors to
climate change.

3. Transportation
An ever-growing population needs transportation, much of which is fueled by the natural
resources that emit greenhouse gases, such as petroleum. In 2014, transportation accounted
for 26% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Transportation also contributes to a range of other environmental issues, such as the
destruction of natural habitats and increase in air pollution.

2. Polar Ice Caps

The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. While NASA studies have
shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is actually increasing, these rises only amount to a
third of what is being lost in the Arctic.

There is strong evidence to suggest that sea levels are rising, with the Arctic ice caps melting
being a major contributor. Over time, this could lead to extensive flooding, contamination of
drinking water and major changes in ecosystems.

1. Climate Change
The majority of the issues previously listed contribute or are linked to climate change.
Statistics created by NASA state that global temperatures have risen by 1.7 degrees
Fahrenheit since 1880, which is directly linked to a reduction in Arctic ice of 13.3% per
decade.

The effects of climate change are widespread, as it will cause issues with deforestation, water
supplies, oceans and ecosystems. Each of these have widespread implications of their own,
marking climate change as the major environmental issue the planet faces today.

The most widely used standard on which an EMS is based is International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) 14001.
.

System approach to corporate environmental management:

In approaching environmental complex environmental problems one must understand
that one must be concerned with far more than the sciences of environmental degradation and
technologies of pollution control. One must also understand the problems of development,
national priorities and cultures of the people of the world.
The huge amount of data submitted to for United Nation Conference on human
environment was analysed and organised into a meaningful form for decision making
considering the technical, philosophical, ethical, political and emotional issues involved in
preserving the environment.

Various types of approaches developed for the environmental management are:

(i) Ad hoc approach-, developed in reaction to a specific situation.

(ii) Problem-solving approach: for identification of problems and needs and implement
solutions.
(iii) Systems approach: such as ecosystem, agro-ecosystem, etc. Regional approach: based on
ecological zones such as watershed, river basin, coastal zone, command area development,
island, etc.

(iv) Specialist discipline approach, often adopted by professionals for air, water and land
management, urban management, tourism management, and environmental health.

(v) Voluntary sector approach encouraged and supported by NGOs.

(vi) Commercial approach: for environmental management for business.

(vii) Human ecology approach-, for study of relations between humans or society and nature.

(viii) Political ecology approach-, to develop policies and laws.

Apart from the above, an environmental management system (EMS) approach has been
developed as an integrated and proactive approach to environmental issues.

It helps industry or other bodies and is designed to ensure that an environmental policy and
environmental objectives are adopted and followed. Figure 4.1 illustrates a basic EMS
approach developed by Hunt and Johnson (1995).
Thus, the EMS system approach helps to:
1. develop a proactive environment approach;

2. ensure a balanced view across all functions;

3. enable effective, directed environmental goal setting; and

4. Make the environmental auditing process effective.

Ecosystem Approach:
The ecosystem concept has become a widely used conceptual tool for research after 1945.
Nowadays, ecologists often adopt an ecosystem approach when seeking to understand and
monitor a given situation. The ecosystem concept allows the environmental managers to look
at portions of complex nature as an integrated system. It may be applied to cities or
agriculture (urban ecosystems and agro-ecosystems respectively).

The ecosystem approach allows a holistic view of how components work together, in other
words, it can incorporate human dimensions into biosphere functioning. It also helps define
the temporal and spatial scale of management, and thus, is a multidisciplinary approach in
order to deal with complexities of ecosystem function and usage.

Human Ecology Approach:

Human ecology is the study of relations between humans or society and nature, through a
multidisciplinary approach. Similar to that of ecosystem approach, the main emphasis in this
approach is on social relationship with environment which is a primary aspect of any
management for planning and development. The scale of approach may be local to global,
and it supports holistic study.

The concept of ‘Social Impact Assessment’ (SIA) seeks to assess whether a proposed
development alters quality of life and sense of well-being and how individuals, groups and
communities will adopt to change caused by development.

The socio-economic and biophysical aspects of the environment are interconnected, therefore,
for environmental management; human ecology approach should be adopted along with
political ecology approach.

The socio-economic and biophysical aspects of the environment are interconnected, therefore,
for environmental management; human ecology approach should be adopted along with
political ecology approach.
Political Ecology Approach:
Political ecology also studies relationships between society and nature. It holds that radical
changes in human habits are required in order to counter environmental degradation and
achieve sustainable development.

These are likely to be different perceptions of environmental needs and problems between
planners, policy makers, ministers, various departments of government, etc. All this can be
effectively done by adopting political ecological approach of environment management.
Commercial Approach:
Nowadays, there has been an increasing emphasis on environmental management for business
as well as role of business houses in environmental protection.

The emphasis is on:

1. green corporate environmental management;

2. green business ethics;

3. eco-auditing;

4. impact assessment, hazard and risk assessment;

5. green marketing, labelling;

6. recycling and waste disposal;

7. environmentally sound investment and funding; and

8. Total quality management.

The commercial approach involves corporate priority, employee education, customer advice,
transfer of technology, prior assessment, facilities and operations, research and compliance
and reporting.

Classification of environmental impact reduction efforts

Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection
• The programmes for environmental management gained momentum with the
enactment of a series of laws and regulations since 1974.
• The increasing concern of the Government of India about environmental management
is evident from the pollution control legislation that have been enacted by the
Parliament and the follow-up programmes that have been taken up for their
implementation.
• The environmental legislation and programmes cover not only the control of
discharges, emissions and wastes but also relevant activities including manufacture,
storage, handling and import of hazardous chemicals.
• The progress made so far in regard to pollution control includes development of
effluent/emission standards for over 70 different types of industries as well as
guidelines for management and handling of hazardous, municipal and bio-medical
wastes.
• Development of environmental quality monitoring facilities which include
establishment of Water and Air Quality
• Pollution control in polluting industries and problem area including CETP schemes
for Small Scale units,
 • National River Action Plan,
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Environment Impact Assessment Studies for establishment of new industries and
environmental auditing
• Control of vehicular emissions
Business Charter for sustainable Production and consumption:

Sustainable Consumption and Production:

Sustainable Consumption and Production (known as SCP) is about doing more and better

with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation,

increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles.

We are currently consuming more resources than ever, exceeding the planet’s capacity for

generation. In the meantime, waste and pollution grows, and the gap between rich and poor is

widening. Health, education, equity and empowerment are all adversely affected.

Crucially, SCP can contribute substantially to poverty alleviation and the transition towards

low-carbon and green economies. To do this, SCP requires building cooperation among many

different stakeholders as well as across sectors in all countries.

Sustainable consumption and production refers to “the use of services and related products,

which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of

natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over

the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of future

generations”.

SCP is a holistic approach and is about systemic change. It is built around three main

objectives:

 Decoupling environmental degradation from economic growth. This is about

doing more and better with less, increasing net welfare gains from economic activities
 by reducing resource use, degradation and pollution along the whole life cycle, while

increasing quality of life. ‘More’ is delivered in terms of goods and services, with

‘less’ impact in terms of resource use, environmental degradation, waste

and pollution.

 Applying life cycle thinking. This is about increasing the sustainable management of

resources and achieving resource efficiency along both production and consumption

phases of the lifecycle, including resource extraction, the production of intermediate

inputs, distribution, marketing, use, waste disposal and re-use of products and

services.

 Sizing opportunities for developing countries and “leapfrogging”. SCP contributes

to poverty eradication and to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs). For developing countries, SCP offers opportunities such as the

creation of new markets, green and decent jobs as well as more efficient, welfare-

generating natural resource management. It is an opportunity to “leapfrog” to

more resource efficient, environmentally sound and competitive technologies,

bypassing the inefficient, polluting, and ultimately costly phases of development

followed by most developed countries.

 Sustainable procurement

 Public spending, which accounts for an average of 12% of GDP in OECD countries,

and up to 30% in developing countries, wields enormous purchasing power. Shifting

that spending towards more sustainable goods and services can help drive markets in

the direction of innovation and sustainability, thereby enabling the transition to a

green economy.

What can we do for responsible consumption and production?

One of the greatest global challenges is to integrate environmental sustainability with

economic growth and welfare by decoupling environmental degradation from economic

growth and doing more with less. Resource decoupling and impact decoupling are needed to

promote sustainable consumption and production patterns and to make the transition towards

a greener and more socially inclusive global economy.

“To ensure sustainable consumption and production practices necessarily entails to respect

the biophysical boundaries of the planet and to reduce current global consumption rates in

order to fit with the biophysical capacity to produce ecosystem services and benefits”

Business Charter for Sustainable Production and Consumption – Tools

• The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental organization

serving world business. Its membership extends to more than 130 countries and

includes thousands of business organizations and enterprises with international

interests.

• ICC has more than 80 years of experience as an international body representing the

interests of businesses in all sectors, all over the world. It works to promote world

trade and investment based on free and fair competition, and to harmonize trade

practices and formulate guidelines and terminology for importers and exporters.

• In response to the World Commission on Environment and Development report, ICC

developed a 'Business Charter for Sustainable Development' which sets out 16

principles for environmental management.

• The Charter covers environmentally relevant aspects of health, safety and product

stewardship.

• Its objective is 'that the widest range of enterprises commit themselves to improving

their environmental performance in accordance with the principles, to having in place

management practices to effect such improvement, to measuring their progress, and to

reporting this progress as appropriate, internally and externally'

The 16 principles set out in the charter are as follows:

1. Corporate priority

• To recognise environmental management as among the highest corporate priorities

and as a key determinant to sustainable development; to establish policies,

programmes and practices for conducting operations in an environmentally sound

manner.

2. Integrated management

• To integrate these policies, programmes and practices fully into each business as an

essential element of management in all its functions.

3. Process of improvement

• To continue to improve corporate policies, programmes and environmental

performance, taking into account technical developments, scientific understanding,

consumer needs and community expectations, with legal regulations as a starting

point, and to apply the same environmental criteria internationally.

4. Employee education

• To educate, train and motivate employees to conduct their activities in an

environmentally responsible manner.

5. Prior assessment

• To assess environmental impacts before starting a new activity or project and before

decommissioning a facility or leaving a site.

6. Products and services

To develop and provide products or services that have no undue environmental impact and
are safe in their intended use, that are efficient in their consumption of energy and natural
resources, and that can be recycled, reused, or disposed of safely.

7. Customer advice

• To advise and, where relevant, educate customers, distributors and the public in the

safe use, transportation, storage and disposal of products provided, and to apply

similar considerations to the provision of services.

8. Facilities and operations

• To develop, design and operate facilities and conduct activities taking into

consideration the efficient use of energy and materials, the sustainable use of

renewable resources, the minimization of adverse environmental impacts of waste

generation, and the safe and responsible disposal of residual wastes.

9. Research

• To conduct or support research on the environmental impacts of raw materials,

products, processes, emissions and wastes associated with the enterprise and on the

means of minimizing such adverse impacts.

10. Precautionary approach

• To modify the manufacture, marketing or use of products or services or the conduct of

activities, consistent with scientific and technical understanding, to prevent serious or

irreversible environmental degradation.

11. Contractors and suppliers

To promote the adoption of these principles by contractors acting on behalf of the enterprise,

encouraging and, where appropriate, requiring improvements in their practices to make them
consistent with those of the enterprise; and to encourage the wider adoption of these

principles by suppliers.

12. Emergency preparedness

• To develop and maintain, where significant hazards exist, emergency preparedness

plans in conjunction with emergency services, relevant authorities and the local

community, recognizing potential transboundary impacts

13. Transfer of technology

• To contribute to the transfer of environmentally sound technology and management

methods throughout the industrial and public sectors.

14. Contributing to the common effort

To contribute to the development of public policy and to business, governmental and

intergovernmental programmes and educational initiatives that will enhance environmental

awareness and protection.

15. Openness to concerns

• To foster openness and dialogue with employees and the public, anticipating and

responding to their concerns about the potential hazards and impact of operations,

products, wastes or services, including those of transboundary or global significance.

16. Compliance and reporting

• To measure environmental performance; to conduct regular environmental audits and

assessment of compliance with company requirements, legal requirements and these

 principles; and periodically to provide appropriate information to the board of

directors, shareholders, employees, the authorities and the public.

 Endorsement of the ICC Charter is voluntary.

 By signing it, companies commit themselves to respecting its 16 principles for

environmental management.

 The ICC is currently assessing how companies that have endorsed the Charter are

applying the principles, and what their experiences were with implementation.

Barriers and drivers:

Barriers and drivers identified in various studies can be classified into two large
categories. There are clearly external forces that either coerce companies for actions or
hinder them from reaching their goals. On the other hand, there are clearly internal
pressures within a company that also both propel and hamper their development.

Drivers:
External drivers:

Constant public concern and development of legislation has been the driving force for
many companies, especially in the chemical industry, which are subject to health and safety
and environmental legislation. Chemical Management Services were developed in response
to strict regulation, and as an effort to prevent future legislation.

Internal drivers
The internal drivers identified in the literature were resource drivers, management
decisions that mobilise companies for actions, and drivers to improve environmental
performance

For many companies financial savings and revenues generated from shifting to
service-oriented solutions of different kinds ranging from efficiency services to leasing and
closed loop systems are an important driver.

Barriers

The external barriers in shifting towards service-oriented solutions identified in the

literature
are barriers related to relationships between actors along the value chain, regulatory barriers,
and context-related barriers. Internal barriers were categorised into costrelated, concept
design and organizational barriers.
External barriers

Barriers related to relationships between actors along the value chain included onflicts
of interest between different actors, customer acceptance of service-oriented offers and trust
building, lack of customer’s knowledge about cost structure, and lack of demand from public
procurement.
Some sources claim a serious barrier as the conflict of interest between companies that often
explicitly aim to reduce sales volume of material product and traditional interests of retailers
to sell more products Companies that sell their products to final users through retailers state
that their margins are eroding as a consequence of increasing power of retailers. One possible
solution to this problem is sharing of profits among the actors that participate in the provision
of a service.

Internal barriers

Internal barriers identified in the literature were cost-related barriers, concept design
barriers, and organizational barriers. Some studies show that producers of consumer goods
perceive the risks associated with service-oriented solutions to be higher than the actual
business risks _European Commission 2001_. The producers are sometimes reluctant to
internalize use related costs, especially in cases when they do not have control over them and
have no possibility to influence the way their products are used. Also, an important barrier is
uncertainties about the cash flow that stems from the changeover from short-term profit
generation at the point-of-sale to medium- and long-term amortization periods in service-
oriented solutions based on leasing contracts.

Environmental stewardship

Stewardship:
Stewardship is taking care of something like a large household, the arrangements
for a group or the resources of a community. An example of stewardship is the act of
making wise use of the natural resources provided by the earth.

Stewardship is an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of

resources. The concepts of stewardship can be applied to the environment and nature,
economics, health, property, information, theology, cultural resources etc.

Environmental stewardship:

Environmental stewardship refers to responsible use and protection of the natural

environment through conservation and sustainable practices.
Environmental stewardship conserves natural resources, combats pollution, and protects
biodiversity, but most importantly, it means we protect and sustain our environment for
future generations.
 Definition - environmental stewardship as the responsibility for environmental quality
shared by all those whose actions affect the environment.
Sense of responsibility is a value that can be reflected through the choices of individuals,
companies, communities, and government organizations, and shaped by unique
environmental, social, and economic interests.
Also a behavior, one demonstrated through continuous improvement of environmental
performance, and a commitment to efficient use of natural resources, protection of
ecosystems, and, where applicable, ensuring a baseline of compliance with environmental
requirements.
• Not a new phenomenon - farming to hunting, from conservation practices to spiritual
beliefs, one can find an appreciation for natural resources and the valuable services
they provide in many diverse settings.
• Can help preserve natural resources and achieve sustainable outcomes

Focused on six natural resource systems and desired outcomes for each on
• Air: Sustain clean and healthy air
• Ecosystems: Protect and restore ecosystems functions, goods, and services
• Energy: Generate clean energy and use it efficiently
• Land: Support ecologically sensitive land management and development
• Materials: Use materials carefully and shift to environmentally preferable
materials
• Water: Sustain water resources to ensure quality and availability for desired uses
 Environmental stewardship also offers a powerful tool for governance
 Example: U.S.- has made tremendous progress in addressing the most visible forms of
pollution – from smoke stacks and wastewater pipes – still face the challenge of dealing
with countless small, diffuse sources of pollution, such as polluted runoff and individual
vehicle emissions.
 Also face the loss of habitat and biodiversity within ecosystems, and emerging issues,
such as the unknown environmental impacts of nanotechnology.
 For many of these problems, stewardship solutions seem to offer the best approach
because they frequently address root causes.
 New information systems allow us to process and share information faster than ever
imagined.
 Cutting edge technologies enable us to understand and address problems that previously
we did not even know existed.
 Everyday choices with greater care to sustain a healthier life and cleaner environment for
themselves and their families.
 Businesses are investing in environmental stewardship because it results in lower
expenses, better products, a stronger corporate brand, and improved relationships with
neighbors, suppliers, customers and government regulators.
 Communities are pursuing smart growth to improve quality of life.
 Government agencies are creating incentives that can lead people and organizations to
voluntarily make environmentally-sound choices.
What motivates stewardship behaviors?

• Information and scientific evidence about the status of natural resources

• Increasing awareness of the risks and opportunities associated with business supply
chains
• Growing public interest in environmentally responsible purchasing and investing

What hinders people and organizations from adopting stewardship behaviors?

• The perception that small actions do not really make a difference
• Difficulty in making green products competitive in the marketplace
• Lack of attention to environmental performance by investment and financial
institutions
• Difficulty in measuring stewardship behavior and performance
What steps could EPA take to promote environmental stewardship?
• Improve coordination of partnership programs and adopt more customer-oriented
features
• Increase technical assistance for small and medium-sized businesses
• Conduct marketing research to better understand the attitudes that routinely influence
people’s behaviors and choices
• Use EPA’s position and authority to lead a national dialogue about environmental
stewardship and showcase successful examples
• Work with the education community to make stewardship principles part of the
minimum educational standards for U.S. students
• Demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship through EPA’s own
operations and purchasing decisions
FOCUS ON PRIORITY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WHERE STEWARDSHIP
HAS THE GREATEST POTENTIAL
1) Design stewardship strategies for a small set of cross-cutting priority issues
a) Sustainable products –
 Design for the Environment and other initiatives, use a product focus to unite the
appropriate media programs around the development of more sustainable goods.
 An agency-wide initiative could focus on the key decision-makers (e.g.,
manufacturers, technology developers, retailers, consumers) and the critical decision
points that exist within product life cycles – from design, through manufacture and
use, to end of pipe disposal or reuse. It should be applied to both existing products and
to emerging products, like nanotechnologies

b) Clean transportation – Expand the EPA and State focus on innovative solutions to
air quality, energy and other environmental impacts of transportation. Build on
successes in Smart Way Transport, Best Workplaces for Commuters, and the Diesel
Retrofit Program, and look for new opportunities presented by the Energy Policy Act
c) Ecosystem protection –Working with Federal, State, Tribal and local partners,
initiate new projects that use a mix of regulatory and non-regulatory measures to
protect and restore ecosystem functions, and fully utilize authorities provided under
 the National Environmental Policy Act. Also, encourage use of market mechanisms to
reflect the immense value that a wide range of ecosystems services provide, and that
stimulate entrepreneurial action, investment and market innovation
d) Community stewardship – Support local institutions that can design environmental
stewardship strategies with community involvement. Using the Community Action for
a Renewed Environment (or CARE) program as a model, consider other ways to
engage a variety of partners, including neighborhoods, schools, religious
congregations, and environmental organizations, in collaborative environmental
problem solving
e) Resource conservation – Pursue opportunities to conserve water, energy, materials,
and other natural resources to achieve multiple benefits. Start by finding ways to
leverage and better coordinate existing programs, such as the Resource Conservation
Challenge, WasteWise, ENERGY STAR, and water conservation
2) Strategic use of challenge programs.
• Challenge programs offer a cost-effective way to raise the profile of an important
environmental issue and galvanize participation in the development of solutions.
• EPA has used challenge programs successfully before; examples include reducing use
of toxics, accelerating testing of priority chemicals (High Production Volume
Challenge), spurring environmental improvement on a facility-wide basis
(Performance Track), and more recently, conserving natural resources and increasing
reuse and recycling (Resource Conservation Challenge).
• EPA would work closely with its government partners to identify suitable challenge
areas, and specific incentives, informational tools, and other resources that could be
used in an effective challenge program. We should also engage non-governmental
organizations, key trade associations, and other stakeholder groups to leverage their
existing networks and reach a wider audience.
• 3) Leverage market opportunities.
• Harness the increasing interest in environmental performance information by
investment, insurance, and other financial institutions to focus attention on priority
risks.
• Research, develop, and support market-based incentives that can drive stewardship
approaches

Environmental Management: 7 Basic Principles of Environmental

Management
The Principles of Environmental Management:

These are some guiding principles of environmental management. These principles are

helpful in environmental decision making.

1. Polluter Pays Principle (PPP):

For the last two decades, many economists have suggested that firms discharging polluting

effluents to the environment should somehow be made to pay a price for such discharges

related to the amount of environmental damage caused.

OECD has suggested the Polluter Pays principles (PPP) as a general basis for the

environmental policy. It states that if measures are adopted to reduce pollution, the costs

should be borne by the polluters. According to the OECD Council, “The principle to be used

for allocating costs of pollution prevention and control measures to encourage rational use of

scarce environmental resources and to avoid distortions in international trade and investment

is the so-called Polluter Pays Principle.” The essential concern of this principle is that

polluters should bear the costs of abatement without subsidy.

The Polluter Pays Principle, as interpreted by the Supreme Court of India, means that the

absolute liability for harm to the environment extends not only to compensate the victims of

pollution but also the cost of restoring the environmental degradation. Thus, it includes

environmental costs as well as direct costs to people or property. Remediation of the damaged

environment is part of the process of sustainable development and as such the polluter is

liable to pay the cost to the individual sufferers as well as the costs of reversing the damaged

ecology.

The application of this principle depends upon the interpretations, particular cases and

situations. This principle has brought more controversial discussions during the Rio Earth

Summit 1992. The South has demanded more financial assistance from the North in

combating the environmental degradation in the South.

There are practical implications on the allocation of economic obligations in relation to

environmentally damaging activities, particularly in relation to liability and the use of

economic instruments.
2. The User Pays Principle (UPP):

It is considered as a part of the PPP. The principle states that all resource users should pay for

the full long-run marginal cost of the use of a resource and related services, including any

associated treatment costs. It is applied when resources are being used and consumed.

3. The Precautionary Principle (PP):

The main objective of the precautionary principle is to ensure that a substance or activity

posing a threat to the environment is prevented from adversely affecting the environment,

even if there is no conclusive scientific proof of linking that particular substance or activity to

environmental damage. The words ‘substance’ and ‘activity’ are the result of human

intervention.

The Rio Declaration in its Principle 15 emphasizes on this principle, wherein it is provided

that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage. Lack of full scientific certainty

shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost effective measures to prevent environmental

degradation. Therefore, the principle is essential for the protection of environment and human

health by implementing in the field of production and distribution of energy resources.

4. Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency:

It is essential that efficiency of resources use may also be accomplished by the use of policy

instruments that create incentive to minimize wasteful use. It also applies to various issues of

environmental governance by streaming processes and procedures in order to minimize

environmental costs.

5. The Principle of Responsibility:

It is the responsibility of all persons, corporations and states to maintain the ecological

processes. Further, access to environmental resources carries attendant responsibilities to use

them in an ecological sustainable economically efficient and socially fair manner.

6. The Principle of Participation:

It is the duty of all the persons to participate in collectively environmental decision making

activities. Some participation areas are related to the use of trees and other plants, minerals,

soils, fish and wildlife for purposes such as materials and food as well as for consumptive and

non-consumptive recreation. The second issue concerns solid waste i.e. garbage, construction

and demolition materials and chemically hazardous waste etc. The third issue of participation

is related to pollution generating activities.

7. The Principle of Proportionality:

The principle of proportionality is based on the concept of balance. A balance is to maintain

between the economic development on the one hand and environmental protection on the

other hand. It cannot be disputed that no development is possible without some adverse

effects on ecology. Therefore, it is essential to adjust the interest of the people as well as the

necessity to maintain the environment. Moreover, comparative hardships have to be balanced

and benefits to a larger section of the people have to be maintained.

National Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution

By GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

PREAMBLE

• The commitment of Government on abatement of pollution for preventing

deterioration of the environment is stated here.

• The policy elements seek to shift emphasis from defining objectives for each problem

area towards actual implementation, but the focus is on the long term, because

pollution particularly affects the poor

• THE PROBLEM
• Water is polluted by four kinds of substances : traditional organic waste, waste

generated from industrial processes, chemical agents for fertilizers and pesticides for

crop protection and silt from degraded catchments.

• Ambient air quality trends in the major cities indicate that levels of suspended

particulate matter are higher than the prescribed standards or limits, especially in

summer months. Levels of nitrogen dioxide are increasing in urban centers with

growing vehicle emissions

• The chemical industry generates an increasing quantity of substances every year;

adversely affecting essential aspects of the composition of the atmosphere, soil and

Water

• With restrictions on releases to air and wastewater, hazardous chemical wastes are

getting diverted to land for their disposal

• The chemical industry generates an increasing quantity of substances every year;

adversely affecting essential aspects of the composition of the atmosphere, soil and

Water

• With restrictions on releases to air and wastewater, hazardous chemical wastes are

getting diverted to land for their disposal

• The depletion of forests has been accompanied by increasing amount of pollution

affecting atmosphere, soil and water. Some of the damage is irreversible.

• In seeking a higher quality of life while developed countries need to focus on

changing the composition of their processes and products, developing countries will

need to obtain the benefits of economic growth.

• The policy statement on Abatement of Pollution thus complements the Forest Policy

Statement. The Government seeks to ensure that its policies in every sector are based

on a set of principles that harmonise economic development and environmental

imperatives.

OBJECTIVES

The objective is to integrate environmental considerations into decision making at all

levels. To achieve this, steps have to be taken to-

• Prevent pollution at source

• Encourage, develop and apply the best available practicable technical solutions

• Ensure that the polluter pays for the pollution and control arrangements

• Focus protection on heavily polluted areas and river stretches and

• Involve the public in decision making

ASSISTANCE FOR ADOPTION OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES BY SMALL

SCALE INDUSTRIES

• Small scale industries are a special feature of economy.

• Government are implementing a scheme for providing assistance for promoting

combined facilities for treatment of effluents and solid wastes generated in clusters of

small scale units.

• This scheme will be extended to provide necessary technical support as well.

 • While the large and medium industrial units will remain totally responsible for control

of its pollution, assistance will be provided to small-scale industrial units, particularly

those located in rural areas, to aid the implementation of pollution control measures.

• This will be achieved by promoting development and adoption of cleaner

technologies, including environmentally friendly biotechnology.

What Are Natural Resources?

Natural resources are resources that occur in nature without any manmade assistance. Any
naturally occurring substance qualifies as a natural resource, including animals, plants, water,
oil, coal, minerals, timber, land, light, soil, and energy. Natural resources can be renewable or
nonrenewable:
 Renewable resources refer to undiminishable substances, such as solar and wind
energy, biomass energy, and hydropower.
 Nonrenewable resources refer to resources that cannot be naturally replenished at an
adequate pace to meet growing demands. Nonrenewable resources include water,
fossil fuels, natural gases, minerals, and nuclear energy.
Why Is Conserving Natural Resources Important?
 Humans rely on natural resources for survival, but not all natural resources are
renewable. The food and water we consume, the air we breathe, and the shelter we
make all derive from natural resources, so we must take steps to conserve what we
have to encourage the health and longevity of both the planet and humankind. Human
activity, mainly the use of nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels, is responsible for
the massive spike in climate change. By conserving our natural resources, we can
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and have a more positive impact on our natural
environment.
8 Ways to Conserve Natural Resources at Home
There are several ways to conserve natural resources in your very own home, such as:
1. Use less water. Taking shorter showers or turning off the faucet while brushing your
teeth can reduce water waste in your home. Only use your dishwasher or washing
machine when there is a full load, and switch to energy-saving appliances if possible.
2. Turn off the lights. Turn off any lights or televisions after you leave a room. Unplug
appliances like portable air conditioners, toasters, and coffeemakers when not in use,
as they can continue to use small amounts of electricity. Additionally, LED light bulbs
require far less wattage than standard bulbs, so switching to this alternative lighting
method can also help conserve resources.
3. Use renewable energy. Although renewable energy consumption has been in practice
for centuries, recent years of climate change and global warming have pushed many
scientists and researchers to look for ways to incorporate more green practices into our
everyday lives. Renewable energy replenishes itself, cutting down on our need to
harvest new resources. Using solar panels or wind energy can significantly reduce our
reliance on natural gas and cut back on resource depletion over time.
4. Recycle. Making new products requires the use of resources, but recycling helps reuse
the materials we already have. Manufacturing fewer new materials reduce waste,
 which helping decrease groundwater and air pollution. Find a center that accepts items
like plastic bottles, cardboard, or aluminum for recycling. Switch to paperless billing
and buy recycled paper to limit the need for logging and deforestation.
5. Compost. Composting is a great way to convert your food scraps into useful materials
for your home garden. Composting enriches your soil and reduces the need for
watering by improving runoff, which reduces soil erosion. Composting also attracts
beneficial organisms that cut down on the need for pesticides or harmful chemicals.
Composting encourages sustainability and can lessen the amount of waste and
pollution produced by food waste.
6. Choose reusable goods. Avoiding single-use plastics is another way to conserve
resources. Instead of buying water bottles, plastic cups, or paper plates, opt for
ceramic, metal, or glassware. Use your own fabric grocery bags rather than plastic
bags. Reusing items is a great way to reduce waste and keep excess trash out of
landfills.
7. Manage your thermostat. Heating and air conditioning make up approximately half
of your energy bill, but lowering the heat by just two degrees in the winter can help
conserve energy in your home. Raising the thermostat two degrees in the summer will
also have energy-saving effects and help reduce your monthly bill.
8. Thrift shop. It can take over 600 gallons of water to make a single cotton t-shirt.
Buying secondhand clothing can reduce the amount of reusable clothing that ends up
in landfills by extending its lifecycle. Thrift shopping increases the amount of time
between the use and disposal phase of a garment’s lifecycle, giving us more out of our
used clothing, which can decrease the need for overproduction and manufacturing.
National Environment Policy (NEP) - Ministry of Environment and Forests
(2006)
The National Environment Policy (NEP) by the Ministry of Environment and Forests
(MoEF) aims at mainstreaming environmental concerns into all developmental activities. It
emphasises conservation of resources, and points that the best way to aid conservation is to
ensure that people dependent on resources obtain better livelihoods from conservation, than
from degradation of the resources. It argues that environmental degradation often leads to
poverty and poor health outcomes among populations.
The document goes on to highlight the principles underlying the policy that emphasise the
 Important role of human beings in the sustainable development processes
 The non negotiability and incomparable value of environmental resources
 Right to development for all
 Equity in the use of environmental resources and
 The need for the decentralised and multisectoral approach in dealing with
environmental issues.
The objectives of the policy include:
 Conservation of critical environmental resources
 Intra-generational equity
 Livelihood security for the poor
 Inter-generational equity
 Integration of environmental concerns in economic and social development
 Efficiency in environmental resource use
  Environmental governance
 Enhancement of resources for environmental conservation
The document outlines a range of strategies to meet these objectives that aim at:
 Conservation of existing environmental resources through regulatory reforms
 Emphasis on education, information, research, capacity building and technological
innovations
 Intersectoral collaboration and periodic evaluations of the existing policies.