Chapter 1

Introduction

At the end of the chapter, students must be able to:

1. Define terms and connect environment, management, systems and organizations to

environmental management.
2. Realize the significance of systems and their role in environmental management.
3. Describe how environmental management can manage risks and be used as
environmental Protection.
4. Recognize and appreciate the benefits of an effective environmental management
system.
5. Familiarize with environmental principles.

Environment represents all surrounding to an existing living organism. It includes the set of
natural, social and cultural morals and ethics presented in a specific location at a precise period,
which has impact in the existence of the humankind and in the generations to take place.

It is not only the place in which life progress, but moreover incorporates living creatures,
objects, water, soil, air and the associations connecting all of them on top of intangibles like
culture.

Environment Day is celebrated every 5th of June.

Components of environment

In the broad-spectrum theory of systems, an environment is a composite of outside features that

operates on a system and establish their track and mode of survival and continuity.

Human Action

Natural resources Artificial or man-

made resources

ENVIRONMENT
Natural resources are found in nature that man uses to meet their needs.

(Man-made) Resources -Are materials from the environment that people converted to produce
other things.

NATURAL
Land ( soil, mountains, fields)
Air (oxygen, helium etc.)
Water ( oceans, sea, river, lake)
Plants (trees, forest)
Animals (goats, cows, etc.)
MAN-MADE
Buildings, schools,houses,agriculture
Balloon, fuel gas,hospital oxygen
Bottled water, resorts, fishponds
Paper products, furnitures,wood
Processed or canned meat, dairy

Management of resources

Raw materials, + tools + skills will produce man-made resources.

Different firms came into the picture, each offering different products and services. With
the existence of such firms, it can only succeed through proper management and utilization of
all respective resources, including manpower.

Management

 The synchronization of the activities of a firm in order to accomplish definite goals and
intentions is management. It is consists of the interconnecting tasks of designing
corporate policies and procedures toward the realization of an organization’s ventures.
 Management consists of the interconnecting tasks of designing corporate policies and
procedures toward the realization of an organization’s ventures.
PEOPLE

MANAGEMENT

PROCESS

DISCIPLINE
 We now try to incorporate Environment and Business Management to further
understand why there is a need to study environmental Management.

The Wonders of Nature

Nature, on its own, is absolutely amazing and beautiful. When the earth was not yet
abused by humans and the word pollution was not yet manifested, environmental harmony
exists. The water used to be clean and clear. Fish and other creatures are in abundance. The
air was fresh and pure. The soil was rich and fertile.

However, due to the changing of times and other factors like overpopulation and
urbanization, the environment experienced changes that led to severe drought and famine.

But, is it really overpopulation and urbanization that triggered environmental problems?

Or lack of discipline and mismanagement of resources?

Environmental Factors

- Physical Factors ( Climate, Geology, Geography)

- Biological Factors ( Human Population, Flora and Fauna, Water)
- Socio-Economic Factors ( Employment, Urbanization, Social and Political Conflicts)

Environmental resource management is the management of the interaction and

impact of human societies on the environment. It is not, as the phrase might suggest, the
management of the environment itself. Environmental resources management aims to ensure
that ecosystem services are protected and maintained for future human generations, and also
maintain ecosystem integrity through considering ethical, economic, and scientific (ecological)
variables. Environmental resource management tries to identify factors affected by conflicts that
rise between meeting needs and protecting resources. It is thus linked to environmental
protection and sustainability.

The following areas need environmental management:

1. Population increase and health services.
2. Treatment of pollutants (air, water and solid) generated from various sources.
3. Pollution level in air, water and soil.
4. Development of non-polluting renewable energy sources like wind, solar, biomass
etc.
5. Solid waste utilization through recycling.
6. Biodiversity Conservation.
7. Environmental awareness in society.

Introduction Environmental Management:

Our very survival in this planet Earth depends on the proper management of
environment. Every living species in this plant require air, water for survival. All living
beings are interdependent directly or indirectly. The survival of trees and forests will
bring good rainfall and good agriculture. The climatic condition depends on the air
temperature. Everyone is now feeling the change of climate due to the rise in air
temperature of the earth. More presence of carbon dioxide is resulting global warming,
ozone layer depletion and acid rain. All these environmental hazards are happening due
to imbalances in the surrounding air.
Every living body need clean air, water and soil for survival and healthy life. Due
to enormous increase in population and stress on environmental factors like air, water
and soil, it is now urgently needed to frame guidelines and rules for the management of
environment in a proper way. A good management of environment can only bring a
sustainable life to all in this planet earth.
The awareness regarding environmental problems and their proper management
began in 1970s through various people movements around many countries of the world.
The green peace movement, the Chipko movement etc. are some of them. The
advancement in the field of science and technology helped to provide various tools and
instrument supported by statistical data to properly solve environmental problems and
help in its management.
The revolution in the field of computer technologies has now provided us enough
means to utilize this in the area of environmental management. There are now very
advanced instruments to measure air and water qualities at different places. The soil
testing procedure adopted now can give very accurate result about the quality and
nutrient quantities of soil at different areas.
The rapid growth in population along with rapid industrialization has put much
stress on environmental factors like air, water and soil. Many forest areas have given
way to establish factories. Large amount of industrial waste polluting the air water and
soil in the surrounding areas. This pollution is not limited to one place. It is spreading to
many areas of population. This pollution of environment has become a global issue. It
requires help from all sections of people in the society. People around the world are
now very conscious about the health of the environment. Due to development in all
branches of science and technology, there is enough scope for environmental
management in the present time.

Environmental management is a process that industries, companies, and

individuals undertake to regulate and protect the health of the natural world. In most
cases, it does not actually involve managing the environment itself, but rather is the
process of taking steps and promoting behaviors that will have a positive impact on how
environmental resources are used and protected. Organizations engage in
environmental management for a couple of different reasons, but caring for the natural
world, following local laws and rules about conservation, and saving money are usually
near the top of most lists. Management plans look different in different industries, but all
aim for roughly the same goals.
Environmental Management includes -administrative functions that expound,
execute and observe the environmental guidelines and procedures of a firm,
government in an attempt to manage impact on the environment to protect and
conserve natural resources.
-environmental management centers on the development of human welfare for existing
and future generations
- it also involves Government, People, Process, and Discipline.
 Environment is the representation of the biotic and abiotic interaction in the area.
It includes the natural, social and cultural morals and ethics presented in the area at a
specific time, which has impact on the living organisms and the next generations to
come.
In the theory of systems, environment is compose of different features that
operates on a system, develop their ways and for the survival and continuity of all its
components. The environment works on the Natural Resources with Human
Interventions creating Artificial( man-made)things. Natural resources found in nature
that humans use to satisfy his needs.
Management of Resources
With the availability of raw materials and the tools used with skills of man; he
was able to produce man-made resources. Many firms and corporations exists each
offering many types of products and services. Success of these organizations will be
through proper management and utilization of the different resources and manpower.

Why study Environmental Management?

1. To discover, understand, and be trained on how to utilize techniques for evaluating
and supervising the environmental consequences of both public and private sector
organizations.

2. To expand individual, specialized and research expertise on how to contribute to the

development of our environment.

3. To implement certain management tools and methodology that can be applied in

relevance to perspective business in accordance to the rules and laws set forth by the
government in all levels (local, regional, national, and global).

4. To understand that environmental management is a conscientious effort to all

concerned in bringing together in harmony all efforts to tackle environmental crises that
affect the entire planet.

Condition of our Environment

We cannot refute the fact that our environment is continuously dying. The older
generation, our ancestors, can certainly attest changes they have seen and compare
the past and present situation of our environment.

Change is inevitable.
As much as we want progress, there are things that will surely _. Therefore, there
is a great need to address this concern if we truly want to experience and enjoy true
progress not as living in the present, but more so for our children and the generation.
There are certainly means and ways to prevent negative impact on our environment.
People must be educated and be disciplined in doing even the smallest things for the
environment. It is a collaborative effort and should not be left in the hands of the
government or the environmentalist alone. Individual proper disposal of trash is an
example. The little things that we do every day would somehow have an impact on our
environment, whether good or bad.
The public needs to be conscious of the kinds of environmental setbacks ad
challenges our world is dealing with.
What could you possibly do to contribute in improving our present environmental
condition? If not us, then who; If not now, then when? Moreover, how could we unite
and adhere collectively as one nation to support our planet and create a better dwelling
for everyone to inhabit? We must act now before it is too late.

Pollution

Waste
Climate
Disposal Change

Environmental
Problems

Natural
Resource
Depletion Over population

Illustrated above are some of the major environmental problems that we face at
present. Each one will be discussed accordingly in the succeeding chapters.

Plan, Do, Check.

Most management plans roughly follow a “plan, do, check” model. The first step,
planning, requires the organization to set out specific goals, like reducing wastewater,
implementing new standards for toxin disposal, or better managing erosion. Once an
end-point has been identified, leaders need to come up with a systematic way of
bringing the entire organization into compliance. Next, the company needs to actually
take steps to implement the processes laid out in the planning stage. This is the “do”
aspect, and it can be harder than it sounds. Action typically requires a coordinated effort
that must be put into place over several weeks or months; more often than not, this step
is ongoing, and cannot easily be “checked off” a list.
 Progress assessments are one of the best ways for organizations to gauge how
well they are sticking to their plan. Regular status checks help groups see what is
working and what is not, ideally with time to spare to make changes and improvements
as needed. This step often involves reports and analysis collected over time, and
feedback that is generated during this phase is frequently used to improve planning and
doing going forward. In most cases, environmental management is something of a
cyclical process that continues — and continues adapting — as time goes by.

Training Requirements
In most companies and industries, this work is something that requires at least a
bit of training. A commitment to something like conservation or better methods of waste
disposal is a good starting place, but actually being effective in achieving end results
usually requires expertise and a lot of coordination. If everyone at the organization is not
on board and using the same methods, it can be hard to succeed. When a management
plan is properly enforced and executed by people with the right know-how, however,
companies often see benefits both to their core business and to the environment.

Commitment Costs
Getting the right training and laying the proper groundwork during the planning
phase is often one of the costliest parts of the process. Most companies do not have the
expertise to train their employees, which means that this must be outsourced. A number
of different consulting companies offer educational services and tutorials, often on a
case-by-case or project-by-project basis. Organizations that are really serious about
long-term management initiatives sometimes also choose to create new positions and
hire environmental experts in a more permanent capacity.
There are also usually a number of technical costs. Special equipment may be
needed to measure outputs or intakes, for instance, and software programs and special
computer metrics are often required to make sense of results and readings over time. It
may also be the case that managing environmental consequences requires more
expensive ways of doing business. Many companies are used to doing things the least
expensive way possible, which is something that must often be reconsidered when how
those methods affect the environment are taken into account.

Economic and Other Benefits

In a great many cases, the benefits of an environmental management plan far
outweigh the initial expenses. These include the prevention of pollution, the
conservation of natural resources like water, and increased energy efficiency. Over
time, these benefits often add up to significant cost savings in bills and utility outputs.
Well-executed plans can also help companies avoid costly fines in places where there is
regulation of energy consumption, disposal, and other environmental concerns.
Though a lot depends on the dynamics of the individual organization, following a
management plan can also be a way to build employee relationships and foster
company support around a single goal. Groups that are able to mobilize their workforce
around an issue that people believe in often see better productivity and morale in areas
totally unrelated to the core issue. This means that a company committing to better
safety standards for something like oil transportation might incidentally realize better
office productivity, which in turn can lead to higher sales.

Jobs within the Sector

Many people make their career as environmental management professionals

who help organizations plan different conservation and preservation-related goals.
Some of these people work directly with companies as consultants, while others take
more of a “teacher” or “instructor” role, providing advice but mostly helping companies
help themselves.
Still others find work as regulators; these people work for governments and other
rule-setting entities, usually to audit compliance. Environmental management isn’t
required in all places, but in the areas where it is, ensuring that companies are following
the rules is an important part of the process. This is particularly true for industries that
pose major environmental risks, like oil drilling at sea or the transportation of dangerous
chemicals.
For local government in all places in the country, it is mandated that they must
have an office for environmental concerns.

Concepts of environmental management

Underlying the meaning and ultimate effect of this study are two unarguable
premises: development in its social, economic and cultural dimensions is the process of
improving human life quality; and the process of development involves manipulation of
the complex, interrelated natural and man-made components and processes of human
environments. In this chapter we shall develop concepts based on these premises,
which will lead to an understandable and workable definition of "environmentally sound
development"; we will do this by an examination of the terms: "human quality of life";
"human environments"; "systems goods, services and hazards"; and, "environmental
management."

Human environment

Environmental Scientist defines Environment as "the aggregate of all external

conditions and influences affecting life and development of an organism" (Platt, 1971)
but a definition of the "human environment" must go further. A human environment is
more than external, for internal and external are relative concepts and an individual is a
significant component of his own environment. This study therefore regards the human
environment as "the aggregate of all conditions and influences affecting the behavior
and development of humans as individuals and as societies". "Conditions and
influences" vary over time and space and, though often shared, are perceived and
experienced differently by each individual or society .

Each environment is a system which overlaps, influences, and is influenced by

other systems. They resemble ecosystems (or are at least significant parts of
ecosystems) in that they are units of space where biotic and physical components and
processes interact to develop patterns of energy and material flow and cycling. In
human environments these components and processes - called structure and function
by scientists (Odum, 1962) - are not restricted to those that are from "nature." Indeed,
they include those that are social, economic and political (Smith, 1972) or cultural
(Boyden, 1976). By extension, they include machines, institutions, language, and art, as
well as nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, respiration and food chains, since all are
conduits for the flow and storage of energy .A reductionist approach to environmental
complexity, though useful in a great many ways, cannot resolve environment/
development conflicts. We do participate in a world where everything is related to
everything else. Though some of the components and processes involved are more
important than others, there is no easy way for any one person or interest group to
decide for the others which are the important ones .

Thus, considering the many levels of organization, our world is made up of a

large number of environments - not one. One of those environments, of course, is the
"biosphere," but that is only one more environment and not the environment. The global
environment is important. However, there are countless other environments that are just
as problematic, more easily understood, and treatable and very much nearer at hand
than the global environment. Because there are numerous environments, the phrase
"protect the environment" is not a useful term unless we know whose environment is to
be protected.

The question "whose environment" is always relevant. Because sectoral activities

use, improve, or conserve what comes to us from an environment, decisions based on
these sectoral interests are the cause of what have been called "environmental
problems." These problems are created by efforts to improve quality of life in one
environment at the expense of reduced quality of life in another. "The environment,"
therefore, is not a special set of unique interests to be treated separately from
"development."

Natural resources and the concept of goods, services and hazards

Nature is the original patrimony of humanity and is the source of goods and
services as well as of the space in which society develops and evolves. The concept of
goods, services and hazards opens and extends the concept of natural resources and
links the concepts of environmental quality and life quality, since a quality environment
is one that provides the necessary goods and services to satisfy life quality needs and
which mitigates the severity of an encounter with a hazardous event.

When the natural characteristics of ecosystem structure and function are of

interest to any one, they are classified as natural goods and services. Natural goods are
generally equivalent to natural resources except that they have been further defined and
identified by specific sectors as being useful for development. Thus, within the natural
resource "forest," the natural goods may be woody fiber for lumber, pulpwood, or posts;
medicinal plants; edible fruits, and chemical substances among others. Natural services
are derived from the natural characteristics of ecosystem structure and function and
include the flow of energy and materials; nutrient storage, distribution and cycling;
provision of wildlife habitat; germplasm storage and evolution; biomass production; and
flood control.

The term "goods and services" historically carries an economic connotation.

Economic goods and services are, of course, the results of labour and the expenditure
of capital to refine and convert natural resources to useful products, and to design and
provide activities of public utility such as health, security, communication and
government services.Several years ago, the concept of "natural goods and services"
was introduced. These have been defined as those goods and services that are
provided by natural environments and, in economic literature, include, but are not
confined to, "amenity resources."

In many ways, no fundamental distinction can be made between natural and

economic goods and services. Both types are derived from the structure and processes
of ecosystems. Both types support human life quality. Individual examples of each kind
have value dependent upon their utility and scarcity. Price and market participation do
not make a difference despite the fact that early efforts to place a market price on
natural systems - and the goods and services they provide - met with stiff resistance on
the part of some economists . There is now little, if any, debate as to whether natural
goods and services have value nor whether the concept fits economic theory.

Indeed, the major difference between them seems to be that economic goods
and services have been thoroughly discussed and studied while natural goods and
services have not. To correct this inequity, today economists are beginning to grapple
with ways to place a value on non-priced natural goods and services . Those which
remain non-priced but no less valuable will have their identifiable constituencies who will
demand due process in development planning in much the same way as the value of
work in the household and the real worth of protection by police and firemen are
receiving increasing attention because housewives and police officers demand it.

Natural goods and services have a value according to the following categories:
1. They may have economic, social or cultural value and are therefore considered
to be important to current development activities. The economic elements (those that
are priced and participate in the monetary market) are well understood. The barter
system is less understood but no less important in many development contexts -
particularly in frontier areas such as the Central Salve. Though not necessarily
quantifiable, the social and cultural components can also be valuable in other ways.
Human culture and life styles contribute to the diversity and richness of a population.
Both recent immigrants and native peoples use an area's natural goods and services as
food, folk remedies, and instruments in religious ceremonies, and to provide historical
perspective. Though not ordinarily considered in development planning, the social and
cultural components may carry an importance far beyond anything known by an
outsider.
2. They may have a scientific value and are therefore of importance to future
development. Natural goods and services of this type are of interest to those who
search for new technologies and new information for development purposes. Much of
the effort to protect endangered species, representative ecosystems, germplasm
reserves, and wild lands for research and monitoring fall into this category.

3. They may control ecosystem functioning and are therefore important to a

sustainable flow of a good or service. Thus, activities which lead to the conservation,
protection and use of those natural goods and services required to maintain ecosystem
attributes of value are also important development activities. Included are the natural
goods and services of erosion and flood control, climate regulation, and chemical
buffering. Their conservation or protection is legitimate and
valuable development activities.

In addition to providing natural goods and services, human environments also

present a gamut of natural hazards which have a great influence on how successful
development efforts may be. These phenomena are also the result of ecosystem
structure and function. Earthquakes and hurricanes are a part of energy and material
flow in the global ecosystem. Though they are hazards to development they may be
responsible for a significant number of natural goods and services.

1. Hurricanes which distribute large amounts of energy built up in tropical latitudes to

the temperate latitudes are also responsible for the survival of valuable mangrove
systems ;

2. Natural flooding and ocean currents are responsible for massive flows and cycling of
nutrients ;

3. Lightning fixes unusable nitrogen to useful forms; bees sting but they have a value
beyond calculation in the pollination of flowering plants and in food production for
human beings .

Indeed, the process of development is made up of those activities that lead to

the use, improvement, or conservation of goods and services in order to maintain and
improve life quality. "Negative environmental impact," on the other hand, is the opposite
of development. That is, it is the destruction, impoverishment, misuse or non-use of
goods and services whether the result of human activity or of natural hazardous events.

Environmental management objectives

The objective of environmental management is improved human life quality. It

involves the mobilization of resources and the use of government to administer the use
of both natural and economic goods and services. It is based on the principles of
ecology. It uses systems analysis and conflict resolution to distribute the costs and
benefits of development activities throughout the affected populations and seeks to
protect the activities of development from natural hazards. Conflict identification is one
of the more important tasks in environmental management planning and the resolution
of conflicts is a fundamental part of what makes up "environmentally sound
development."In the complex and interdependent world that we have been given,
environmental management is required because the activities of development in one
sector affect in both positive and negative ways the quality of life in others. Indeed, if
one asks of any "environmental impact" the questions "who caused it?" and "who felt
it?," sector/sector relationships are identified. For example, a hydroelectric dam which
reduces nutrient levels in the water and thus destroys downstream fisheries is sector
410 causing problems for sector 130 of the UN List of Economic Activities (UN, 1969).
By the same token, cutting down trees to produce grazing land for cattle may cause
sedimentation in a reservoir, and is a problem between sectors 111 and 420. And, if a
hotel sends its wastes out to sea only to have them return to its beaches, a conflict is
caused within sector 632. It needs to be said in addition that such "problems" are, in
reality, conflicts between two activities. That is to say, the problem is not only caused by
promoting ranching over fisheries since a decision in favor of fisheries will cause a
problem for ranching as well. It is the conflict that requires solution.

Such a concept of "environmental impact" may be seen to have left out "the
environment;" a very large black box exists between cause and effect if one is only
interested in those sectoral activities which cause a problem and those which receive
the problem. There are two basic reasons, however, why this is not a major concern
here. First, the guidelines to be produced are guidelines for planning development at
the earliest possible stage of the process. Time, funding, and expertise at this level do
not allow in-depth study of that black box. Second, the guidelines are for planners in the
humid tropics - a biome known for its lack of available information. That is, the black
box covering the humid tropics is a very large one and efforts to reduce its size in any
significant way - though certainly necessary and welcomed by planners - should not be
undertaken by planners. The needs of development planning should help orient
research in information-scarce areas. But, in the context of specific development
planning projects, neither science nor planning will be advanced much by expenditures
of large amounts of planning time and funds for research.

Conflicts between natural hazards and development activities also exist and
result from a confrontation between hazardous natural events and human activity. So-
called "natural disasters" occur because we have not paid sufficient attention to natural
hazardous phenomena. Indeed, the term "natural disaster" is misleading for this reason:
it places the blame on nature when, in fact, the blame belongs to those who decided
that projects be implemented under circumstances that jeopardize the very objectives
that the development activities were designed to meet.

The techniques of conflict resolution are well known and are comparatively
successful given man's continued existence on earth for several thousands of years
under very complex conditions. If they had not worked there would be no life as we
know it today. Conflicts make up the matrix in which we live; it is a world of uncertainties
compounded by a shortage of technical information, a large variety of values, interests
and judgments, and overlapping environments.
 Most writers on the subject of conflict resolution, however, say that conflict can
be positive as well as negative . For example, conflict tends to maintain valid group
boundaries and needed group structure and provides incentives for the formation of
alliances to combat an exploitive elite. Planning, especially inter-sectoral planning, has
a tremendous advantage over efforts in real life to resolve conflicts because, in many
ways, planning is a game; and, to play the game one must cooperate. Within this
context, individuals on a planning team have a shared commitment to rules and
procedures which can be controlled. The various parties (sector specialists) operate
with a similar rationale, can be easily encouraged to focus on criteria rather than on
positions and, each can insist that evaluation criteria be objective. The result is an
opportunity to invent options for conflict resolution that provide for mutual gain.

Many activities designed to use, improve, conserve, and protect goods and
services for development purposes support other development activities. Development
projects requiring the conservation of ecosystems for purposes of wildlife management
also conserve the soil stabilization function of vegetation and, as a result, downstream
reservoirs receive less sediment. Development policies that restrict construction in
areas of natural flooding create recreation possibilities and green space near urban
areas and lessen dependence on expensive flood control structures. Enlightened
systems engineering turns industrial wastes into residuals that provide raw material for
other development projects (Bower, 1977).

Environmentally sound development

Discussions that treat environment and development revolve around the point of
"environmentally sound development." Despite this, the term has seldom been defined
and it is left to the reader to gather from the discussion just what it might be. In large
part, such discussions seem to suggest that development is "environmentally sound" if it
is "sustainable," if it does not "disturb the ecological balance," if it "causes no
environmental degradation," if it does not "surpass the carrying capacity of the natural
system," and if it "avoids the loss of long term natural productivity." Even the most
cursory analysis, however, will show that such criteria are untenable; no development
project - including conservation - can meet all of these restrictions on development.
First, there is a problem of meeting the objectives of development. Development
objectives that do not treat life quality - even if "environmentally sound" - make no sense
because no one will benefit.

Second, there is a problem of level of aggregation. Which natural system are we

talking about? The construction of any man-made structure will disturb, even erase,
natural systems at a certain level.

Third is a question of decision. Is long-term natural productivity essential when a

choice must be made between wood fiber and protein?
 Fourth, there is a question of adequacy. Is the carrying capacity of a natural
system relevant when it can be significantly increased through the application of even
the simplest technology?

Fifth, there are problems of clarity and specificity. Environmental "degradation"

and "ecological balance" mean different things to different people. Is a project
"environmentally sound," for example if "balance" is maintained but a species is lost, or
added, because of that project?

To evade such problems this study has defined "environmentally sound

development" as a process having the improvement of human life quality as its
objective. It is a process of active manipulation of ecosystem structure and function in
order to appropriate the goods and services offered by the ecosystem in question. It
minimizes the conflict inherent in the appropriation of those goods and services; it
maximizes mutual support between the required activities and distributes their costs and
benefits throughout the affected populations. The chapters which follow are based on
this understanding of environmentally sound development.

Condition of our Environment

We cannot refute the fact that our environment is continuously dying. The older
generation, our ancestors, can certainly attest changes they have seen and compare
the past and present situation of our environment.

Change is inevitable.

As much as we want progress, there are things that will surely _. Therefore, there
is a great need to address this concern if we truly want to experience and enjoy true
progress not as living in the present, but more so for our children and the generation.
There are certainly means and ways to prevent negative impact on our environment.
People must be educated and be disciplined in doing even the smallest things for the
environment. It is a collaborative effort and should not be left in the hands of the
government or the environmentalist alone.
Individual proper disposal of trash is an example. The little things that we do
every day would somehow have an impact on our environment, whether good or bad.

The public needs to be conscious of the kinds of environmental setbacks ad

challenges our world is dealing with.

What could you possibly do to contribute in improving our present environmental

condition? If not us, then who; If not now, then when? Moreover, how could we unite
and adhere collectively as one nation to support our planet and create a better dwelling
for everyone to inhabit? We must act now before it is too late.
 Pollution

Waste
Climate
Disposal Change

Environmental
Problems

Natural
Resource
Depletion Over population

Illustrated above are some of the major environmental problems that we face at
present. Each one will be discussed accordingly in the succeeding chapters.
With the realization problems that our environment must hurdle, a corresponding
entity was created to combat such barriers and impediments.

Conservation and Environmental

Preservation of Status
Resources Evaluation

Environmental Environmental
Planning Legislation and
Environmental Administration
Management
Environmental Planning

-A decision making process aimed to carry out development in consideration to

the natural environment, in general. Its goal is to create sustainable outcomes
while protecting and conserving natural resources.

Conservation and Preservation of Resources

-The ethical allocation, usage and protection of indispensable resources in order

to maintain the natural habitat for both the present and future generations.

Efficient Allocation and Utilization – proper distribution, proper Usage

Conservation of Preservation of
Resources Resources

Protection of Protection of
natural resources buildings,
objects and
landscapes

Seeks proper use Seeks proper use

of nature of nature
 Environmental Status of Evaluation

a. Also known as environmental assessment.

b. Process of estimating and calculating significant short term and long term
outcomes and consequences of any implemented undertakings with respect to
its impact on the environment.
c. After thorough evaluation, certain steps must now be considered to reduce or
alleviate such effects to somehow compensate for whatever damages incurred.
d. Impact Assessment is based on Environmental Assessment.

Environmental Legislation and Administration

a. The Environmental Administration is defined by its legal content.

b. The heart of environment law management is directed toward dealing with
environmental pollution.
c. The environmental policy centers on snags evolving from the blows created by
humans who triggered negative impact not only on the environment, but more
importantly on our health.

Environmental Management System (EMS)

“The part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure,
planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for
developing, implementing achieving and reviewing the environmental policy. ISO14001

Mankind Money Machine Materials Methods Market

Six M’s in Environmental Management

 An environmental management structure brings collectively in sync the people,
capital, devices, resources, techniques, and mechanism used to deal with
environmental concerns at a facility or in an organization.

An Environmental Management System objective is an overall goal arising

from the environmental required related to the objective.

Example:
Objective: Reduce transportation congestion
Target : Improve roads and bridges within five years
Target : Replace old vehicles running for at least 10 years
Target : Invest in public transportation like LRT, MRT
What therefore is the objective of EMS?

Principles of Environmental Education; Why do we have to be educated on this?

1. Environmental Education must involve everyone.

Because of its very nature and importance, environmental education cannot be

confined to any one group in our society. It is a responsibility for everyone -
government, industry, the media, educational institutions, community groups - as well as
individuals.

2. Environmental Education must be lifelong.

Information about environmental problems is always improving, as we learn from

our past experiences and mistakes. As we develop and apply better environmental
technologies, the ability of society and individuals to respond effectively also improves.
In order to move closer to achieving ecologically sustainable development as a nation,
all Australians need to continually refresh the knowledge and skills which they apply to
the environmental challenges we face. Just as workplace learning and retraining are
essential to continued productivity, the same is true of education for sustainability,
whether in formal or non-formal settings.

3. Environmental Education must be holistic and about connections.

 In order to address environmental challenges, people need to think broadly and
understand systems, connections, patterns and causes. The challenges themselves
frequently have social, scientific, cultural, economic and ethical aspects, all of which
must be considered for their effective management. Specialist discipline-based
knowledge, while contributing critically, is no longer adequate by itself - an holistic
appreciation of the context of environmental problems is essential.

Meeting this need presents a dilemma to the formal education systems over
whether environmental education should be taught as a separate subject or
incorporated into one or more particular subject areas. The right answer may vary from
situation to situation, depending on what is most practical - suffice to say, a much
stronger re-orientation of all relevant areas of formal education towards issues of
sustainability is required.

Equally important is the need to establish better communicative links between

those people working on, or learning about, similar or related environmental issues, but
who come from different professional or disciplinary backgrounds. Better grounds for
communication and partnerships are also required between formal and non-formal
education settings, and between various groups with competing interests on
environmental issues.In Australia the quality of our environmental education is
enhanced by the opportunity to appreciate and learn from our indigenous peoples'
experience, particularly their affinity with the environment in which they lived and
continue to live.

4. Environmental Education must be practical.

One of the most fundamental defining characteristics of effective environmental

education is that it must lead to actions which result in better environmental outcomes,
not simply the accumulation of inert knowledge or impractical skills.
This is ultimately the yardstick by which the effectiveness of our efforts in environmental
education is measured.

5. Environmental Education must be in harmony with social and economic goals and
accorded equal priority.

Effective environmental education must also encourage the pursuit of

environmental goals in a way that acknowledges other powerful and legitimate social
and economic goals - it should not be taught in a vacuum, or simply equip people to
pursue an agenda on the margins of society.

Environmental education needs to incorporate this reality by providing people with

the knowledge, understanding and capacity to influence mainstream society in a way
which progresses environmental objectives along with other legitimate social and
economic objectives.Similarly, one of the objectives of environmental education is to
develop a fundamental acceptance in the community that the nation's environmental
objectives should be accorded the same priority as its social and economic objectives.