Environmental Management Planning

( Article Type: Explanation )

Environmental management is a deliberate, multi-disciplinary process, which requires careful preparation and planning. Information on natural and human activities, processes and systems must be gathered, plans and procedures decided upon, documents drawn up and systems implemented.

The results add environmental perspectives to existing planning processes.
The process will result in the identification of new issues and concerns, but in most cases, the matters identified are well known in concept, if not in environmental jargon.

Although formal environmental management systems (such as ISO 14001) are desirable, for most smaller businesses a simple environmental management system is all that is needed and, in most cases, it can be linked to the existing operational management systems.

Planning for the implementation of environmental management needs to be undertaken and it should be carried out in a participative manner to ensure that all stakeholders and interested and affected parties who will be subject to it, will understand its purpose and the manner and form in which it is to be applied.