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Hari Srinivas |
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Continuing Research Series E-015. March 2015.
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▇ Introduction:
What exactly is the ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), based in Geneva, Switzerland. At its core, it sets the requirements for establishment of an environmental management system.
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 he ISO 14000 series addresses environmental management systems, environmental auditing, environmental labeling, environmental performance evaluation, and life
cycle assessment. These International standards are voluntary standards for the
establishment of a common worldwide approach to management systems that will
lead to the protection of the earth's environment while spurring international trade
and commerce. They serve as tools to manage environmental
programs and provide an internationally recognized framework to measure, evaluate,
and audit these programs. When implemented, these standards will ensure
consistency in environmental management practice, harmonize national
environmental standards within an international framework, simplify registrations,
labeling and conflicting requirements, provide a single system for all transnational
subsidiaries, and offer guidelines for environmental management excellence. Even
though the standards do not prescribe performance levels, performance
improvements will invariably be achieved by any entity if its commitment to
environmental care is emphasized and employees are trained and are aware of the
policies in place to protect the environment. The ISO 14001 voluntary
environmental management standards and guidelines are intended to be practical,
useful and usable for companies or organizations of all sizes.
- ANSI Online
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The implementation of ISO 14001 is cyclical requiring the development of a comprehensive environmental policy, a planning process to operationalize the policy, its implementation and operation, checking and implementing corrective action if needed, and management review (see the step-by-step guide for further information).
For cities, there are several benefits of acquiring ISO 14001 certification. It provides leverage in emphasizing and replicating better environmental action. It enables and provides an integrated approach to environmental management. The ISO 14001 takes a comprehensive view of all of the processes of an organization - hence it is system dependent, and not person-dependent. It also promotes sound environmental management.
Briefly, some of the procedures required to be put in place in order to obtain ISO 14001 certification include:
- identification of significant environmental aspects
- identification of legal and other requirements
- internal and external communication
- document control
- operational control
- emergency preparedness and response
- monitoring and measurement of key characteristics
- equipment calibration
- evaluating legal and regulatory compliance
- maintaining records
- EMS Audit
The
Elements of ISO 14001
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ISO 14001 Clause 4.1 |
An EMS is to be established and
maintained according to the requirements of Clause 4 in whole. |
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ISO 14001 Clause 4.2 |
An effective EMS is driven by senior
level commitment to the ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. |
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ISO 14001 Clause 4.3 |
The EMS is developed in a PLANNING
exercise that identifies:
- Significant environmental impacts
of the organizations; and
- Legal and other requirements;
and generates:
- Objectives and targets for environmental
performance; and
- Environmental management programs/plans
for delivering the environmental policy.
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ISO 14001 Clause 4.4 |
IMPLEMENTATION and OPERATION
requires:
- Structure and responsibility;
- Training, awareness, and competence;
- External & internal communication;
- EMS documentation;
- Document control;
- Operational control; and
- Emergency preparedness and response.
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ISO 14001 Clause 4.5 |
Performance is assured through
CHECKING & CORRECTIVE ACTION, including:
- Monitoring & measurement;
- Correction of non-conformance,
& preventative action;
- Appropriate maintenance of records;
and
- EMS auditing.
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ISO 14001 Clause 4.6 |
The ongoing relevance and continual
improvement of the EMS is a function of the MANAGEMENT REVIEW. |
▇ Why ISO? Internal and External Benefits
of ISO certifications for Local Governments
The ISO 1400 series is relatively new, with many companies and business attempting to obtain ISO certification for themselves. Cities (local governments, municipalities, development boards, metropolitan authorities etc.) are yet to take advantage of the benefits that ISO certification entails them.
Quite clearly, there are several internal and external benefits for city governments if they seek ISO certification. While internal benefits ensure wider and deeper participation on the part of a city government's employees, it is the external benefits that form the key justification for a city government seeking to obtain ISO certification.
- Internal Benefits:
- By putting in place an environmental management system (EMS) that lies at the core of ISO 14001 certification, cities can effect a substantial saving of everyday resources that they use for their operations.
- Cities can also cut costs on several fronts due to the review process that identifies overuse or wasteful utilization.
- By having a broad EMS in place, covering all aspects of a city government's day-to-day operations and activities, it also improves staff committment and morale, highlighting their contribution to 'saving the earth'.
- The processes involved in obtaining ISO certification envisages a complete review of existing activities and understanding their impact on the environment. It aims at removing negative impacts and strengthening positive impacts, leading to improved efficiency in operation and better integration in day-to-day activities
- External Benefits:
- With growing prioritization of the global and local environment, ISO 14001 acquisition demonstrates a city's 'green face' to its residents and also helps in emphasizing the need for greater environmental action on the part of urban stakeholders at the local level.
- A city's acquisition of ISO certification helps in serving as a model for other city and regional governments to emulate and replicate.
- A city government that has obtained ISO certification can, from a position of strength, promote replication of acquiring ISO Certification from other stakeholders in the city, particularly the private sector where a properly and strategically implemented EMS can have far-reaching and long-term impacts
- It also emphasizes the concept, 'environmental-action-starts-at-home', where local actions at the grassroots have global implications.
Cities have traditionally attempted to implement city-wide programmes and initiatives for management of the local environment. The key difference with acquisition of ISO 14001 is that city governments have to take action themselves inhouse and from within - demonstrating environmental sensitivity to the residents and all sectors of the city, and promoting replication.
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Limitations and Priorities:
A Local Governments Perspective on ISO acquisition
While cities have been adept and keen on implementing city-wide programmes and initiatives for environmental management, satisfying the internal and voluntary obligations of ISO 14001 and EMSs have been more difficult to commit.
Some of the limitations that city government face include:
- For many developing cities 'environment' is simply not a priority - where poverty reduction, education and health, job-creation etc. take more immediate and higher priority.
- The benefits of acquiring ISO 14001 certification is not clearly understood, particularly its long-term and external benefits in influencing other urban stakeholders and development activities.
- City governments face several political and/or administrative barriers in effectively implementing the requirements and committment under ISO 14001.
- There are several restrictions within the urban planning and management systems currently in place, which may require legislative or other sanction before it can be modified.
- Requirements under ISO 14001, particularly in implementing the EMS, need financial committment in order to carry out the action - committment that city governments may be reluctant to make.
- Lack of appropriate and adequate knowledge and technologies that are needed to put in place an under the ISO 14001.
These limitations within city governments, of course, become targets for priority action - to be implemented either internally, or with the assistance and partnership of external agencies and organizations.
It is clear that prioritization of the environment at the local and city level has to be emphasized by highlighting its long-term benefits, and the global effects of local action. Greater and broader dissemination of information and documentation of existing city level ISO activities has to be combined with dialogue and consultations in order to clearly outline the benefits of ISO aquisition to cities.
Better awareness-building and stream-lined decision making processes that involves all levels and sections of a city government should be implemented in order to overcome political and administrative barriers. Similarly, understanding the indirect and long-term benefits of implementing an EMS may help in removing or overcoming the restrictions in existing urban planning and management systems.
By sufficient prioritization and sanction at the top levels of decision-making, and its integration into existing day-to-day activities, financial constraints and limitations can be also eliminated. Extensive internal and external exchange of information, identification of best practices, wider participation, training and seminars, etc. will be necessary to remove the constraints of lack of knowledge and technologies to implement an EMS.
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Resources and Activities:
Operationalizing the ISO 14001 Process
Two key issues of ISO 14001 stand out - one, the obligations under the standard are voluntary and greatly depend on the objectives and targets that the city sets for itself; two, the ISO certification embodies a comprehensive/annual/external monitoring and evaluation system ensuring that the EMS put in place is indeed followed through and maintained.
Information would therefore play a key role in the acquisition, implementation and sustenance of the ISO certification. The collation, packaging and dissemination of information to the appropriate stakeholders inside and outside a city government therefore is critical for an effective and comprehensive EMS within a city government.
This would require, for example:
- Seminars and workshops to introduce the concept behind ISO 14001, the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring ISO certification. This is targeted at all staff members of the city government.
- City consultations and dialogue with other city governments, citizens groups and other stakeholders in developing a broad and comprehensive EMS.
- Indepth training and capacity building - of staff members and others within the city government responsible for implementing the EMS.
- Information dissemination of the ISO initiative to other organizations and the civil society at large for replication and follow-up.
- Consultancy and registration for ISO Certification - with the external agency that is authorized to provide the ISO 14001 certification.
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Stakeholders and Roles:
Networking and partnership for greater participation
Considering the nature of a city government's duties and responsibilities towards the entire city, and the potential for replication by various companies, groups, institutions etc. within the city, there is a need for a broad participation by a range of stakeholders in (a) assisting the city to acquire ISO certification, and (b) disseminating information on the process and results of the acquisition to a broader audience.
Who are the stakeholders and what are their roles?
- The key stakeholder is, of course, the city government itself. Along with the city's council, the mayor's office and other sections and agencies of the city government, they are directly responsible for taking the initiative of seeking, implementing and sustaining an ISO 14001 and its EMS requirements, within the city government. They would also have to disseminate the results to all urban stakeholders for replication.
- NGOs and citizen's groups in the city have a role to play in pressuring the city government to seek and implement the ISO 14001 aquisition process, and also to review the actions taken by the city government.
- Experts, researchers and universities and international organizations are critical in building awareness, education, and consultation in building the framework for the cities to implement EMS and ISO 14001 requirements. They also have a role in disseminating the results to a wider audience.
- ISO certification Consultants (REGISTRARS) (Registrars are firms and organizations licensed and mandated to issue ISO 14001 certificates by the International Standards Organization) have the important role in providing advice to a city government on the development of an EMS, in testing the viability and implementation of the EMS itself, and issuance of ISO certification to the city. The Registrars are also responsible for the annual monitoring and evaluation of the EMS's implementation.
