Environmental management 1407416 222689822 2008-06-30T17:09:06Z 67.105.228.220 '''Environmental Management''' is not, as the phrase could suggest, the management of the ''environment'' as such but rather the management of humans' interaction with and impact upon the [[natural environment|environment]]. The three main issues that affect managers are issues involving politics (networking), programs (projects), and resources (i.e. money, facilities, etc). The need for environmental management can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. A more common philosophy and impetus behind environmental management is the concept of [[carrying capacity]]. Simply put, carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of organisms a particular resource can sustain. The concept of carrying capacity, whilst understood by many cultures over history, has its roots in Malthusian theory. Environmental management is therefore not the conservation of the environment solely for the environment's sake, but rather the conservation of the environment for humankind's sake.{{fact|date=January 2008}} This element of sustainable exploitation, getting the most out of natural assets, is visible in the EU [[Water Framework Directive]]. Environmental management involves the management of all components of the bio-physical environment, both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic). This is due to the interconnected and network of relationships amongst all living species and their habitats. The environment also involves the relationships of the human environment, such as the social, cultural and economic environment with the bio-physical environment. As with all management functions, effective management tools, standards and systems are required. An 'environmental management standard or system or protocol attempts to reduce [[environmental impact]] as measured by some objective criteria. The [[ISO 14001]] standard is the most widely used standard for environmental [[risk management]] and is closely aligned to the European Eco Management & Audit Scheme (EMAS). As a common auditing standard, the [[ISO 19011]] standard explains how to combine this with [[quality management]]. The UK has developed a phased standard (BS8555) that can help smaller companies move to ISO 14001 in six manageable steps. Other [[environmental management system]]s tend to be based on this standard and to extend it in various ways: *[[The Natural Step]] focuses on basic [[sustainability]] criteria and helps focus [[engineering]] on reducing use of materials or energy use that is unsustainable in the long term *[[Natural Capitalism]] advises using [[accounting reform]] and a general [[biomimicry]] and [[industrial ecology]] approach to do the same thing *[[United States Environmental Protection Agency|US Environmental Protection Agency]] has many further terms and standards that it defines as appropriate to large-scale EMS.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} *The [[UN]] and [[World Bank]] has encouraged adopting a "[[natural capital]]" measurement and management framework.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} *The [[European Union]] [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/index_en.htm Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)] Other strategies exist that rely on making simple distinctions rather than building top-down management "systems" using [[performance audit]]s and [[full cost accounting]]. For instance, [[Ecological Intelligent Design]] divides products into [[consumable]]s, [[service product]]s or durables and [[unsaleable]]s - toxic products that no one should buy, or in many cases, do not realize they are buying. By eliminating the unsaleables from the [[comprehensive outcome]] of any purchase, better environmental management is achieved without "systems". == Academic resources == * ''[[Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy]]'', ISSN 1618-954X, Springer * ''Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management'', ISSN: 1535-3966 (electronic} 1535-3958 (paper), [[John Wiley & Sons]] * ''Environmental Practice'', ISSN: 1466-0474 (electronic) 1466-0466 (paper), [[Cambridge University Press]] * ''Environmental Quality Management'', ISSN: 1520-6483 (electronic) 1088-1913 (paper), [[John Wiley & Sons]] * [[Journal of Environmental Economics and Management]] * ''Journal of Environmental Planning and Management'', ISSN: 1360-0559 (electronic) 0964-0568 (paper), [[Routledge]] * ''Journal of Environmental Management'', ISSN: 0301-4797, [[Elsevier]] * [[Environmental Values]] ==Government Resources== business.gov provides businesses with environmental management tips, as well as tips for green business owners [http://business.gov/guides/environment/ here] == See also == * [[Actor analysis]] * [[Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management]] * [[Cleaner production]] * [[Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety]] * [[Department of Environmental Management]] * [[Environmental impact assessment]] * [[Environmental management scheme]] * [[Environmental Quality Management]] * [[Environmental Risk Management Authority]] * [[Environmental science]] * [[Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management]] (IEEM) * [[ISO 14000]] * [[ISO 19011]] * [[ISO Guide 64]] * [[List of environmental studies topics]] * [[National Environmental Management Authority]] [[Category:Environment]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Systems ecology]] [[de:Umweltmanagement]] [[fr:Management environnemental]] [[pl:Ekozarządzanie]] [[ro:Gospodărirea mediului înconjurător]] [[fi:Ympäristöjohtaminen]]