MBA : Unit III (Contd.)

Integrated Environmental Management (IEM)

I (a) Qn: What is IEM

- It is a philosophy, that is concerned with finding the right balance between Development and the Environment

- An IEM aims to improve the environmental performance of an Urban Area contributory to better quality of life.

I (a) It (IEM) provides a framework of published guide lines (available from the Department of Environmental affairs and Tourism) to ensure that environmental considerations are taken in to account and every stage of life of a project process or policy. That is IEM considers the environmental element in a Cradle to Grave” concept (ie, from the inception of idea right through the decommissioning or the end of the project).

- IEM is designed to ensure, that the environmental consequences of developmental proposals are understood and adequately considered in the planning, implementation and management of all Development (ie, it is also called sound planning)

- IEM is intended to guide, rather than impede the development process, by providing an approach to gathering and analyzing information and ensuring that it can be easily understood, by all interested and affected parties in the Development.

- SO IEM is to resolve or lessen to any negative environmental impact and to enhance positive aspects of development proposals.

I (b) Difference between IEM and EIA

IEM is a whole philosophy where as EIA is just one tool or techniques. It is used to gather and analyse Environmental information. EIA is a part of IEM process.

II. Integrated Environmental Management

(a) Brief History behind development or formulation of IEM

- During the 1960’s there was a growing awareness of the complex and often negative environmental effects of the Development projects and policies (Eg. Building a factory, mine or road providing water or electricity, etc)

- In an attempt to provide environmental information to advise development decisions, the process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was developed.

- During the 1970’s and nearly 1980s this process (EIA) became widely used, mainly in Western Industrialised Countries, including South Africa and some countries in Eastern Europe.

- However, the role of EIA in the Planning & Developments were not clarified.

- In 1984, South Africa Council for The Environment addressed, this problem by establishing a Committee, to recommend ways of ensuring the integration of Environmental concern in too “Development Planning”

- The result as “Integrated Environmental Management (IEM)

(b) Why Integrated Environmental Management (IEM)2

- Municipal authorities are responsible for a range of different functions. These are performed or managed by many different parts of their organizations, often with limited resources.

- Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) offers a tool to improve the consistency and coherence between different policies from an Environmental perspective and a means to maximize, the effectiveness of those policies with in available budget

- Integrated Environmental Management is entirely consistent with the Lisbon strategy for Innovation, Competitiveness, Growth and Employment and experience demonstrates that establishing a system of IEM can help to promote the objectives of sustainability.

(c) Possible Benefits of an IEM may include some of the following

- Achieve compliance with the existing environmental legislation efficiently and cost effectively.

- Improved coherence and cost effectiveness of different policy measures.

- Improved reputation and “competitiveness” of the city (local authority)

- Enhanced environmental awareness of citizens, local authority staff and stake holders.

- Enhanced partnership and communication between the citizens and leaders of the city, creating networks.

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- Cost savings though reduced resources and utilities improving economic competitiveness through cutting costs.

(d) Key Elements of an IEM

(1) Baseline Review

(2) Target setting – preparation of the strategic programme and action plans

(3) Political commitment – approval of strategic programme

(4) Implementation of Action Plan, Monitoring

(5) Reporting and evaluation

(6) Issues to cover

(1)Baseline Review : It documents the current environmental and administration situation, legal requirements and political priorities.

- It provides the basis for the later stages of the process including identification of the actions, in the strategic programme.

- A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis has been found, to be an appropriate means to assess the baseline administrative situation.

(2)Target setting : Preparation of the strategic programme and action and plans

A strategic programme is developed to establish objectives and identify the priorities, initiatives and actions, that are necessary in the short medium and long term.

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According to the case studies, the programme should aim to build on an active participation of citizens, business, government and non-governmental organizations.

(3)Political Commitment : Approval of the strategic programme. The strategic programme is an agreement that aims to have widespread, support and is an integral part of the strategic planning of the local authority. Experience show that engaging all relevant local actions, in the programme’s develop can help avoid conflicts, in implementing the Action plan and the long term vision for the city.

(4) Implementation of Action Plan, monitoring

Having approved the strategic programme, the next step is the implementation of the different measures and actions in an integrated way.

(5) Reporting and evaluation

Experiences show that, on going assessment of the effectiveness of the Action Plan is needed in relation to the strategic objectives for the city. Such assessments can lead to new measures being proposed or to a redefinition of the existing actions of the project.

III. Principles of IEM (Integrated Environmental Management)

(i) Pro-action planning(ii) Informed Decision making

(i) Pro-active planning- Pro-active planning attempts to ensure that the social costs of

development (those borne by the society and not by the developer) are outweighed by the Social Benefits.

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- Through good Planning IEM endevours, to decrease, negative impacts and increase positive impacts of a Development.

(ii) Informed Decision Making

- This is achieved by integrating contributions from professionals involved in all disciplines (eg. Biology, Hydrology, Geology, Sociology, Urban planning) relevant to the planning of a particular proposal and all interested and affected parties.

- Possible alternative options for development should be considered including the option of no development at all.

An open and participatory approach – Participation of interested and affected parties, in the planning and decision making process, is an essential component of IEM.

A Broad Understanding of the term Environment

Accountability for decisions and the information on which they are based. A record of decisions made, and the reasoning behind, each must be kept and should be made available on request.

This is necessary, if decision makers are to be held accountable (ie, responsible and answerable) for the decisions made. Consultants too must be accountable for the information they provide often the basis of decision making.

IV. Role players in IEM

(i) The Developer : Puts up the capital for and stands to

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make a profit from the Development.

(ii) The authority : Has Local control over the land to be

developed e.g. a private land owner a municipality or a government department. The authority has final say in whether or not the development goes ahead and what conditions should be attached to development.

(iii) The interested and affected parties : for example, neighbouring land

owners and the public.

Stages of IEM

(i) Develop and assess proposal

- Drawing up the proposal should involve consultations with interested and affected parties.

- Once compiled the proposal is assessed and depending on its profitable Environmental Impact, classified as (a), (b) or (c) below.

(a)An EIA is needed prior to Development being considered further.

(b)More Information must be gathered to establish whether or not and EIA is necessary.

(c) No EIA, needed, development can proceed.

(ii) Decision as to accept the proposal or not – this made, on the basis of the outcome of (i)

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(iii) Implementation : Once approval has been gained, the development is implemented on the basis of a management plan outling how, negative impacts of development will be managed and including periodic environmental audits.

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