The Role of Environmental Management - Report Example

The Role of Environmental Management Introduction Environmental management has played significant roles in the protectionand regulation of the ecosystem. Changes in the climate and survival habitats have led to increased talks by international management organizations to intensify their role in environmental protection. Increased levels of industrialization and the lack of interest in environment protection programs have resulted to an environmental depravity (Morel and Igor 180). Lack of public consciousness on the role of environmental management has contributed to a society that does not care about the future generation. Profit driven industries have not adopted environmental protection strategies hence contributing to most of the air and water pollutions. Public apathy to public concern Most of the pollution cases happen with the knowledge of the public. However, there are fewer numbers of environmentalists, who have the duty to cause public awareness on both the long-term and short-term impacts of pollution. Public apathy has also led to the increased cases of pollution and environmental degradation (Morel and Igor 177). Most of the individuals lack interest in the contributing to the conservation of the ecosystem. Research has proved that most of the individuals do not take part in the fight against pollution by industries. As a result, they depend on the bodies to enact laws and policies that will help in environmental management. In some countries, legal systems are corrupt leading to the pollution. However, despite the public apathy, there are environmental activists who provide knowledge on ways of environmental control. Consequently, they have led to the creation of both local and international organizations such as U.N.E.P that help in the environmental conservation (Morel and Igor 177). Such organizations have contributed to ‘public concern where through different ethics. Most countries have laws that have provisions for the code of conduct in their production process. They have to adhere to differently set levels of pollution. It has been used a strategy in environmental management. Changes in trends in the environmental sector have contributed to public concern where individuals have catalyzed different reform processes that help in conservation. Public apathy has been caused by lack of knowledge on the impacts of environmental pollution. In the area where there are high levels of literacy, the public has contributed in the fight against pollution. A public with little interest in climate changes is unlikely going to contribute in the formation of laws that deal with the problems. There are high cases of pollution on Africa as compared to other developed countries due to low levels of alertness and high levels of illiteracy. Local, national and international interests Interests from various organizations have helped environmental management by keeping it updated to the latest trends in the society. Policies and laws depend on the level of management. Locally, policies are made according to the society and public concern. Federal and state assemblies have the role of protecting the environment though regulatory laws. In most cases, they are used to govern the protection of natural habitats that may vary from country to country. International environmental bodies have common laws that are addressed to member countries. Such interests play a significant role since individual countries may have faulty legal systems that do not care about the environment but self-interests. For example, corrupt countries where local laws are not applicable, international organizations join in the fight against pollution. Additionally, international interests have long-term decisions whereby they protect the environment for the future generation. They also have a role in carrying out researches to help in the provision of solutions to environmental problems. There are also international interest groups and activists who fight for environmental rights on behalf of the public (Barrow 10). They also ensure that all animal habitats have been protected since most of the local and national interests do not cater for large conservation such as the ocean. For example, most of the industries and sea vessels dump their waste in international waters where individual countries do not have authority. As a result, international interests help in the management of the environment in these areas. Additionally, they also pass international environment standards that regulate heavy industrial towns. For example, in countries like China, the set international standards have to be followed by new industries where there are set pollution limits. Regulatory compliance to continual improvement Environmental management has faced various problems with the changing societal trends. One of the main obstacles is the compliance of the set policies by industries and other environmental projects. The provision of limits by international organizations is part of its success (Koontz 35). However, to implement the policies has become a major task due to the differences in leaders and legal systems. Some countries do not observe the regulatory bodies and continue polluting the habitats through industries and household wastes. Projects such as recycling of waste have only been carried out in developed countries. On the contrary, pollution from other countries has international impacts such as the climate change and depletion of the ozone layer. As part of the regulatory compliance strategy, environment boards have started working with individual countries through the passing of similar laws. It has also targeted companies through the use media to cause awareness (Koontz 38). Giant companies such as Google have started campaigns to conserve the environment. They have adopted the use of clean energy and recycling of waste materials. Environmental management has also played an important role in the automobile industry where scientists and researchers have come up with cars that use green energy as a strategy of controlling air pollution. Agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set organization standards that are applicable in the member countries. They have also teamed up with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to specify requirements that should be met before certification (Koontz 35). The regulatory compliances include the production of energy sufficient products, following the right ethics in production and the use of sustainable practices. Law experts are still working on new ways to improve the compliance of the set laws governing environmental management. Environmental costs to competitive advantages The introduction of environmental policies in the industrial sector may lead to increased cost of operations (Hitchens 242). For example, protection agencies may recommend the use of clean energy as a way of environmental protection. The use of green energy may incur the company more costs hence decreasing its competitive advantage. As a result, firms may prefer paying bribes to increase their competition strategies. It is most evident in areas with faulty legal systems. Oil production and transportation companies find it too expensive in the case of oil spills in the oceans. Consequently, the water pollution leads to the death of marine life. Environmental management organizations find it difficult to use force because some of the oil companies are owned by donors and powerful politicians. Companies are using any available strategies to increase their competitive advantage in the markets (Hitchens 244). Some are producing products that have dangerous long-lasting effects on the environment. The products are sold in black-markets because they are not certified by ISO. Additionally, not all countries have joined the environmental protection agencies hence the production processes are not vetted using international standards. Environment management boards have also faced problem in the funding of most of the projects launched to protect the environment. They rely on charity organizations and donor funds to finance their activities. Conclusion Environmental management has served various roles despite the regulatory compliances. It has continued protecting the environment from natural and manmade pollution systems (Barrow 15). The fight for competitive advantages by firms has caused a barrier for implementation of environmental policies (Hitchens 246). Changing political and economic trends have altered some of the roles of environmental management. Works Cited Barrow, Christopher J.. Environmental management and development. New York: Routledge, 2005. Print. Hitchens, D. M. W. N.. Environmental regulation and competitive advantage: a study of packaging waste in the European supply chain. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2006. Print. Koontz, Tomas M.. Collaborative environmental management: what roles for government?. Washington, DC: Resources for the Future, 2004. Print. Morel, Benoit, and Igor Linkov. Environmental security and environmental management the role of risk assessment. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006. Print. Read More