Environmental Management Systems and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence - Case Study Example

Name: University: Course: Tutor: Date: Executive Summary Environmental Management Plans (EMP) basically outlines the processes that a particular organisation will pursue to maximize its conformity and minimize destruction to the environment. This plan also helps an organisation plot its progress toward achieving persistent improvements. Environmental management systems (EMS) may assist organisations to meet their substantial burden of accountability for the future situation of the world environment. In most cases, environmental management systems and plans can also help in cost savings, and reduction of environmental liability among other external benefits to the organization. There are several standards that have been put in place, around which organisations can use to model the Environmental Management System (EMS). Internationally there is the ISO14001standard. The standard was introduced in 1996, and became one of the ISO 14000 standard providing conditions, guidance and advice on the various environmental issues. Abu Dhabi is the second largest and busiest city after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The United Arabs Emirates Civil Defence was formed to enhance protection of the citizens as well as public and private property in addition to caring for the environment. . The Civil Defence Organization is responsible for fighting fires, organizing rescue teams and preventing risks among other responsibilities. Abu Dhabi Emirate has had a number of issues concerning the environment especially in relation to Environmental Management Systems and plans. Introduction Environmental Management Plans (EMP)  An Environmental Management Plans (EMP) generally outlines the processes that a particular organisation will pursue to maximize its conformity and minimize destruction to the environment. This plan also helps an organization plot its progress toward achieving persistent improvements.1 Environmental Management Plans are in most cases unique mostly due to the characteristics of the organisations. Further than this, the level of features in terms of complexity and length of an EMP will vary depending on the type of organization, the complexity of its processes as well as the development of the organization in understanding its environmental responsibilities.  Most of the environmental plans may be brief while others could be broad documents. In spite of the organisation’s situation, all environmental plans created must include among others the following elements: policy, planning, implementation and Operation, checking and Corrective Action in addition to management review and commitment to improvement.2 Policy Policy statements are imperative to any organisation since they help anchor the organisation on a foundation set of beliefs. These environmental main beliefs keep members of an organisation focused toward the same objective. They give an opportunity for other interests outside the organisation to understand its focus and what it stands for. These policy statements may not necessarily be long. As a matter of fact, it is frequently preferred to keep the policy brief and to the point so that it is easy to comprehend and becomes a major tool in understanding the organisation’s commitment.  Planning The planning part of the Environmental Management Plan is basically meant to assist an organisation to define its environmental themes. The goals and objectives should focus on maximizing the organisation’s positive effect on the environment. Implementation and Operation A chief part of the EMP is how it defines the actions the organisation will execute to meet its environmental objectives and goals. This portion ought to focus on particular tasks each individual is accountable for and ensure task completion and set goals as well as time limits for each of the identified activities are met. In addition, this area should stipulate the training of the employee, communication and outside activities that are indispensable to guarantee a successful implementation of the EMP.  Checking and Corrective Action The Environmental Management Plan ought to describe the progression that will be followed to authenticate that the plan is being suitably implemented and outline how implementation issues will be corrected in an appropriate approach. Routine assessment and frequent improvement to the process is essential to make sure that the plan effectively leads the organization toward completion of environmental objectives and goals. Management Review and Commitment to Improvement Routine management assessment and support is an essential and significant tool for any organization. This portion should highlight the routine management assessment that should be carried out to make sure that the plan is suitable and successfully executed and helps the organization meet its environmental objectives3. Environmental Management Systems The Environmental Management System (EMS) is a branch of a management system of any given organization in which particular competencies, behaviours and measures for the implementation of operational environmental guidelines of the organization are stipulated4. It is worth noting that within the European Union (EU) legislation was developed and introduced to egg on organizations to freely adopt ISO 14000. Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001 permitted deliberate involvement by organisations in a Community eco-management as well as audit scheme Eco-Management in addition to Audit Scheme (EMAS). The accomplishment of a strong EMS which may incorporate ISO 14001 ought to lead to enhanced environmental performance, together with better and more reliable legal conformity. The ISO 14000 standards replicate diverse aspects of environmental management. They normally cover the following issues; Environmental Management Systems: 5 14001-2004, 14002 and 14004 Environmental Auditing: 19011 Environmental Labelling: 14020, 14021, 14022, 14023, 14024 and 14025 Life Cycle Assessment: 14040, 14041, 14042 and 14043 Benefits of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) To operating a successful Environmental Management Systems (EMS) lead to a variety of benefits to the organisation, customers and the habitats at large6. The following are a few of the benefits; Financial benefits Through a more efficient use of resources such as electricity, water, gas and fuels and through a reduction on wastes a lot of expenses would be saved. Further than this, it assists in avoiding penalties resulting from failure to meet environmental requirements and laws by noting environmental risks and taking care of the weaknesses. Reducing insurance costs by demonstrating better risk management among others. Operational and Internal benefits This leads to enhanced overall performance and efficiency within the organization. In addition to this, the company is in a position to examine and reveal the performance of the organization further see which areas need intervention. External benefits The improved public perception of the organization may bring about improved sales. In addition to this it reduces some interference such as noises, smells, dust among others found in the activities of organisation on the local residents, enhancing community support Environmental Management Systems and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Organization Abu Dhabi is the second largest and busiest city after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The United Arabs Emirates Civil Defence was formed to enhance protection of the citizens as well as public and private property in addition to caring for the environment7. It has a responsibility of taking care of the national heritage as well as other sources of wealth especially in times of war, disasters and emergency situations. The Civil Defence Organization is responsible for fighting fires, organizing rescue teams and preventing risks among other responsibilities. Abu Dhabi Emirate has had a number of issues concerning the environment especially in relation to Environmental Management Systems and plans. However, it is worth noting that Abu Dhabi has greatly improved through the effort of Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Organisation with collaboration with other environmental groups. It has witnessed several companies winning global environmental awards such as Abu Dhabi Ports Company which won a diamond award on May 13th, 2008. More remarkably, TUV-NORD- an international certification body, recently awarded Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD) certification for OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001and ISO 9001. The latest award was won by Abu Dhabi International Airport on 26th November 2008.8 The United Arab Emirates has come up with environment awareness campaigns as well as establishing laws within various organizations such as petroleum companies and other related companies which include; transport services-vehicles and maintenance, buildings-energy use, construction and effects of occupation-workforce-travel, catering, duty systems among others. Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates as a general contributed immensely on environmental prevention through various methods. By 2001, there were at least 35 radio programs and 28 national newspapers and magazines that had engaged in environmental awareness. Annually, Abu Dhabi cerebrate the international Ozone Day on 16th September, the Earth day on 22nd April in addition to Arab and National Environment Days on 5th June, 14th October as well as 27th January9. According to the results of a survey conducted by Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) in June 15th 2008, the level of environment awareness by the general public stood at 49% with the youths having the highest level of awareness and women were found to be more aware than men on environmental issues. According to the survey, the most known environmental issues included; climatic changes, water and air pollution, generation of waste and disposal as well as traffic related problems. Teachers and religious leaders showed a lot of concern about their surroundings while the media was seen as the primary source of environment awareness.10 The Civil Defense organization has come up with various laws, policies, strategies and programs to enhance environment protection especially in partnership with Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. There are laws governing the environment ass found in Federal Law No. 24 of 1999. 11These laws are divided into 8 chapters as follows; chapter one deals with issues related to development of the laws as well as addressing issues related to environmental impacts, monitoring and emergency plans to combat environmental disasters. Protection of water environment as well as other areas such as coastlines, beaches and sea ports of the Emirates from all sorts of pollution is addressed in chapter 2. This chapter also tackles issues concerned with marine environment from water means of transportation. Soil protection is addressed in chapter 3, air pollutions is addressed in chapter 4 while chapter 5 deals with handling of hazardous substances as well as medical wastes. Issues related to natural reserves are addressed in chapter 6 while liability and compensation for environmental damages as well as judicial control authorities are addressed by chapter 7. Chapter 8 addresses penalties from those who damage the environment12. Further than this, there are environmental policies, strategies and plans of actions formed by Abu Dhabi through Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi that mainly aims at protection and development of biodiversity, wildlife, air land environments and water. The pollution control and prevention are enhanced by environmental protection policies. The Abu Dhabi Emirate has come up with a set of national actions of plan as well as strategies as national priorities for environmental prevention and control. They include among others; water resources, water, air and waste pollution, marine environment in addition to urbanization and land resources and biodiversity. Conclusion Abu Dhabi despite its enhanced environmental policies laws and strategies, the Emirate would acquire more knowledge especially to the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and the Civil Defence Organization from the ISO 1400 series standards. The agency as well as the Civil Defence Organization introduces laws and policies that conform to the elements of the ISO 14001 standards. These include among others environmental policies and aspects, legal and other requirements, general objectives in addition to environmental management programs and structure and responsibility. Others include communications as well as Environmental Management Systems Documentation and emergency preparedness and response. The Environmental Management System (EMS) is a branch of a management system of any given organization in which particular competencies, behaviours and measures for the implementation of operational environmental guidelines of the organization are stipulated. An Environmental Management Plans (EMP) generally outlines the processes that a particular organization will pursue to maximize its conformity and minimize destruction to the environment. 13 The environmental plans created must include among others the following elements: policy, planning, implementation and Operation, checking and Corrective Action in addition to management review and commitment to improvement. According to the results of a survey conducted by Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) in June 15th 2008, the level of environment awareness by the general public stood at 49% with the youths having the highest level of awareness and women were found to be more aware than men on environmental issues. REFERNCES P. Beaumont. Dry lands: Environmental Management and Development NY: Rutledge, 1993, p 536 A. Farmer, Handbook of Environmental Protection and Enforcement: Principles and Practice, Oxford University press: Earth scan, 2007, p 279 Water and Environmental Management: Journal of the Institution of Water And Environmental Management Institution of Water and Environmental Management, 1997: vol.11 1997 B. Nath, Environmental Management in Practice: Instruments for Environmental Management, Michigan University: Routledge, 1998, p 317 Kasseler, P. Environment Issue for the Gulf: Oil, Water and Sustainable Development , New York: Royal institute of international Affairs, 1999, p 348 Press release United Arab Emirates: Sunday, June 15 - 2008 at 14:27 > ADNOC’S HSE five year achievement report 2000-2004 Law No. 24/1999 for protection and development of the Environment Emirates of Abu Dhabi Environmental Strategy and Action plans 2003-2007 http://www.government.ae/gov/en/gov/federal/moca.jsp http://www.adwea.gov.ae/default.html Read More