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Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Climate change is an issue that concerns every Country on our planet. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 formalized an international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In an effort to address climate change in a practical way, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Joint Implementation (JI) procedures were developed by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Besides that, and in order to achieve its own GHG emissions reductions targets, the European Union established the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Bureau Veritas Certification is recognized by more than 35 leading accreditation bodies & is a worldwide leader with over 80,000 certified companies in more than 150 countries. Bureau Veritas is one of the market leaders on CDM project validation or verification and, we are currently accredited for validation and verification of CDM project activities.
Besides that, Bureau Veritas is authorized by more than 30 different authorities across Europe to perform EU ETS verification. Clients benefit from our deep knowledge of the Kyoto Protocol and close monitoring of evolving CDM/JI rules.
We have developed a comprehensive understanding of GHG management. We are the only agency to have successfully conducted three “CDM Lead Verifier – 5 Day” programmes in the last six months. Its our pleasure to announce a one day awareness program on CDM at Mumbai.
We have successfully conducted similar programs at Indore, Nasik etc. The main focus of this program will on “ basic concepts of CDM and its related information; overview of CDM projects and requirements”. This program will be more of a interactive session. The details are provided in the ‘Programme Coverage”.
The programme is designed for project proponents, consultants for CDM and general public, all of whom have an opportunity to benefit economically by way of ‘Carbon Credits’ (CER – Certified Emission Reduction), professional charges and trading in Carbon Credits.
The details of this program are as under... Venue: The Club, D. N. Nagar, Andheri (West), Mumbai
Date: 9th June, 2008Time: 09:00am to 05:30pm
Program Fee: Rs. 2500/ + Taxes (Per Participant)
Contact Person: Mr. Dhananjay Khairnar, Training Administrator (Mobile : 9820461451)
We anticipate your active participation in this program...
Regards,
Rajendra Sharma
DirectorBureau Veritas Certification (India) Pvt. Ltd.
more about CDM
CDM and the EU
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
ISO 14000 standards for small businesses
How can I develop ISO 14000 standards in my small business?
SUMMARY
ISO 14000 Standards are a set of environmental standards that offer a way for businesses to regulate their impact on the environment. Implementing ISO 14000 Standards in your small business can be tricky-but with time and effort, you can develop a step-by-step plan to meet ISO 14000 guidelines and increase your business productivity and resoponsibility.
How can I develop ISO 14000 standards in my small business?
The ISO 14000 Standards were created to help meet the objective of “sustainable development” outlined at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The ISO 14000 Standards include guidelines for waste disposal, use of natural resources, pollution control and environmental responsibility. The ISO 14000 Standards also include sets of tests and measures that help organizations and businesses measure the impact they are having on the environment. The tests and measures established by ISO 14000 Standards are also used by many governments in drafting environmental policy and keeping a watchful eye on companies that may be exploiting natural resources or polluting heavily.
The ISO 14000 Standards, however, are not just an arbitrary set of guidelines developed by a mysterious international organization. In fact, the standards were developed with the help of environmentally-concerned businesspersons the world over, and are continually evolving with the help of such businesspersons, industry experts and environmental experts.
The International Organization for Standardization encourages all parties interested in crafting ISO 14000 Standards to contact them with input, suggestions and advice.
Why do business persons implement ISO 14000 Standards?
Many business persons are simply concerned about the environment, and are interested in implementing a standards system that helps them control waste, pollution and resource use. Following the ISO 14000 Standards will help to ensure that your business meets governmental environment and pollution requirements, and will save you money, time and effort because they help you avoid costly penalties for violating governmental regulations and restrictions.
ISO 14000 Standards are also important to many businesses because they help to lay down guidelines for management of natural resources.
For Example: If you own a business that relies heavily on timber for the output of goods or services, ISO 14000 Standards may help you develop strategies for how you will acquire timber, how you can assure that a continual supply of timber is available, and how you can help assure that timber supplies and forests and are not entirely depleted.
ISO 14000 Standards let you focus both on making your business efficient, profitable and productive and on being a responsible business person showing concern for the environment and natural resources.
Given the benefits of complying with ISO 14000 Standards, how can you go about implementing them in your small business?
It can be a challenge for the small businessperson to implement ISO 14000 Standards, which were originally targeted at large companies and corporations. Before you decide to implement ISO 14000 Standards, you should read through them thoroughly and make sure you understand all facets of compliance and implementation. You can get a copy of the ISO 14000 Standards by contacting your local member ISO body or the General Consulate of the ISO.
You can also look at the ISO's website () for more information on standards systems.If you review the standards and decide that you want to implement them in your business, you should draw up a list of reasons you think implementation will be beneficial.
Do you want to reduce waste management costs?
make sure that you are making a positive impact on the environment?
track and control your use of natural resources?
become more energy-efficient?
make sure you are not polluting air, land or water?
Write your goals down, and refer to them throughout the implementation process to make sure that you are 'on target.'
You will more than likely need outside help to implement the ISO 14000 Standards, because they are partially composed of tests used to gage your impact on the environment. Ask other small businesspersons who have implemented ISO 14000 Standards who they would suggest you contact. You may also want to talk to your own employees-some of them might have previous experience in standardization systems, or may have particular interest in ISO 14000 Standards.
Finding employees who are interested in heading or helping with the ISO 14000 implementation effort will save you money, and will more than likely boost company morale.
After coming up with a game plan for implementing the ISO 14000 Standards, follow through! Educate your employees on what your plan is, and be sure to involve them in its implementation as much as you can. If you run into difficulties (and you probably will), don't get frustrated-take a step back, and try to figure out why the system is not working properly.
Your employees will also be an asset to you in doing this, because they may be able to see things you cannot. After implementing the ISO 14000 Standards to your own satisfaction, conduct an internal audit to make sure you are actually complying with standards.
If you seeking certification, you will need to ask an outside party to perform an independent audit of your business. Again, ask other small businesspersons who they have used to conduct independent audits. Getting a positive report from an auditing bureau can boost your public image and attract customers and investors, so choosing appropriately and preparing adequately for your audit are very important.
Keep up the good work! If you implement ISO 14000 Standards to the satisfaction of yourself and outside auditors, you are ready to take your business to the 'next level.'
Continue to evaluate how ISO 14000 Standards can increase the effectiveness of your business, and work to implement new plans.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Aspects and Impacts
ISO14000 Environmental Management System - Explained in Detail
What is ISO14000?
Many companies are now familiar with the Quality systems standards (ISO9000) series of international standards . The ISO-14000 series of international standards have been developed for integrating environmental aspects (those elements of a organization's activities that can interact with the environment) into operations and product standards. The international committee finalized the ISO 14001 standards for environmental management systems in September of 1996. In a manner very similar to the Quality Management System (QMS) of ISO 9001, ISO14001 requires implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) that complies with the defined internationally recognized standards (as set forth in the ISO14001 specification). This standard does not set detailed prescriptive requirements for the management system; rather structual requirements; which is largely common sense, as we shall see. The ISO14001 standard specifies requirements for establishing
an environmental policy,
determining environmental aspects & impacts of products/activities/services,
planning environmental objectives and measurable targets,
implementation & operation of programs to meet objectives & targets,
checking & corrective action, and
management review.
Monday, April 21, 2008
NTPC world's third biggest polluting firm
New Delhi, PTI:
Power producer NTPC occupies the third position worldwide in terms of carbon dioxide emission by firms. Within India, 17 of the 20 biggest polluters happen to be public sector enterprises, including NTPC, according to a list culled out from Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA), a US-based database.
China and India, the world's two fastest growing economies, have earned the dubious distinction of being home to some of the biggest polluting firms across the globe, with power producer NTPC occupying the third position worldwide in terms of carbon dioxide emission.
Within India, 17 of the 20 biggest polluters happen to be public sector enterprises, including NTPC, according to a list culled out from Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA), a US-based database.
The three private sector firms among India's 20 biggest emitters of carbon dioxide include -- RPG Group's CESC Ltd, Aditya Birla group's Hindalco Industries and Anil Ambani group's Reliance Energy at 16th, 18th and 20th positions respectively.
Worldwide, China's state-run Huaneng Power International has been ranked the largest polluter, with South Africa's Eskom placed second. China Huadian Group and China Power Investment Corp ended up as the fourth and fifth largest polluters in the global list.
CARMA is financed by Confronting Climate Change Initiative of Washington-based independent think-tank Center for Global Development.
The study compiled data on all firms involved in power generation - for commercial or captive use. The companies were ranked on the basis of factors including carbon emissions, energy generated, intensity, and usage of fossil, hydro, nuclear and other renewable sources.
In terms of total carbon emission in a country, the US was named as the most polluting nation with 2,790 million tons of emissions, followed by China and Russia at the second and third positions. India was ranked at the fourth spot with 583 million tons, while Japan occupied the fifth rank with 400 million tons.
However, according to CARMA, as many as 533 companies out of 936 in the power producing business in India have zero carbon dioxide emissions.
In the top-five of the global list, China's Huaneng Power International emits the maximum amount of carbon dioxide (292 million tons), followed by South Africa's Eskom (214 MT), NTPC (182 MT), China Huadian Group (176 MT) and China Power Investment Corp (173 MT).
After NTPC, the next Indian company on the global list is Maharashtra State Power Gen Co, ranked at 44th position.
The top-ten Indian list is dominated by state electricity utilities of Maharashtra (2nd), Gujarat (3rd), Uttar Pradesh (4th), Andhra Pradesh (5th), Tamil Nadu (7th), West Bengal (8th), Madhya Pradesh (9th) and Punjab (10th).
Neyveli Lignite Corp stood at the sixth position, while Damodar Valley Corp figured in the 11th spot. The next four positions were occupied by state utilities of Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Karnataka.
Public sector firms ONGC, Coal India, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam and India Oil also figured among the 50 top polluting firms in India, along with private sector firms like Reliance Industries, Tata Power, GMR, GVK Industries, JSW Energy, ACC and Grasim-Aditya Birla Cement.
In the global list, Anil Ambani group's REL was ranked at 556th.
Suzlon Energy, Adani Group, Larsen and Toubro, Torrent Power, Ultratech Cement Ltd, Uttar Pradesh Jal Vidyut Nigam and Tehri Hydro Development Corp were named among companies with zero carbon levels.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Environmental aspects and impacts
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Environmental Aspects
ISO 14001 Aspect and Impact Requirements
"The organization shall establish and maintain (a) procedure(s) to identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services that it can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence, in order to determine those which have or can have significant impacts on the environment.
Significant environmental impacts will be taken into account when establishing, implementing and maintaining the environmental management system.
The organization shall keep this information up-to-date.
Environmental aspects are defined as: "results of the organizations activities, products and/or services that can interact with the environment"
We start by identifying your organizations "environmental aspects"
Things to consider when identifying environmental aspects
Item
Emission to air
Releases to water
Releases to land
Use of raw materials
Use of natural resources
Use of energy
Energy emitted
Waist and by products
Physical attributes
Consideration will be given to your organizations activities, products and services such as:
Item
Design and development
Manufacturing processes
Packaging
Transportation
Environmental performance
Practices of contractors and supplies
Waste management
Extraction and distribution of raw materials and natural resources
Distribution, use and end of life
Wildlife
Biodiversity
We need to understand these "Environmental Aspects" Conderidation will be given to:
Item
Positive (beneficial) environmental aspects
Negative (adverse) environmental aspects
Actual environmental impacts*
Potential environmental impacts
Which part of the environment could be affected. (air, water, soul, flora, fauna, cultural heritage, etc.)
Characteristics of the location that might affect the impact such as: local weather conditions, height of water table, soil types, etc.
Nature of changes to the environment (global Vs local issues, length of time for which the impact occurs, potential for impact to accumulate in strength over time)
more
Friday, April 11, 2008
emmission reduction credits
Carbon project
Energy Portal
A carbon project refers to a business initiative that receives funding because of the cut the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that will result. To prove that the project will result in real, permanent, verifiable reductions in Greenhouse Gases, proof must be provided in the form of a project design document and activity reports validated by an approved third party in the case of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation (JI) projects.
Contents
1 Reasons for carbon project development
2 Kyoto Protocol
3 United States
4 Operation
5 Project selection
6 References
7 External links
7.1 In the news
more
Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation
Clean Development Mechanism
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol allowing industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment (called Annex 1 countries) to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries. A crucial feature of an approved CDM carbon project is that it has established that the planned reductions would not occur without the additional incentive provided by emission reductions credits, a concept known as "additionality".
Distribution of CDM emission reductions, by country.
The CDM allows net global greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced at a much lower global cost by financing emissions reduction projects in developing countries where costs are lower than in industrialized countries. However, critics argue that by allowing "business as usual" projects some emission reductions under the CDM are false or exaggerated, and in early 2007 the CDM was accused of paying €4.6 billion for projects that would have cost only €100 million if funded by development agencies (see discussion below).
The CDM is supervised by the CDM Executive Board (CDM EB) and is under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties (COP/MOP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Contents
1 History and Purpose
2 CDM project process
2.1 Outline of the project process
2.2 Establishing additionality
2.3 Establishing a baseline
3 Financial issues
4 Concerns
4.1 Exclusion of forest conservation/avoided deforestation from the CDM
4.2 The risk of false credits
4.3 Excessive payments for emission reductions
5 CDM projects to date
6 References
7 See also
8 External links
more
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CDM Home page
understanding CDM
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Green project management
The challenge is to get project managers, team members and other stakeholders involved in "greenthink"; that is, applying environmentally friendly and sustainable thinking to all aspects to the project management process. This concept is called green project management (GreenPM).
I am not advocating that you take extraordinary measures to be environmentally friendly or recommending that you add unnecessary costs and time to a project. (In other words, you do not need to invent 100 new project management processes.)
I am suggesting that you consider incorporating aspects of GreenPM into your project management and decision making processes.It is ultimately up to the sponsor and client organization to make the final decisions. I just wonder how many decisions might be made differently if the environmental impact (if any) is taken into account.
If you want to consider GreenPM for your project, you don't need to feel like you're radical--green thinking is part of the ISO 14000 standard. Also, when you assess the environmental component of every project, be realistic--not all projects will achieve the same level of environmental gain. It's up to you to determine the best way to apply GreenPM in your projects.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
'Gateway of India will be under water
'Gateway of India will be under water by 2100'31 Mar 2008, 0041 hrs IST,Mansi Choksi,TNN
The Gateway of India (AgenciesPhoto)
MUMBAI: The Gateway of India will be wiped off the Mumbai skyline. Bhelpuri at Chowpatty will become the stuff of grandmother's tales. No flights will take off from Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. No couple will canoodle at the Marine Drive promenade and even heirs to the bungalow of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will not be able to resist being evicted from their home. Ninety-two years from now, all these landmarks of Mumbai will be underwater. That's the apocalypse scenario drawn up in a report titled 'Climate Migrants in South Asia: Estimates and Solutions' that has been commissioned by Greenpeace, a non-government organization.
Prepared by climate expert and professor from the humanities department of IIT Chennai, Sudhir Chella Rajan, the report says that a potential increase in temperatures by 4 to 5 degrees due to greenhouse emissions at the current rate would mean a corresponding rise in sea levels of up to five metres by 2100. This, in turn, would imply that approximately 50 million Indians would be rendered homeless and become 'climate migrants'. "The low elevation coastal zone (LECZ), which comprises the coastal region that is less than 10 metres above average sea level, is obviously at direct risk. Even prime commercial properties like the Backbay complex and the Bandra-Kurla complex fall into this category.
This means that it's not just the average Koli who will be affected but even Mannat (superstar SRK's Bandra Bandstand bungalow) would be on the wrong side of the coastline once the sea level rises," said Greenpeace activist Shweta Ganesh Kumar. Greenpeace envisages that human migration 92 years hence would be equivalent to 10 times the movement seen during Partition. "This means that even the limited space in your Virar-Churchgate local will be affected," she added. However, Rakesh Kumar from the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) felt the figures in the Greenpeace study seemed exaggerated. "This can create a scare in the minds of the people. According to estimates of the intergovernmental panel of climate change (IPCC), the rise in sea levels by 2011 is estimated at one metre. There will be submersion, but only in the low-lying areas. At most, the foundations of buildings near the shore may be weakened due to saline formation," said Kumar. Greenpeace activists, however, are on a mission to raise awareness about the impending doom. Around 40 Greenpeace activists or 'Blue Busters' sporting symbolic blue raincoats hit the city streets on Sunday. Blue cautionary signs, saying 'Climate Change Zone Ahead' with illustrations of drowning individuals bearing a distinct resemblance to traditional traffic signs, were put up along the Bandra Kurla Complex and other areas. Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Brikesh Singh said, "We want to alert Mumbaikars to the blue future they have in store if steps are not taken to fight global warming. If we don't act now, our city of dreams will be caught up in a never-ending nightmare, and we are the last generation that can prevent this from happening."
The 'Blue Alert' signs were part of a Greenpeace campaign launched in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Panaji and Puri. "The campaign aims at bringing home the reality of climate change to the common man and empowering people to force their MPs to speak out about the issue of climate change," said Singh. Greenpeace activists will slap token 'eviction-warning' notices on the doors of structures that may be affected. These include the homes of actors Shah Rukh Khan, Rekha and Farhan Akhtar.
'Himalayan tragedy awaits India, China'
Gangotri: From here to eternity
Rising India getting less sunshine
Looking for best warriors to save the Earth
'Forget Himalayan glaciers'
It's official: The world is burning up
'We have passed the tipping point'
Saturday, March 15, 2008
FAQs explained by tc207
Click here to view a complete FAQs
What is ISO?
What is ISO 14000?
What are the principles behind the ISO 14000 standards?
How do I obtain copies of the ISO 14000 standards?
What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?
What are the benefits of an EMS?
What are the key elements of an ISO 14001 EMS?
Are the ISO 14000 standards 'organization' or 'product' oriented?
What is the difference between EMAS and the ISO 14000 standards?
What is the scope of each of TC 207's subcommittees?
What is the Chair's Advisory Group?
What are the main implementation issues for the ISO 14000 standards?
How does TC 207 communicate the purpose & scope of the ISO 14000 standards to users and the public?
How are Small & Medium sized Enterprises (SME's) and Developing countries affected by the ISO 14000 standards?
What are the trade issues associated with the ISO 14000 standards?
What is conformity assessment and how does it relate to the ISO 14000 standards?
What is the relationship between conformity assessment for environmental management standards and government regulation?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Environmental impact assessment
USA
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the likely positive and/or negative influence a project may have on the environment. “Environmental Impact Assessment can be defined as: The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.”[1] The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision-makers consider environmental impacts before deciding whether to proceed with new projects.
Contents
1 Overview
2 EIA around the world
2.1 China
2.2 EU
2.3 New Zealand
2.4 United States
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
6 Further reading
//
more
Environmental impact statement
This article or section deals primarily with the United States and does not represent a worldwide view of the subject.Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.
An environmental impact statement, in the United States, is a document that must be filed when the federal government takes a "major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment." The law requiring this is the National Environmental Policy Act.
Contents
1 Layout
2 Purpose
3 The NEPA process
4 State and international
5 See also
6 References
//
Layout
An EIS typically has four sections:
An Introduction including a statement of the Purpose and Need of the Proposed Action.
A description of the Affected Environment.
A Range of Alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives are considered the "heart" of the EIS.
An analysis of the environmental impacts of each of the possible alternatives.
Purpose
The purpose of NEPA is to promote informed decision-making by federal agencies by making "detailed information concerning significant environmental impacts" available to both agency leaders and the public. [1]
Not all federal actions require a full EIS. If the action may or may not cause a significant impact the agency can prepare a smaller, shorter document called an Environmental Assessment (EA) first. The finding of the EA determines whether an EIS is required. If the EA indicates that no significant impact is likely, then the agency can release a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and carry on with the proposed action. Otherwise, the agency must then conduct a full-scale EIS. Most EAs result in a FONSI.
Contrary to a widespread misconception, NEPA does not prohibit the federal government or its licensees/permittees from harming the environment, but merely requires that the prospective impacts be understood and disclosed in advance.
The NEPA process
The NEPA process is designed to involve the public and gather the best available information in a single place so that decision makers can be fully informed when they make their choices.
The process has the following steps:
Scoping: When a project is first proposed, the agency announces it with a notice in the Federal Register, notices in local media, and letters to citizens and groups that it knows are likely to be interested. Citizens and groups are welcome to send in comments helping the agency identify the issues it must address in the EIS (or EA).
Draft EIS: Based on both agency expertise, and issues raised by the public the agency prepares a Draft EIS with a full description of the affected environment, a reasonable range of alternatives, and an analysis of the impacts of each alternative. The public is then provided a second opportunity to provide comments.
Final EIS and Proposed Action: Based on the comments on the Draft EIS, the agency writes a Final EIS, and announces its Proposed Action. The public is not invited to comment on this, but if they are still unhappy, or feel that the agency has missed a major issue, they may protest the EIS to the Director of the agency. The Director may either ask the agency to revise the EIS, or explain to the protester why their complaints are not actually taken care of.
Record of Decision: Once all the protests are resolved the agency issues a Record of Decision which is its final action prior to implementation. If members of the public are still dissatisfied with the outcome they may sue the agency in Federal court.
State and international
The same general pattern has since been followed by several US state governments that have adopted "little NEPA's," i.e., state laws imposing EIS requirements for particular state actions. Many other countries have also enacted laws requiring environmental impact assessment. For example, the European Community has established a mix of mandatory and discretionary procedures for assessing environmental impacts. [2]
A Negative declaration, or Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) declaration is a document indicting that upon completion of an initial study, that there is no substantial evidence that the project may have a significant effect on the environment." [3]
It is more generally "a finding by a city council or other local government that a proposed development or project would have no effect on the environment and therefore the developer need not prepare and file an "environmental impact report."[4]
See also
Environmental impact assessment
Natural environment
References
^ See the Supreme Court decision: Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 349 (1989).
^ Environmental Impact Assessment and European Community Law, by Dr. Michael Watson members.tripod.com
^ California CEQA Flowchart web page.
^ Law.com dictionary
more
Environmental Impact Assessment (INDIA)
Role of EIC in Environmental Impact Assessment India
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies need a significant amount of primary and secondary environmental data. The primary data are those which need to be collected in the field to define the status of environment (like air quality data, water quality data etc.). The secondary data are those data which have been collected over the years and can be used to understand the existing environmental scenario of the study area. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies are conducted over a short period of time and therefore the understanding the environmental trends based on few months of primary data has its own limitations. Ideally, the primary data has to be considered along with the secondary data for complete understanding of the existing environmental status of the area. In many EIA studies, the secondary data needs could be as high as 80% of the total data requirement. EIC is the repository of one stop secondary data source for environmental impact assessment in India.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) experience in India indicates that the lack of timely availability of reliable and authentic environmental data has been a major bottle neck in achieving the full benefits of EIA. The environment being a multi-disciplinary subject, a multitude of agencies is involved in collection of environmental data. However, there is no single organization in India which tracks the data available amongst these agencies and makes it available in one place, in a form and manner required by practitioners in the field of environmental impact assessment in India. Further, the environmental data is not available in value added forms that can enhance the quality of the EIA. This in turn adversely affects the time and efforts required for conducting the environmental impact assessments (EIAs) by project proponents and also timely environmental clearances by the regulators. With this background, Environmental Information Centre (EIC) has been set up to serve as a professionally managed clearing house of environmental information that can be used by MoEF, project proponents, consultants, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in the process of environmental impact assessment in India. EIC caters to the need of creating and disseminating of organised environmental data for various developmental initiatives all over the country.
EIC stores data in GIS format and makes it available to all environmental impact assessment studies and to EIA stakeholders in a cost effective and timely manner.
more
Environmental Impact Assessment Notification - 2006
Environmental Assessment (EUROPE)
Environmental assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environmental implications of decisions are taken into account before the decisions are made.
The process involves an analysis of the likely effects on the environment, recording those effects in a report, undertaking a public consultation exercise on the report, taking into account the comments and the report when making the final decision and informing the public about that decision afterwards.
In principle, environmental assessment can be undertaken for individual projects such as a dam, motorway, airport or factory ('Environmental Impact Assessment') or for plans, programmes and policies ('Strategic Environmental Assessment'). This website provides information on the European Community's laws on Environmental Impact Assessment of projects and the Environmental Assessment of certain plans and programmes together with other related information.
News
Commission's Guidance on "Clarification of the application of Article 2(3) of the EIA Directive"
Final report on "The Relationship between the EIA and SEA Directives project"
Contact Points
more
How to search for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Basel Convention
Nations that have signed and ratified, along with nations that have signed but have not ratified the agreement.
The Basel Convention (verbose: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal) is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs). It does not, however, address the movement of radioactive waste. The Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation, and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate.
The Convention was opened for signature on March 22, 1989, and entered into force on May 5, 1992. A list of parties to the Convention, and their ratification status, can be found on the Basel Secretariat's web page. Of the 170 parties to the Convention, Afghanistan, Haiti, and the United States have signed the Convention but have not yet ratified it.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Definition of Hazardous Waste
3 Obligations
4 Basel Ban Amendment
5 References
6 See also
7 External links
The Basel Convention Ban Amendment
The Basel Ban At the Second Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP – 2) in March 1994, Parties agreed to an immediate ban on the export from OECD to non-OECD countries of hazardous wastes intended for final disposal. They also agreed to ban, by 31 December 1997, the export of wastes intended for recovery and recycling (Decision II/12).
However, because Decision II/12 was not incorporated in the text of the Convention itself, the question as to whether it was legally binding or not arose. Therefore, at COP-3 in 1995, it was proposed that the Ban be formally incorporated in the Basel Convention as an amendment (Decision III/1).
Scope of the Ban
Decision III/1 does not use the distinction OECD/non-OECD countries. Rather, it bans hazardous wastes exports for final disposal and recycling from what are known as Annex VII countries (Basel Convention Parties that are members of the EU, OECD, Liechtenstein) to non-Annex VII countries (all other Parties to the Convention).
Ratification
The Ban Amendment has to be ratified by three-fourths of the Parties who accepted it in order to enter into force. Please see ratifications for a current list of the Parties that have ratified the Ban Amendment.
Text of the Amendment(Decision Adopted by the Third Conference of the Parties in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22 September 1995)
Decision III/1: Amendment to the Basel Convention
The Conference,
Recalling that at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, a request was made for the prohibition of hazardous waste shipments from industrialized countries to developing countries;
Recalling decision II/12 of the Conference;
Noting that:
the Technical Working Group is instructed by this Conference to continue its work on hazard characterization of wastes subject to the Basel Convention (decision III/12);
the Technical Working Group has already commenced its work on the development of lists of wastes which are hazardous and wastes which are not subject to the Convention;
those lists (document UNEP/CHW.3/Inf.4) already offer useful guidance but are not yet complete or fully accepted;
the Technical Working Group will develop technical guidelines to assist any Party or State that has sovereign right to conclude agreements or arrangements including those under Article 11 concerning the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
Instructs the Technical Working Group to give full priority to completing the work on hazard characterization and the development of lists and technical guidelines in order to submit them for approval to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;
Decides that the Conference of the Parties shall make a decision on a list(s) at its fourth meeting;
Decides to adopt the following amendment to the Convention:
Insert new preambular paragraph 7 bis:
Recognizing that transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, especially to developing countries, have a high risk of not constituting an environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes as required by this Convention;
Insert new Article 4A:
Each Party listed in Annex VII shall prohibit all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for operations according to Annex IV A, to States not listed in Annex VII.
Each Party listed in Annex VII shall phase out by 31 December 1997, and prohibit as of that date, all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes under Article 1, paragraph 1 (a) of the Convention which are destined for operations according to Annex IV B to States not listed in Annex VII. Such transboundary movements shall not be prohibited unless the wastes in question are characterized as hazardous under the Convention.
Annex VII
Parties and other States which are members of OECD, EC, Liechtenstein.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
OHSAS 18001: 2007
The New & Improved OHSAS 18001:2007 is here...
The latest edition of OHSAS 18001 - the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series - was published in July, representing the first revision of the premier standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems across the globe.
The 2007 version has several key additions and modifications, including reference to the document as a standard, not a specification, as in the earlier edition. This change in categorization reflects the extent of consensus reached in finalizing required elements for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
To learn more about OHSAS 18001:2007 and the new changes, please Listen to a Recording of our live webinar presentation. Got questions? Please browse through the Frequently Ask Questions. Need a copy? Please visit our Shopping Cart to purchase this and other OHS standards.
Elsewhere in this section you will find information on all our OHS products and services including New Training Courses. They will help you understand, implement, achieve, and maintain a certified Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
Read our Overview for more information on Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, or if you would like to speak to someone directly, please Contact Us.
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KEY CHANGES IN OHSAS 18001: 2007
Will ISO develop an OH&S Management System standard
Should ISO Develop an OH&S Management System Standard?
August 21, 2007
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is once again considering whether or not it should develop an OH&S Management System Standard (For information about ISO standard-setting activities go to http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/ISOOnline.frontpage)
The Technical Management Board (TMB) of ISO recently sent a survey form to the ISO member bodies (the various national standard-setting organizations from each country) asking for direction on whether to proceed in developing an OHSMS standard and, if so, what kind of standard.
Developing an ISO OHSMS standard has been an area of considerable controversy. Some labor and industry groups have been vehemently opposed to such an ISO standard. Other interested parties believe that, given the proliferation of different OHSMS standards and increased usage of OHSAS 18001, the time has come for the development of an international consensus standard that supports third-party accreditation of occupational health and safety management systems. (See my prior post on the plethora of OH&S standards that have been developed at http://ohsas18001expert.com/2007/05/15/a-plethora-of-ohs-standards/)
What do you think?
http://ohsas18001expert.com/
ILO Guidelines onOccupational Safety and Health Management Systems
(ILO-OSH 2001)
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The ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems are the result of extended international consultations held during the last year. They were examined and adopted at a Meeting of Experts held in Geneva from 19 to 27 April 2001. The Governing Body of the ILO approved the text of the Guidelines for publication at its 281st Session (June 2001).
The Guidelines are available in printed format at ILO Publications and in PDF format on this site (see below) in many languages
go here
Gap Analysis Approach
Environmental Management System (ISO 14001)
PROMAX Gap Analysis Approach
General Audit Overview
Our consultants are engineering and management professionals with auditing experience in diverse management systems. This assessment will be tailored to specific areas of your organization so that we can provide you an efficient and effective gap analysis. This will enable us to work with your staff to determine where your system is in conformance, no matter how you have the system set up.
We do not attempt to apply interpretive templates, or reduce the audit process to a simple "put a check in the box" check sheet. Our audit process evaluates the conformance, gaps and opportunities for improvement of your environmental management system to the specific requirements of ISO 14001 and the requirements of the system itself. Every EMS is different, requiring auditors with environmental experience and a checklist which can be applied with flexibility, to any organization.
We realize that our success depends on your satisfaction with our services. Your concerns and questions are a top priority to us. We view all input from present and potential clients as an opportunity for improvement. Our service quality is evaluated against the highest standards - yours.
Assessment of Critical Areas
Although the system would be audited using a comprehensive checklist based on the requirements of ISO14001 and on the specific policies and procedures of your own organization's Environmental Management System, the audit would focus primarily on the review and assessment (gap analysis) of the effective implementation of the following 8 areas:
1. The environmental policy, its communication, understanding and its appropriateness to the organization;
2. The environmental aspects identified and how the environmental impacts of significance are determined and prioritized;
3. The methods used to identify and monitor any relevant legislative and regulatory requirements;
4. The setting and prioritization of appropriate environmental objectives and targets;
5. The organizational structure, resources and programs required to implement the policy and achieve the objectives and targets;
6. The awareness and training of personnel in the environmental policy, objectives, targets and the aspects over which they have influence;
7. The planning, control, monitoring, corrective action, auditing and review activities to ensure both that the policy is complied with and that the EMS remains appropriate; and
8. The capabilities of the organization to adapt to changing circumstances, including how EMS audits and management reviews are being conducted.
Audit Schedule
The following table describes a high level audit schedule for a 5-day audit. The audit days could be less or more. The time and schedule can be modified to adapt to your own needs and financial, resources and technological requirements. It highlights the processes and the departments to be audited and makes reference to the elements of the ISO 14001 standard applicable to the process being audited.
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
UNCED - The Earth Summit
For the 1972 conference, see Conference on the Human Environment. For the 2002 conference, see Earth Summit 2002
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Summit, Earth Summit (or, in Portuguese, Eco '92) was a major conference held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to June 14, 1992.
178 governments participated, with 118 sending their heads of state or government.[1] Some 2,400 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended, with 17,000 people at the parallel NGO Forum, who had so-called Consultative Status.
The issues addressed included:
systematic scrutiny of patterns of production — particularly the production of toxic components, such as lead in gasoline, or poisonous waste
alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels which are linked to global climate change
new reliance on public transportation systems in order to reduce vehicle emissions, congestion in cities and the health problems caused by polluted air and smog
the growing scarcity of water
An important achievement was an agreement on the Climate Change Convention which in turn led to the Kyoto Protocol. Another was agreement to "not carry out any activities on the lands of indigenous peoples that would cause environmental degradation or that would be culturally inappropriate".
The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the Earth Summit, and made a start towards redefinition of money supply measures that did not inherently encourage destruction of natural ecoregions and so-called uneconomic growth.
Twelve cities were also honoured by the Local Government Honours Award for innovative local environmental programs. These included Sudbury, Ontario in Canada for its ambitious program to rehabilitate environmental damage from the local mining industry, Austin, Texas in the United States for its green building strategy, and Kitakyushu in Japan for incorporating an international education and training component into its municipal pollution control program.
The Earth Summit resulted in the following documents:
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development [1]
Agenda 21 [2], [3]
Convention on Biological Diversity [4]
Forest Principles
Framework Convention on Climate Change
Both Convention on Biological Diversity and Framework Convention on Climate Change were set as legally binding agreements.
Critics, however, point out that many of the agreements made in Rio have not been realized regarding such fundamental issues as fighting poverty and cleaning up the environment.
Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD)
CSD has served as the UN high-level forum for sustainable development issues since 1992, when it was established by the UN General Assembly to ensure effective follow-up to the Rio Summit. CSD meets annually at UN Headquarters; its focus themes for 2006/2007 are energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change.
References
^ Keith Schneider, "White House Snubs U.S. Envoy's Plea to Sign Rio Treaty," New York Times, 5 June 1992; James Brooke, "U.N. Chief Closes Summit With an Appeal for Action," New York Times, 15 June 1992
External links
video: George Hunt reviews UNCED 1992
video: 13 year old speaks for Envinronmental Children Organization UNCED 1992
Categories: Environment Sustainable development Diplomatic conferences Carbon Finance
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