Illustrative example of discipline-specific knowledge and skills of auditors in

environmental management

This example is based on the list of competences for environmental auditors provided as an appendix
in the previous (2011) version of ISO 19011. It has been updated by ISO TC207 SC2 to reflect the
new requirements of ISO 14001:2015. This example is intended to provide guidance for
environmental auditors generically. ISO 17021 Part 2 provides competence requirements for
certification auditing of environmental management systems.

Knowledge and skills related to the discipline and the application of discipline-specific methods,
techniques, processes and practices should be sufficient to enable the auditor to examine the
management system and generate appropriate audit findings and conclusions.

Examples are as follows:

⎯ environmental terminology;
⎯ environmental metrics and statistics;
⎯ measurement science and monitoring techniques;
⎯ interaction of ecosystems and biodiversity;
⎯ environmental media (e.g. air, water, land, fauna, flora) and the implications of releases to them;
⎯ implications of changing environmental conditions
⎯ organisational context in relation to environmental aspects
⎯ techniques for determining risk (e.g. environmental aspects/impacts evaluation, including
methods for evaluating significance);
⎯ life cycle assessment;
⎯ environmental performance evaluation;
⎯ techniques for operational control
⎯ emergency preparedness and response;
⎯ pollution prevention and control (e.g. best available techniques for pollution control or energy
efficiency);
⎯ resource efficiency (source reduction, waste minimization, reuse, recycling and treatment
practices and processes);
⎯ use of hazardous substances;
⎯ greenhouse gas emissions accounting and management;
⎯ management of natural resources (e.g. fossil fuels, water, flora and fauna, land);
⎯ environmental design;
⎯ environmental reporting and disclosure;
⎯ product stewardship;
⎯ renewable and low carbon technologies;
⎯ environmental legislation, standards and protocols;
⎯ risks and opportunities related to environmental aspects.

NOTE: For additional information, see related standards developed by ISO/TC 207 on environmental
management.