Module 2: Environmental Management

7BAH505 – Environment and Sustainability

Module -2: Environmental Management

Environmental Management: Definition; Corporate environmental indicators, Objective
of the industry, Instruments: Legal- Technological-Managerial; EMS Certification,
Managerial system, Industrial safety Practices: Disaster Management- Risk Assessment
Analysis; Environmental issues in developing countries, carbon foot printing.

2.1 Environmental Management

Environmental management is the process of allocating natural and man-made resources
so as to make optimum use of the environment in satisfying not only the present basic
human needs but of the coming generations also.

This management implies an element of conscious choice from a variety of alternative

proposals and furthermore that such a choice involves purposeful commitment to
recognised and desired objectives.

Environmental management is not merely a management of environment but it is

essentially the management of various activities with intolerable constraints imposed by
the environment itself and with full consideration of ecological factors. Thus, it involves
environmental planning, conservation of resources, environmental status evaluation, and
environmental legislation and administration.

The focus of environmental management is on implementation, monitoring and auditing;

on practice and coping with real-world issues, rather than theoretical planning. A close
integration with environmental planning is desirable.

Thus, as stated earlier, environmental management is a field of study dedicated to

understanding human-environment interactions and the application of science and
common-sense to solving problems.

2.2 The characteristic features of the environmental

management:
1. It deals with a world affected by humans;

2. It supports sustainable development;

3. It demands a multidisciplinary approach;

4. It has to integrate different development viewpoints;

5. It concerns with short-term and long-term planning as well as from local to global
scale

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6. It seeks to integrate natural and social science, policy making and planning.

During the last three decades, too much awareness has been developed regarding
environmental protection and quality of life. The dictionary of environment is renewed
regularly with new terminologies like clean technology, environmental auditing,
environment-friendly products, environmental impact assessment, environmental
resource conservation, etc., added.

Environmental management, as defined in Goudie (1994), “provides resources from the

bioenvironmental systems of the planet but simultaneously tries to retain sanative, life-
supporting ecosystems. It is therefore an attempt to harmonise and balance the various
enterprises for his own benefit.”

Time has now come when our policy makers as well as society should aim to protect,
conserve and regulate the development in such a way that it will not create any adverse
effect on ecosystem and needs of the people can also be fulfilled.

Throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, there is an urgent need for
the management of the total environment.

In the first instance environmental management must do three things:

(i) Identify goals;

(ii) Establish whether these can be met, and

(iii) Develop and implement means to do what it deems possible.

A simple scheme for environmental management has been depicted in following figure.

Thus, environmental management is an approach which integrates ecology, policy

making, planning and social development.

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2.3 Objectives of Environmental Management

1. To prevent and solve environmental problems;

2. To establish limits;

3. To develop research institutions and monitoring systems;

4. To warn threats and identify opportunities;

5. To suggest measures for resource conservation;

6. To develop a strategy for the improvement of quality of life;

7. To suggest long-term and short-term policies for sustainable development; and

8. To identify new technology for sustainable development.

In brief, environmental management is necessary for environmental planning which

implies the optimal utilisation of the earth’s resources and preservation of the quality of
environment for the healthy growth of society.

Objectives of Industry: The major objective of any industry is not only profit making
but making good business sense and improving business performance which leads to
sustainability, which can be achieved by adopting different instruments in form of
managerial, legal and technological. These instruments also known as environment
management tools and techniques.

The business performance can be improved by improving the strategies to improve the
environmental performance.

It is very important for any industry to undertake environmental management as

there are a number of advantages to undertaking environmental management and these
include:

i. Cost savings
ii. Ensuring legislative compliance
iii. Anticipating future legislation
iv. Reduced environmental risk
v. Meeting supply chain requirements
vi. Improved relations with regulators
vii. Improved public image
viii. Increased market opportunities
ix. Employee enthusiasm

Cost savings

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Most, if not all people, wish to protect the environment. However, many businesses fear
that protecting the environment by improving their environmental performance will cost
money. They fear there will be a conflict between their desire to protect the environment
and their desire to keep down costs and run a successful business.

The good news is that many businesses have discovered that far from increasing costs,
improving environmental performance actually reduces costs. Many companies have
found that it is possible to save money, sometimes large sums of money, by improving
their environmental performance.

Cost savings within a company or a firm can be achieved through changes in areas such
as:

i. process efficiency -
ii. product design
iii. waste disposal
iv sourcing of raw materials
v. infrastructure
vi. packaging and transport

Process efficiency
Improving the efficiency of existing processes
Optimizing the performance of existing processes minimizes the use of raw materials and
energy and the production of waste. Reduced use of raw materials and energy and
reduced waste production are all good for the environment and the reduced resource costs
and waste disposal costs are good for business. Proper maintenance of equipment is
important as it minimizes costly downtime and the resource waste often associated with
shutdown and start-up periods.
Introducing more efficient processes
Introducing new and more efficient processes also reduces resource use and waste
production. Many companies have been able to make large cost savings by reducing the
amount of raw materials, energy and water that they use.
Product design
It may be possible to redesign a product so as to reduce the amount of resources it
contains whilst still maintaining the level of service it provides.
Waste disposal - making money from waste
As mentioned above, improving process efficiency will reduce the amount of waste that a
process produces. Once waste has been generated, it is often possible to reuse it or pass it
on to other companies that can use it and so avoid the costs of waste disposal.
Sourcing of raw materials
Changing the source of raw materials used in a particular process can result in cost
savings. Companies could make large savings by using recycled wool rather than virgin
wool to manufacture its products, or use recycle paper rather than manufactured paper
that could save substantial number of tress being felled.
Infrastructure
It is also possible to make savings by making efficiency changes to infrastructure e.g.
installing energy efficient lighting, insulating buildings, improving the efficiency of
heating systems.
Packaging and transport

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Once goods have been produced, they need to be packaged and transported. It is possible
to make cost savings in these areas at the same time as improving environmental
performance.

Ensuring legislative compliance

By ensuring that it complies with relevant environmental legislation, a company or a firm
can avoid the possibility of being fined by the regulatory authorities for noncompliance
and the adverse media publicity and public criticism & outrage that can accompany such
fines.

Anticipating future legislation

Developing an awareness of likely changes in environmental legislation allows
companies to plan for these changes and make appropriate investment decisions. If a
company or an organization is not aware of proposed legislation it may make investments
that are futile when the new legislation is enacted. Alternatively, a company may find out
about a legislative change at the last minute and be forced to undertake rapid investment
to comply with its requirements. Prior knowledge of likely changes allows a longer time
period over which to make the necessary investment and prevent possible cash flow
problems.

Reduced environmental risk

Environmental risk is the single largest hidden risk for many companies. By undertaking
environmental risk assessment as part of the environmental management process it is
possible to reduce the risk of environmental consequences. Banks, insurance companies
and investors all base their decisions on an assessment of risk. The higher the risk, the
less likely a bank is to lend, the less likely investors are to invest and the higher insurance
premiums are likely to be. Therefore, a reduction in environmental risk is likely to be
viewed favourably by all these parties, putting a company in a better position to obtain
loans and insurance cover and to attract investment.

Meeting supply chain requirements

An increasing number of large organizations are requiring their suppliers to demonstrate
sound environmental management and are prepared to delist those that fail to do so. In
some cases, having an environmental policy is not considered sufficient proof of sound
environmental management and evidence is required that a company is taking action to
meet the commitments set out in their policies. Hence, undertaking effective
environmental management will increasingly be necessary to gain or maintain supplier
status with large organizations.

Meeting supply chain requirements

An increasing number of large organizations are requiring their suppliers to demonstrate
sound environmental management and are prepared to delist those that fail to do so. In
some cases having an environmental policy is not considered sufficient proof of sound
environmental management and evidence is required that a company is taking action to
meet the commitments set out in their policies. Hence, undertaking effective
environmental management will increasingly be necessary to gain or maintain supplier
status with large organizations.

Improved relations with regulators

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The ability to demonstrate sound environmental management may lead to environmental

regulators taking a more “hands-off” approach to regulation e.g. a reduction in the
number of inspection visits required per year.

Improved public image and community relations

By publicizing its efforts to improve environmental performance, a company can
improve its public image, thereby enhancing its position in the market place. And by
demonstrating sound environmental management, a company can reassure the local
community about its activities and thus build up good community relations.

Increased market opportunities

Lower production costs resulting from environmental management and good public
image resulting from publicizing good environmental performance can result in a
company
increasing sales and gaining a larger market share.

Employee enthusiasm
The environment is an issue about which many people are concerned. Undertaking
environmental management can generate a lot of enthusiasm within a company as it
allows employees to express their environmental concern in a practical way by
contributing towards improving environmental performance.

2.4 Environmental management tools & techniques

How does a firm/company put into service environmental management?

Considering the significance of sound environmental management, there is a need for a

company or an organization to know how to go about it. To undertake any task, one
needs appropriate tools. The following is a range of environmental management tools -
tools that a company or an organization can use to effectively manage its environmental
and social affairs.

In the early 1990s the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recognized
the need for standardization in the field of environmental management tools and in 1993
it set up a committee to write standards relating to the following environmental
management tools:

 environmental management systems

 environmental auditing
 environmental labelling
 life cycle assessment
 environmental indicators
 environmental policies
 eco-balances
 environmental reporting
 environmental charters

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Environmental Management Systems

An environmental management system (EMS) enables a firm/company to manage its
environmental affairs in a planned and systematic way and thus identifying ways of
improving its environmental performance that most benefit its business performance.

Environmental Auditing
Environmental auditing is a tool for checking whether a firm or an organization is doing
what it should be doing. For instance, a legislative compliance audit checks that those
activities of the firm covered by environmental legislation (i.e. what it is doing) actually
comply with that legislation (i.e. what it should be doing).

Environmental Labelling
Environmental labelling schemes award an environmental label to those products that are
judged to be less harmful to the environment than others within the same product group.
Firms that wish for their products to be considered for a label must apply to the scheme
organizer. These environmental labels can be used as marketing tools as they signify that
a product is one of the least environmentally harmful products in its group.

Life Cycle Assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for identifying and assessing the various
environmental impacts associated with a particular product. LCA takes a “cradle to
grave” approach looking at the impacts of the product throughout its life cycle i.e. from
the raw materials acquisition (the “cradle”) through its production and use to its final
disposal (the “grave”). LCA allows manufacturers to find ways of cost-effectively
reducing the environmental impact of a product over its life-cycle and to support their
claims about the environmental impact of their products.

Environmental Indicators
Environmental indicators allow a firm to measure both its environmental performance
and its efforts to improve its performance. Indicators can be used within an
environmental management system to check that a firm has met the targets it is required
to set for itself, but can equally well be used in firms that have not developed an EMS.

Environmental Policy
An environmental policy is a document which clearly sets out the overall aims and
intentions of a firm/company with respect to the environment. Developing an
environmental policy is often the first step taken by environmental management.

Eco-balance
A company eco-balance records the various raw materials, energy, resources, products
and wastes entering, held within and leaving a company over a specified period of time.
In other words, it provides a record of a company’s physical inputs, stock and outputs.
Once a company knows exactly what is coming in and going out, particular
environmental impacts of those inputs and outputs. An eco-balance therefore enables a
firm to undertake the comprehensive environmental review of its activities required by
ISO 14001 and EMAS and to go on and set targets for environmental performance.

Environmental Reporting

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Having undertaken various environmental management initiatives to improve its

environmental performance, a company or an organization may wish to communicate the
results of these initiatives to the outside world. One way of doing this is by publishing an
environmental report. Issuing an environmental report can improve a firm’s public image
and lead to improved relationships with stakeholders. To date, it is mainly large
companies that have issued such reports but small and medium scale companies may also
find environmental reporting a useful tool.

Environmental Charters
There are a number of environmental charters and guidelines to which a firm/company or
an organization can subscribe in order to demonstrate its commitment environmental
management.

2.5 Corporate Environmental Indicators

What are environmental indicators?

Environmental indicators express useful and relevant information about environmental

performance and its efforts to influence its performance.

So, what is environmental performance?

Environmental performance can be defined as, ‘the results of an organization’s
management of its environmental aspects’ and, as noted in before, an environmental
aspect refers to, ‘an element of an organization’s activities, products or services that can
interact with the environment’.

Examples of indicators include:

i. Tonnes of SO2 released per year
ii. Tonnes of CO2 released per unit of production
iii. Litres of water used per year
iv. Kilogrammes of hazardous waste produced per year
v. Number of legislative breaches per year
vi. Savings achieved through energy efficiency measures
vii. Number of environmental improvement suggestions from employees and number
taken up by management
viii. Number of complaints received about environmentally related matters.
ix. Number of employees trained versus number needing training

The three indicator areas

ISO 14031 sets out 3 indicator areas viz. the operational and management areas of a
firm and the environment. These areas and their associated indicators are described
below.

2.5.1 Operational area and OPIs

The operational area consists of the operations of the firm’s physical equipment i.e. those
activities that have an environmental aspect.

Examples of operational activities include manufacturing processes, the heating and

lighting of buildings, transport activities, the operation of office equipment. As the

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activities in the operational area are those which have environmental aspects, they are the
activities that determine the firm’s actual environmental performance.

The indicators used to measure the environmental aspects of operational activities are
known as operational performance indicators (OPIs).
Examples of OPIs include:

i. Total energy use per year

ii. Waste production per year
iii. Emissions of NOx per unit of production i
v. Water use per unit of production

2.5.2 The management area and MPIs

The management area consists of the various planning, administrative and decision-
making processes that make up management. Management decisions relating to the
environment include:
i. deciding how much money to spend on environmental management activities
ii. deciding how much training to provide to employees
iii. deciding whether to develop an environmental management system

Obviously, management can have a considerable influence on the actual environmental

performance of the firm. The indicators used to measure the environmental aspect of
management activities are called management performance indicators (MPIs). Examples
of management performance indicators include:
i. number of environmental objectives and targets achieved
ii. number of employees trained
iii. number of suppliers and contractors questioned about their environmental
management practices
iv. frequency of review of operating procedures

One important category of MPIs is financial indicators. Financial indicators aim to

measure the effects of environmental management activities on a firm’s financial
performance. (The aim here is to integrate the environmental dimension of a firm’s
activities into traditional cost accounting and business management considerations.)
Examples of financial indicators include:
i. cost (both capital and operational) over time of activities related to
environmental performance
ii. savings achieved over time through waste recycling, reductions in resource
use or resource substitution
iii. return on investment for environmental improvement projects

Note: Operational performance indicators and management performance indicators

are referred to collectively in ISO 14031 as environmental performance indicators
(EPIs).

2.5.3 The environment and ECIs

As their name suggests, environmental condition indicators (ECIs) measure the condition
of the environment. Examples of ECIs include:

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i. contaminant concentration in air/groundwater/surface water/soil/plant tissue/

animal tissue
ii. number of coliform bacteria per liter of water
iii. odor measured at specific distance from the organization’s facility

Whereas OPIs measure a company’s environmental aspects, ECIs can be used to measure
a company’s actual impact on the environment i.e. any change to the environment,
whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s
activities, products or services.

The link between environmental aspects and environmental impacts in one of cause and
effect relationship i.e. environmental aspects are the cause of environmental impacts. It
is possible to use indicators to measure both an environmental aspect and its related
impact. For instance, the environmental aspect of phosphate emission can be measured
using the OPI quantity of phosphates emitted per unit of time whilst the associated
impact can be measured using the ECI the biological oxygen demand (BOD) caused by
these phosphate emissions in the receiving aquatic environment.

Measuring environmental impacts can be very costly and, in many cases, it is just not
possible to tell how much of a particular environmental impact is caused by one firm as
opposed to one or more other firms within the same area. Most companies confine
themselves to using OPIs in the knowledge that managing their environmental aspects
will reduce the firm’s environmental impact.

2.6 What is an EMS (Environmental Management System)?

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a framework that helps an organization
achieve its environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement
of its environmental performance. The assumption is that this consistent review and
evaluation will identify opportunities for improving and implementing the environmental
performance of the organization. The EMS itself does not dictate a level of
environmental performance that must be achieved; each organization's EMS is tailored to
the its own individual objectives and targets.

Basic EMS

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An EMS helps an organization address its regulatory demands in a systematic and cost-
effective manner. This proactive approach can help reduce the risk of non-compliance
and improve health and safety practices for employees and the public. An EMS can also
help address non-regulated issues, such as energy conservation, and can promote stronger
operational control and employee stewardship.

Basic Elements of an EMS include the following:

 Reviewing the organization's environmental goals;

 Analysing its environmental impacts and legal requirements;
 Setting environmental objectives and targets to reduce environmental impacts and
comply with legal requirements;
 Establishing programs to meet these objectives and targets;
 Monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the objectives;
 Ensuring employees' environmental awareness and competence; and,
 Reviewing progress of the EMS and making improvements.
2.6.1 Costs and Benefits of an EMS

Internal

 Staff/manager time (represents the bulk of EMS resources expended by most

organizations)
 Another employee times

External

 Potential consulting assistance

 Outside training of personnel

Potential Benefits

 Improved environmental performance

 Enhanced compliance
 Pollution prevention
 Resource conservation
 New customers/markets
 Increased efficiency/reduced costs
 Enhanced employee morale
 Enhanced image with public, regulators, lenders, investors
 Employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities

2.7 EMS Certification

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The ISO 14001 certification helps organizations identify and control environmental
impacts and improve performance.

2.7.1 What is an ISO 14001 standard?

ISO 14001 is the most recognized international standard for environmental management
system (EMS). It is designed to help businesses to remain commercially successful
without overlooking environmental responsibilities and impacts. It can also help the
industry to grow sustainably while reducing the environmental impact of this growth.
ISO 14001 is the principal management system standard which specifies the
requirements for the formulation and maintenance of an EMS. This helps to control the
environmental aspects, reduce impact and ensure legal compliance. It provides a
framework through which an organisation can deliver environmental performance
improvement in line with its environmental policy commitments.

2.7.2 What are the benefits of certification to EMS Standard?

 Better environmental management reduces waste and energy use.

 Provides a tool for environmental performance improvement and the means to
effectively monitor and measure environmental performance.
 Facilitates reductions in pollution, waste generation and unintended discharges to
the environment.
 Improves resource management including use of energy which also may imply a
reduction in the cost of running business.
 Demonstrates compliance to expand business opportunities.
 Meet legal obligations to win greater stakeholder and customer trust.

2.8 Industrial Safety Practices

The term safety practices mean the provision of devices, equipment or other methods
which ensure safety e.g. presence of guard endorsing a rotating part of a machine, and
fire extinguishers etc. Safety procedure relate to the methods to be followed for the
minimization of accidents e.g. provision of double controls. While designing an
electrical installation i.e. one local and other remote so as to ensure double safety.

Few safety practices are

(1) Design of factory buildings:

(i) Proper lighting and ventilation provisions.

(ii) Proper control of overhead cranes.
(iii) Due consideration to be given to sharp bends, heavy slopes and undue
steps.
(iv) Availability of emergency exits.
(v) Adequate control on electrical installation must be available.
(vi) First aid arrangement in different shops.

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(2) Safety against machine accidents

The following provisions should be made
(i) Dangerous parts should be out of reach during operation.

(ii) Some guards are built into a permanent casing, while some are attached
afterwards.

(iii) Machines or their parts should be fenced when it is not possible to provide
safe guards.

(iv) All boilers and other pressure vessels must be kept in good/ proper
condition. Safety valves, pressure gauges and water gauges etc. must be
thoroughly examined at regular intervals.

(v) Cranes, hoists and lifts etc. must be of sound construction. They should be
periodically tested.

(vi) Repair work on machines to be avoided during running of machines.

(vii) All belts, gears, fly wheels and pulleys etc. should be covered with
adequate guards

(3) Safety against Fire

Following measures should be taken.

(i) Adequate provision of passages and exits should be made.
(ii) The doors should be open out wards.
(iii) Adequate warning signals should be provided.
(iv) Fire extinguishers should be kept at suitable places.
(v) Storing of explosives (if required to store).
(vi) Training in firefighting should be given to all employees.

(4) Prevention of Electrical accidents:

To prevent electrical accidents following measures should be taken:
(i) Insulate all electrical equipment, wiring appliances and controls and these
should be periodically tested.
(ii) All metallic covers over electrical machinery or control equipment should
be properly earthed.
(iii) Underground cables/wires should be safe from mechanical damage or
exposure to excessive moisture.
(iv) Every live conductor should begin with a safety fuse.
(v) The C.T.C. extinguishers should be clearly marked.
(vi) Repair work should be started after switching the power off.
(vii) Use safety equipment’s such as insulated tools, rubber gloves etc.
whenever required.

2.9 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

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A disaster is a catastrophic situation in which suddenly, people are plunged into

helplessness and suffering and, as a result, need protection, clothing, shelter, medical
and social care and other necessities of life.
The Disaster Management Plan is aimed to ensure safety of life, protection of
Environment, protection of installation, restoration of production and salvage
operations in this same order of priorities. For effective implementation of the
Disaster Management Plan, it should be widely circulated and a personnel training is
to be provided through rehearsals/drills. To tackle the consequences of a major
emergency inside the plant or immediate vicinity of the plant, a Disaster
Management Plan has to be formulated and this planned emergency document is
called "Disaster Management Plan".

2.9.1 Objectives
The objective of the Industrial Disaster Management Plan is to make use of the
combined resources of the plant and the outside services to achieve the following:
• Effect the rescue and medical treatment of casualties;
• Safeguard other people;
• Minimize damage to property and the environment;
• Initially contain and ultimately bring the incident under control;
• Identify any dead;
• Provide for the needs of relatives;
• Provide authoritative information to the news media;
• Secure the safe rehabilitation of affected area;
• Preserve relevant records and equipment for the subsequent inquiry into the cause
and circumstances of the emergency.
In effect, it is to optimize operational efficiency to rescue rehabilitation and render
medical help and to restore normalcy. Disaster Management Plan should include
Emergency Preparedness Plan, Emergency Response Team, Emergency
Communication, Emergency Responsibility

2.9.2 Risk Assessment and Analysis

WHAT IS RISK ASSESSMENT?

UNDP (defines risk as the probability of harmful consequences — casualties,

damaged property, lost livelihoods, disrupted economic activity, and damage to the
environment — resulting from interactions between natural or human-induced
hazards and vulnerable conditions. Risk assessment is a process to determine the
nature and extent of such risk, by analysing hazards and evaluating existing
conditions of vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed people,
property, services, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend. A
comprehensive risk assessment not only evaluates the magnitude and likelihood of
potential losses but also provides full understanding of the causes and impact of
those losses. Risk assessment, therefore, is an integral part of decision and policy-
making processes and requires close collaboration among various parts of society.

under the environmental risk assessment, it is important to familiar both the terms
i.e.

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Risk and Hazard.

a) Risk: Risk is an actual or potential threat of adverse effects on environment arising

out of an organization activity.

(b) Hazards: Hazard is the potential to cause harm. An environmental hazard is a

generic term for any situation or state of events which poses threat to the surrounding
environment.

Objective of Risk Assessment

 Identifying hazardous activities
 Assessment of risk level and severity in different operations
 Identification of control measures
 Setting monitoring process
 Reduce the impact of mishaps of all kinds
 Reduce the inherent potential for major accidents.

Methodology of Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is mainly based on the environmental impact of various parameters,

 Collection of information and identification of hazard

 Classifying the severity of hazards and probability of occurrence Identification of
exposed risks Assessment of risks based on probability exposure and consequence.
 Prioritization of risks Implementation of control measures Monitoring Risk
Assessment Evaluation & Correction

UNDP APPROACH

Besides the estimation of potential losses and their impact, risk assessment allows
for the determination of the acceptable level of risk, defined as the level of losses
that is acceptable without destroying lives, national economy or personal finances.
Once the current and acceptable levels of risk are determined, disaster risk reduction
plans and strategies could be revised or developed so that they have the measurable
goal of reducing the current risk to acceptable levels. For countering existing disaster
risk systematically, for example by formulating a comprehensive DRR policy,
developing land-use plans or putting in place insurance mechanisms to transfer non-
reducible risks, the knowledge and understanding provided by a knowledge and
understanding provided by a comprehensive risk assessment are fundamental. Furthermore,
when the plans are being implemented, periodic evaluations of risk provide an explicit
indication of progress in risk reduction. They help to evaluate the effectiveness of disaster
risk reduction efforts and make the necessary corrections to the plans and strategies.

Risk assessment is an important component of UNDP disaster risk reduction projects

and programmes. Examples of the multifaceted activities implemented by UNDP

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include: National and local capacities for risk assessment the main focus of UNDP’s
work is on capacity development. In the area of risk assessment, UNDP provides
technical assistance on the establishment of disaster risk assessment and institutional
arrangements at the national level; supports the assessment of hazard monitoring and
mapping capacities and gap identification; supports local government on risk
assessments for areas of resettlement and recovery after a disaster; and provides
guidance to ensure that cross-cutting issues relevant to the development context, like
sexual and reproductive health, gender and HIV/AIDS are included in risk
assessment tools and exercises at al levels.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Disaster risk reduction is a systematic approach to
identifying, assessing and reducing the risks of disaster. It aims to reduce the damage
caused by natural hazards like earthquakes, floods, droughts and cyclones, through
an ethic of prevention. Disasters often follow natural hazards. A disaster's severity
depends on how much impact a hazard has on society and the environment.

Tools for conducting disaster risk assessments at both national and

local levels

UNDP differentiates between two levels of risk assessments:

national and local risk assessments.

UNDP: United Nations Development Programme

UNDP stands for United Nations Development Programme. It works in more than
170 countries and territories with an aim to eradicate poverty and prevent
inequalities and exclusion. It assists countries in developing policies, leadership
skills, partnering abilities, and build resilience to sustain development results.

The UNDP is headed by an administrator who oversees a 36-member Executive

Board which comprises both developing and developed countries. It is headquartered
in New York City. Since 1951 UNDP is working in India mostly in all areas of
human development such as systems and institutional strengthening, inclusive
growth, sustainable energy, livelihoods, energy, and resilience.

UNDP focuses on three major areas which require different forms of

support:
1. To eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions
2. To accelerate structural transformations for sustainable development
3. Climate and disaster resilience

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UNDP helped over 100 countries eliminate more than 67000 tonnes of ozone-
depleting substances every year, along with reducing 5.08 billion tonnes of CO2
equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

A national risk assessment is a strategic risk assessment that supports the design of
national DRR strategies, policy and regulations, DRM programming, and budget
allocation. A local risk assessment is an operational risk assessment for DRR action
planning, contingency planning, pre-disaster recovery planning, and proper urban
planning. UNDP provides specific methodologies and tools to conduct multi-hazard
risk assessment at national and sub-national levels; guidance on multihazard urban
risk assessment in major cities and on impact assessment of climate change at the
national level; support to its partners on assessing the capacities of existing
departments, identifying gaps, proposing and helping install mechanisms to address
such gaps; and assistance in the establishment of community-based disaster
management committees to conduct risk assessment in pilot regions. Build national
disaster observatories (NDO) A NDO is a sustainable local institution that Build
national disaster observatories (NDO).

A NDO is a sustainable local institution that systematically collects, compiles and

interprets historic disaster information. An NDO helps the countries to learn from
their disaster history and incorporate that knowledge into the national DRR strategy
and the implementation of disaster risk management activities.

Utilization of risk analysis for DRR planning

UNDP assists countries apply risk assessments to the formulation and revision of
national, sub-national and local disaster risk reduction strategies, as well as to related
thematic areas: climate change adaptation and mitigation; urban development
planning; humanitarian planning and the establishment of early warning systems.
UNDP also helps use risk assessments as the basis for the design, funding and
implementation of DRR / risk management projects for the communities.

For UNDP, a comprehensive risk assessment consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Understanding of current situation, needs and gaps to assess what already
exists, avoid duplication of efforts, and build on existing information and capacities.
This is done through a systematic inventory and evaluation of existing risk
assessment studies, available data and information, and current institutional
framework and capabilities.

Step 2: Hazard assessment to identify the nature, location, intensity and likelihood
of major hazards prevailing in a community or society

Step 3: Exposure assessment to identify population and assets at risk and delineate
disaster prone areas

Step 4: Vulnerability analysis to determine the capacity (or lack of it) of elements at
risk to withstand the given hazard scenarios

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Step 5: Loss/impact analysis to estimate potential losses of exposed population,

property, services, livelihoods and environment, and assess their potential impacts on
society.
Step 6: Risk profiling and evaluation to identify cost-effective risk reduction options
in terms of the socio-economic concerns of a society and its capacity for risk
reduction

Step 7: Formulation or revision of DRR strategies and action plans that include
setting priorities, allocating resources (financial or human) and initiating DRR
programmes

2.10 Environmental issues in developing countries

Over the next 30 years, most of the world’s population growth will occur in the urban
areas of poor countries. Rapid, unplanned and unsustainable styles of urban development
are making developing cities the key focal points for emerging environmental and health
hazards.

These hazards include the synergistic problems of urban poverty, traffic fatalities and air
pollution. In addition, increased urbanization and motorization and diminishing space for
walking/recreation in cities is associated with more sedentary lifestyles and a surge in
related noncommunicable diseases. Globally, physical inactivity is estimated to be
responsible for some 1.9 million deaths each year as a result of diseases such as heart
ailments, cancer and diabetes. Increased industrial and agricultural production has
intensified poorer countries’ production and use of both newer and older chemicals,
including some formulations that are banned in other countries. The Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has estimated that the global output
of chemicals in 2020 will be 85% higher than in 1995, and nearly one third of the world's
chemical production will take place in non-OECD countries, as compared to about one
fifth in 1995. The shift of chemical production from more affluent to poorer settings
could increase the overall health and environmental risks arising from the production and
use of such chemicals.

Already in many developing countries a range of toxic effluents is emitted directly into
soil, air and water – from industrial processes, pulp and paper plants, tanning operations,
mining, and unsustainable forms of agriculture – at rates well in excess of those tolerable
to human health. Along with the problem of acute poisonings, the cumulative health
impacts of human exposures to various chemical combinations and toxins can be a factor
in a range of chronic health conditions and diseases.

At the global level, demand for and unsustainable use of energy resources, (particularly
fossil fuels), has placed stress on global ecosystems, including the mechanisms
controlling and regulating climate. These, in turn, generate health impacts, e.g. from
changed patterns of vector-borne disease to more extreme weather events. Climate
change-related health impacts, which currently are responsible for an estimated 150,000
deaths annually, can be expected to increase in the future. Other global environmental
changes, such as loss of biodiversity, can have health consequences by increasing
instability in disease transmission in animal populations, which are the source of most of
the pathogens affecting humans. Loss of biodiversity can have other health consequences

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as well, as a result of the depletion of the genetic resources available for future crop/food
production and development of medicines.

The health impacts of environmental risks are heaviest among poor and vulnerable
populations in developing countries. For instance, poor coastal populations in developing
countries may be among the most vulnerable to sea-level rises and extreme weather
events. The poor in developing countries generally have the least access to clean water
sources, and those same populations also may be the most directly exposed to
environmental risks such as vector-borne diseases and indoor air pollution from solid fuel
use. At the same time, poor people also may be the most dependent on natural resources
as sources of livelihoods and well-being, and thus be most impacted by unsustainable
exploitation or depletion of those resources.

Health, environment and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Promoting environmental sustainability is therefore a means of addressing both poverty

and ill health. That is reflected in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) –
approved by the UN General Assembly in the year 2000 – which set global goals and
specific targets for sustainable development, improvement of health, and poverty
reduction.

MDG 7 calls upon nations to "ensure environmental sustainability". Targets

identified as part of MDG-7 include:

 Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and

programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
 Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe
drinking water and sanitation.
 Achieve, by 2020, a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million
slum dwellers.

Addressing the root environmental causes of disease is vital not only to the achievement
of MDG-7, but also may play an important role in the achievement of other Millennium
Development Goals. A few examples of such linkages are noted below.

MDG 1 – Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger. Integrated environment and health
policy can reduce the impact of vector-borne disease in irrigated agricultural areas,
improving farmer performance overall. Better agriculture practice in relation to pesticide
use, management of livestock and their waste, as well as improved land and water
conservation practices, can increase agricultural yields and improve food security, as well
as health.

MDG 4 – Reduce Child Mortality. Shifting to cleaner household fuels and/or to

improved cook stoves can reduce indoor air pollution, and thus have a direct impact on
child mortality from acute respiratory disease, a key childhood killer. Improved water
and sanitation provision as well as better household water management can potentially
have an impact on childhood mortality and morbidity both from diarrhoeal and vector-
borne diseases.

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MDGs 3 and 5 – Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women/Improve

Maternal Health. More sustainable agricultural policy and practices, can yield benefits
for women – both in their capacity as cultivators/food providers and as mothers – in
terms of improved food security and in terms of reduced exposures to agro-chemicals.
Shifting to cleaner household fuels and/or improved cook stoves can reduce the risks of
chronic respiratory diseases in women, who in their capacity as mothers and caregivers
are responsible for most food preparation as well as for time-consuming fuel collection.

2.11 Carbon Foot Printing

A carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to

directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of
carbon dioxide (CO2).

When we drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2,
depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol
for carbon dioxide). When we use oil, gas or coal for heating purpose, then we also
generate CO2. Even if we use electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also
have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When we buy food and goods, the production of
the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.

An individual’s carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon

dioxide), which were induced by that individual’s activities in a given time
frame. Usually a carbon footprint is calculated for the time period of a year.

Example:

If our car consumes 7.5 liter diesel per 100 km, then a drive of 300 km distance
consumes 3 x 7.5 = 22.5 liter diesel, which adds 22.5 x 2.7 kg = 60.75 kg CO2 to your
personal carbon footprint.

Examples of Carbon footprint contributions:

Fuel type Unit CO2 emitted per unit

Petrol, Gasoline 1 litre 2.3 kg

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Diesel 1 litre 2.7 kg

Oil (heating) 1 liter 3 kg

Each of the following activities add 1 kg of CO2 to your personal carbon footprint:

o Travel by public transportation (train or bus) a distance of 10 to 12 km (6.5 to 7 miles)

o Drive with your car a distance of 6 km or 3.75 miles (assuming 7.3 litres petrol per 100
km or 39 mpg)
o Fly with a plane a distance of 2.2 km or 1.375 miles.
o Operate your computer for 32 hours (60-Watt consumption assumed)
o Production of 5 plastic bags
o Production of 2 plastic bottles
o Production of 1/3 of an American cheeseburger (yes, the production of each cheeseburger
emits 3.1 kg of CO2!)

https://www.wri.org/resources/data-visualizations/world-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2016

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