This topic is important for civil engineering students who is in 4th semester of Bihar engineering college.

1. Module 08:- Environmental management
Environmental management:- It is a system that incorporates
processes for summarizing, monitoring, reporting, developing
and executing the environmental policies.
 The aim of encouraging an environmental management
system is to ensure the healthy state of our planet for
future generations.
 It also works towards preserving all forms of life.
 The ecological balance of our planet has been disturbed
through a technological revolution, heavy industrialization,
growth in transportation, unplanned urbanization and of
course exploitation of resources.
 Ecosystem stability is in danger as the relationship
between human beings and the environment has
deteriorated.
 The relationship can once again become harmonious
if people start encouraging activities like conservation,
regeneration, and protection of nature.

2.  Environmental management is concerned with marine,
land and atmospheric conditions and works towards issues
like deforestation and global warming.
 It looks at the carbon footprint and tries to find ways to
reduce the irreversible damage people are leaving behind.
Objectives of environmental management are as follows-
a) Identifying environmental issues
b) Finding solutions for environmental issues
c) Establishing limits to avoid overuse
d) Help to renew natural resources
e) Minimize the use of natural resources
f) Developing monitoring systems and research institutions
g) Regeneration of degraded environment
h) Review the environmental goals of an organization
i) Setting environmental targets to minimize the
environmental impact of an organization
j) Control environmental pollution
k) Ensuring environmental awareness program is being
followed by every employee
l) Review existing technologies and try to make then eco-
friendly
m) Make maximum utilization of natural resources
n) Assess the impacts of potential activities on the
environment

3. o) Encourage resource conservation programs
p) Develop strategies for improving the quality of life
q) Implement ways for environmental protection
r) Minimize the impact of natural disasters
s) Identify, develop and implement policies related to
sustainable development
Importance of environmental management:- Times are
changing and so is the mindset of people.
 There was a time when business entities were only
concerned about sales figures and revenues.
 In recent times there has been an outcry about the impact
of business activities on nature and how the resources are
being depleted and compromised.
 People have become aware of the environment and are
looking to deal with those companies or groups that are
associated with environmental management concepts.
 In order to move with the new trends and mindset, most
firms are implementing effective environmental
management programs that work towards conserving and
protecting resources as well as the environment.
 Environmental management has an important role to play
in the protection of our environment.
 Customers, clients, employees, stakeholders, investors
expect business entities to manage their activities in such

4. a manner that it does not have a negative impact on the
environment.
 It has become necessary for every business entity to
implement an environmental management system in place
to manage environmental risks.
Effective management are –
a) Reducing carbon emissions
b) Processing all the waste in a safe and effective manner
c) The effective and wise use of energy and resources
d) Preventing pollution
Features of environmental management –
a) The concept of environmental management acts as a tool
to improve environmental performance
b) It works towards waste minimization
c) Is a systematic approach for overseeing environmental
affairs of an organization
d) Addresses concerns related to the environment through
the evaluation of related practices
e) Encourages employees to undergo training to achieve
desired objectives
f) Helps to determine the impact and objective of
a product or service
g) Assigns responsibility and accountability in a firm

5. Advantage of environmental management –
1. Effective use of resources: Organizations have developed
and executed several policies to manage resources, minimize
waste and reduce costs.
2. Improve sustainability: Effective environmental
management policies encourage business entities to improve
sustainability so that they can gain a competitive edge and give
the business a good chance for long-term success
3. Helps in staying out of trouble: An organization that
implements environmental management policies stays ahead
of regulations imposed by environmental affairs division. He
does not have to pay any penalty for violating the balance of
nature or adopting unethical practices.
4. Pollution control: Environmental management practice has
encouraged numerous business entities to take steps for
pollution control
5. Improved public image: An organization with environmental
management procedures in place works towards preventing
pollution, minimizing environmental risks and preserving
natural resources. This will enhance the trust of its customers,
attract new clients, boost employee morale and help the firm in
entering new markets.

6. 6. Economic progress: The environmental management theory
encourages business entities to participate in social welfare
programs to enable economic progress of a nation
7. Finance: Because of their environmental management
policies and procedures companies are able to impress
investors. It has now become easier to get the necessary
finance.
8. Improved management efficiency: An integrated
environmental management policy will improve the overall
management system of a firm. Documenting
routine operations and compliance plans will help in capturing
the attention of other employees and streamlining operations.
This will help to decrease waste and environmental risk.
9. Better compliance: Implementing an environmental
management process ensures that an organization is fulfilling
its responsibility towards a safe environment.
10. Marketing: Business entities are projecting themselves as
companies that are eco-friendly. They are highlighting their
commitment to improved environmental policies via
impactful advertising and this has helped them in creating a
strong customer base.
11. Sales opportunities: People are becoming eco-friendly and
want to be associated with like-minded companies. The

7. organization which promotes its products and services as eco-
friendly has increased sales opportunities.
12. Empowered employees: Employees can relate to
environmental management program and understand its
impact on the society as a whole. This encourages
employee empowerment as they believe it is their contribution
that is making a difference in the world.
13. Certification of recognized standards: When a company
strives to obtain a certification to recognized standards it is
gaining business credibility with stakeholders and customers
alike.
Disadvantage of environmental management –
1. Cost: The cost of developing, monitoring and implementing
effective environmental management policies is high. It
becomes difficult for every business entity to implement such
programs in its business plan because of the high cost
2. Too much of trouble: The environmental management
system can prove too much of a trouble if you are a start-up or
small business entity who have limited resources at its disposal
3. Time and resources: The objective of implementing
environmental management policies is to minimize energy and
unnecessary resource consumption and reduce waste. It is a
bitter fact that every such scheme requires additional use of

8. time and resources that can prove expensive in terms of time,
effort and resources to an organization.
4. Training costs: In this process that will need recruiting
human resources for all its stages. An organization has to offer
training to its recruits if it wants to implement an effective
system and this can prove expensive and troublesome to
management.
Environment management perspective:-
A management outlook in which a firm takes aggressive action
to affect the people and forces controlling its
marketing environment, rather than simply watching them and
reacting to them.
The Legal Aspects relating to Environmental Protection in
India:- Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of
treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law
that, very broadly, operate to regulate the interaction of
humanity and the rest of the biophysical or natural
environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of
human activity, both on the natural environment and on
humanity itself.
a) Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: An Act
to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of
air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carrying
out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on

9. and assigning to such Boards powers and functions
relating thereto and for matters connected therewith.
b) Penalties for Violation of Various Provisions the Air Act
1981
c) Laying down procedures and safeguards for the
prevention of accidents which may cause environmental
pollution and remedial measures for such accidents.
d) Laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling
of hazardous substances.
e) Examination of such manufacturing processes, materials
and substances as are likely to cause environmental
pollution.
f) Carrying out and sponsoring investigations and research
relating to problems of environmental pollution.
General Environmental Acts –
1) The Environment (Protection) Act,1986
2) The Biological Diversity Act 2002 and Biological Diversity
Rules
3) The Public Liability Insurance Act and Rules 1991 and
Amendment, 1992
4) The National Environmental Tribunal Act,1995,
Amendment 2010
5) National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
6) The National Environment Appellate Authority Act,1997

10. 7) The Biomedical waste (Management and Handling)
Rules,1998
8) The Environment (Siting for Industrial Projects) Rules, 1999
9) The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling)
Rules, 2000
10) The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and
Control) Rules, 2000
11) The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules,
2001
12) The Noise Pollution (Regulation and control)
(Amendment) Rules, 2010
International treaties –
1) The Antarctic Treaty (Washington, 1959): The Antarctic
Treaty was framed with the objective that the Antarctic
shall continue to be a zone that shall be used for peaceful
purposes only and shall not become an object of
international discord.
 The treaty covers the area south of 60oS latitude and
is known as the Antarctic Treaty Area (ATA) and
imbibes the suspension of territorial claims,
prohibition of all military activities in the region,
freedom of scientific inquiry, and international co-
operation in scientific activities.

11.  India signed into the Antarctic Treaty system in 1983
as a Consultative Party Member (CEL, undated).
2) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of wild fauna and flora (CITES), 1973: CITES was signed in
March 1973 for the regulation of international trade in
endangered species of wild flora and fauna.
 India had signed the agreement in July 1976 and the
Director, Wild Life Preservation is India designated
CITES Management Authority (MoEF, 2018).
 Although CITES seeks to prevent and control trade in
endangered species, it should not be interpreted as
overall conservation of endangered species of flora
and fauna.
3) Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone
Layer (to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the
Ozone Layer), 1987: Also known popularly as the Montreal
Protocol, the protocol set targets aimed at a reduction in
the production and consumption of ozone depleting
substances (ODS) and came into force in 1989.
 The protocol also recognizes the obligations of
nations in reducing emissions of ODS in terms of
financial and technological abilities and identifies
countries that are larger contributors than others.
 The Montreal protocol was adopted by India in
September 1992. In order to supplement the

12. protocol, the Ministry of Environment & Forests
(MoEF), GoI has formed an Ozone Cell as well as
constituted a steering committee on the Montral
Protocol in order to implement the India Country
Program (World Bank, undated).
4) Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes, 1989: Known popularly as the Basel
Convention, the convention aims for a reduction in the
transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
 The Convention sees to it that creation of hazardous
wastes is minimized.
 It also prohibits shipment of hazardous waste to
countries unable to dispose of the hazardous waste in
an environment-friendly manner.
 India ratified to the treaty in 1992 and included some
provisions of the Basel Convention in The Indian
Hazardous Waste Management Rules Act, 1989
(World Bank, undated).
5) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
1992: The UNFCCC aims to regulate greenhouse gas
emissions through international co-operation and
agreement to bring emissions to a level that that can
offset the effects of global warming and climate change.
 India became a member of the convention in 1992
and went on to ratify it in 1993. As a developing

13. nation (as per the UNFCCC at the time), India was not
bound to commitments for mitigation of greenhouse
gas emissions.
 This changed, however, with the Paris Agreement of
2015 whereby India has a commitment to participate
in multilateral negotiations under the UNFCCC.
 In this India has shown leadership in moving ahead
with policy frameworks that includes the National
Environment Policy (NEP) and the National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
6) Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992: The Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD) provides a legally binding
framework for the conservation of biodiversity,
sustainability in use of biological resources and the
equitable sharing of benefits and knowledge that arise in
the case of the usage of biological resources.
 The convention was enforced in 1993 and a complex
set of requirements was introduced for nations to
ensure the preservation of biodiversity and natural
habitats along with their sustainable us.
 The Nagoya Protocol was adopted in 2010 to
propagate the continued development of the access
and benefit sharing framework in the Convention.

14.  The Article 6 of the CBD instructs parties to the
convention to form national programs and strategies
sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity.
 It also integrates them into national developmental
plans and policies (MoEF, 2018). India passed the
Biological Diversity Act, 2002 providing a legal
framework for addressing biodiversity in the count.
 India has taken numerous other policy actions
following the convention such as participating in the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and the Trade
Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), 1995
including biodiversity conservation in various national
legislations.
7) Agenda 21: Agenda 21 is a product of the Earth Summit
organized by the United Nations (UN) that took place in
Rio de Janerio, Brazil in 1992 to include stakeholders in a
non-binding action plan for achieving sustainable
development.
 The stakeholders included local and national
governments, business, international organizations,
citizen groups and non-governmental organizations.
 The international community met again ten years
later at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development and reviewed developments to forge

15. global partnerships for the implementation of Agenda
21 (World Bank, undated).
 India is signatory to Agenda 21 and has sought to
align various parts of its development infrastructure
such as energy, transport, industry, water facilities,
climate change policy, forests, biodiversity,
ecosystems, marine and coastal management, land
policy, agriculture, urban governance and human
resource development.
8) UN Convention on Desertification, 1994: The UN
Convention on desertification was formulated in 1994 and
seeks a bottom-up approach to build international co-
operation in combating desertification or addressing policy
in regions prone to droughts.
 The participation of local users of land and non-
governmental organization is sought in this
convention within policy activities concerned with the
regulations for and alleviation of desertification in
terms of its related effects.
 South Asia has a Regional Action Program with seven
countries signatory to the convention including India.
9) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: The Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety is a supplement to the Convention on
Biological Diversity and provides an international
regulatory framework for the safe use, transfer and

16. handling of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) i.e.
genetically modified organisms resulting from
biotechnology.
 The protocol came into force in January 2000 and was
the first such protocol of its kind (MoEF, 2018).
 The protocol was negotiated under the Convention
for Biological Diversity and aims to provide protection
against the exploits of modern biotechnology.
 As a part of the Convention on Biological Diversity,
India is party to what is also called the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety as well.
10) Prior Informed Consent, Rotterdam Convention: Also
known as the Rotterdam Convention, the treaty looks to
promote shared responsibility in the trade of hazardous
chemicals. It came into force in February 2004.
 The convention also looks to promote the
environmentally safe use of the hazardous chemicals
by supporting a national decision making process on
their export and import by facilitating information
exchange.
 India ratified the treaty in 2005 (MoEF, undated).
Airport environment impact:- The significant role of airports on
regional economy has been prominently recognised by many
researches; airports bring significant social benefits and in

17. many cases they are thought to be the single lar
of economic activity in the regions they serve.
 However, transport infrastructures like airports have
considerable effect on city’s urban development and have
negative impacts on the environment.
 Many reports show that the contribution of ai
environmental disturbance at a local and global scale is
significant.
 Key environmental impacts may result from airport
operations, airline operations, airport access or various
construction projects in the airport landside.
many cases they are thought to be the single largest generator
of economic activity in the regions they serve.
However, transport infrastructures like airports have
considerable effect on city’s urban development and have
negative impacts on the environment.
Many reports show that the contribution of airports to
environmental disturbance at a local and global scale is
Key environmental impacts may result from airport
operations, airline operations, airport access or various
construction projects in the airport landside.
gest generator
However, transport infrastructures like airports have
considerable effect on city’s urban development and have
rports to
environmental disturbance at a local and global scale is
Key environmental impacts may result from airport
operations, airline operations, airport access or various

18. Thermal power plant environment impact:- The thermal
power plant has serious impacts on land , soil, air and various
social impacts the thermal power plant are also said to emit
large amount of mercury and generate large quantity of fly ash
which destroys the surrounding environment.
 These plants also consume a large amount of water.
 Cause of pollution: the use of water as a coolant by power
plants and industrial manufacturers. When water used as a
coolant is returned to the natural environment at a higher
temperature, the sudden change in temperature
decreases oxygen supply and affects the ecosystem.