Environmental Management & Sustainability

Environmental Management Efforts of Various Sectors

Government

• national government agencies

  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources

  • Environmental Management Bureau

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• tool that identifies, predicts, and evaluates probable impacts (short-term and long-term) of a proposed activity

• integrates environmental considerations in the decision-making

• recommends strategies to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts

Environmental compliance certificate (ECC)

• ensures that the project is not just economically profitable, BUT ALSO environmentally sound and socially acceptable

Environmental Impact Statement System (EISS)

• scoping - identifying the environmental issues that may arise; defines the boundaries of EIA

• public hearing - presentation of the project to the community

• monitoring - ensures that proponents follow the EIA

• difficulties in the implementation of EIS system

  • bureaucracy

  • lack of human, financial and technical resources

  • lack of appreciation of EIA as a planning tool

Local Government Units

• 500 local governments, including Quezon City, Marikina City, and Davao City, have passed ordinances banning single-use plastics that have helped reduce local plastic waste

Private Sector

• engines of economic growth

• their activities rely and impact on the resources and ecological functions of the environment

• circular economy - aimed at minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency

  • product life extension

    • products are designed to be durable, repairable, and upgradable to extend their lifespan

  • material recovery

    • materials from products are reclaimed through recycling and remanufacturing.

  • biodegradable and renewable materials

    • products are made from materials that can decompose or be returned to nature

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

• system that evaluates material and energy, inputs and outputs at each stage of a product’s life cycle from manufacture → transport → use → disposal

• helps promote “cradle to grave” responsibility

Setting up Environmental Standards and Undergoing Certification

• ecolabel

  • a means of identifying environmentally friendly sound products as issued by an authority

Civil Society

• academe

• church-based groups

• media

• non-government organizations NGOs

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End Goal of Environmental Management: Development → Sustainable Development

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Sustainability

• ability for all people to live comfortably today, but also conserving resources for future generations to thrive

1987: Montreal Protocol

• international treaty signed in 1987 aimed at protecting the Earths ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of substances that deplete it, specifically ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and other related chemicals

• widely regarded as one of the most successful environmental agreements

• adopted by 198 countries

1992: First Earth Summit

• held in Rio de Janeiro

• brought together all sections from all countries across the globe to talk about local and environmental concerns

• led to the formation of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD)

2015: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• a set of 17 global goals adopted in 2015 by all UN member states

• aims to address the worlds most pressing challenges, with the overarching goal of creating a more sustainable, fair, and prosperous world for all by 2030