Code of Ethics
CIWEM members are expected to comply with the following code of
ethics.
At a time when many people are worried about doing the right
thing to balance the need for a healthy, thriving and content
society with those of a flourishing natural environment; and when
experts have to demonstrate that they are worthy of public trust,
CIWEM has taken this major initiative.
Approved by the Council of CIWEM at its meeting on 6th April
2001 the Code of Ethics is an aspirational set of principles which
will guide professional environmentalists as they strive to achieve
even higher standards of environmental stewardship and
sustainability.
Members of the Institution will be expected to use their
influence to the fullest extent and to behave to the best of their
ability to maintain a sustainable environment in the following
way:
- Ensure that the uses of natural resources are fair, equitable
and sustainable and take account of the needs of a diverse
environment.
- Never knowingly or deliberately over-exploit natural
resources.
- Never knowingly or deliberately cause the environment to be
damaged or nuisance to be created by the discharge of unacceptable
quantities of any substance or energy in any form.
- Recognize that in contributing to the provision of
environmental services they provide an important contribution to
human well-being.
- Ensure that the uses of the environment do it no harm or to the
native wild-life within it and wherever possible enhance it.
- Embrace the needs of the community.
- Promote the concepts of integration of the management of the
wider environment.
- Use their wisdom in serving the community and constantly strive
to learn more.
- Serve as an example to others for responsible environmental
behaviour.
- Never engage in corrupt practice and maintain a high standard
of professional behaviour which will serve as an example to
others.
Professional Conduct
Bye-Law 29 states that each member shall:
(a) order their conduct pursuant to the Code of Ethics and so as
to uphold and enhance the dignity, standing and reputation of the
Institution and profession; and
(b) exercise their professional skills and judgement to the best
of their ability and discharge their professional responsibilities
with integrity; and
(c) have due regard to the public interest and protection and
enhancement of the environment in the discharge of their duties;
and
(d) shall not maliciously or recklessly injure or attempt to
injure whether directly or indirectly the professional reputation
of another member.
Disciplinary Powers and Procedures
Bye-Law 30 states that:
(a) In the event of a complaint being made that any member has
been or is in breach of the foregoing rules of professional conduct
the Trustee Board shall delegate the investigation thereof to an
Investigating Committee consisting of at least three members of the
Trustee Board in accordance with such rules as the Trustee Board
shall from time to time prescribe.
PROVIDED THAT no member of the Investigating Committee shall sit
on a Professional Conduct Committee or on an Appeal Board in
respect of the same case.
(b) If on such investigation as aforesaid it shall be determined
by a majority of the Investigating Committee that there is a prima
facie case, the Trustee Board shall direct that a hearing of the
complaint be held by a Professional Conduct Committee of at least
five members of the Trustee Board and at least one suitable person
who is not a member of the Institution, in accordance with such
rules as the Trustee Board shall from time to time prescribe, and
subject as hereinafter provided the Professional Conduct Committee
shall if satisfied that the complaint is justified have power to
warn, admonish, reprimand, suspend or expel such member from the
Institution.
(c) Such member shall have seven clear days' notice in writing
of the hearing before such Professional Conduct Committee, may
attend the hearing, may make representation thereat in person or
through a representative, may call and cross-examine witnesses and,
if expelled from the Institution, may within seven days after
notice of such expulsion appeal against the penalty, but not
against the finding of the Professional Conduct Committee, and such
appeal shall be delegated by the Trustee Board to an Appeal Board
of at least three members of the Trustee Board and such Board shall
have power to annul the expulsion or to annul it subject to the
performance of any conditions which the Appeal Board may think fit
to impose.
PROVIDED THAT no member of the Trustee Board shall sit on both
the Professional Conduct Committee and the Appeal Board in respect
of the same case.
(d) Subject as aforesaid a member so expelled shall forfeit all
claim to a return of any money paid by him to the Institution and
shall cease to be a member thereof.
(e) All findings and decisions of the Investigating Committee,
of the Professional Conduct Committee and of the Appeal Board shall
be reported to the Trustee Board and duly recorded and the Trustee
Board may order that any penalty with such particulars of the
misconduct as it shall think desirable shall be published in any
Institution publication.
