The Environment

Introduction

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is an independent professional body representing over 12,000 environmental professionals. CIWEM's agreed purpose is to develop and promote better and integrated management of the environment; to foster a deeper understanding of water and environmental issues and to enhance the quality of people's lives. This is achieved through CIWEM's Royal Charter, education, training and professional development; dissemination of information; conferences and events; research and publications; contact with Government agencies and other bodies, partnerships with other organisations and the publication of Policy Position Statements (PPS).

Purpose

To outline the main issues with respect to the Environment in a global, national and local context, having particular regard to matters concerned with water resources and services, and to indicate the implications for and role of CIWEM.

Context

The environment comprises the following:-

• the non-living (abiotic) environment of air, water and land;
• the living (biotic) environmental of flora, fauna (plants and animals); and
• the socio-economic (built and cultural) environment of human society

The impact of industrialisation, urbanisation, farming, fishing, recreation and tourism on the earth's environment are as important for the people of the African bush and the citizens of Europe, as the Industrial Revolution and growth of urban communities were for ordinary people in the 19th century. Taking opportunities and solving problems in connection with the environment presents a formidable and wide range of challenges to the United Nations, its agencies and governments, as well as to local authorities, industry and institutions like CIWEM plus many other organisations and groups.

However, these will count for little without the involvement of ordinary people and communities in decision, and ways, that are appropriate to the scale of the problem. No one has a full understanding of the complete relationship between the planet Earth, its biosphere and component ecosystems. Whatever the inefficiencies of the various political arrangements between and within each nation, progress on the environment will be severely impeded unless members of the public, organisations and governments accept their responsibilities to contribute to the political process by which issue s are tackled. Without this governments, pressure groups or other sectional interests will either neglect vital concerns or force through measures that fail to measure up to current needs and the wider public interest.

Current Situation

The scale of human activities on the earth is giving rise to major and sometimes adverse changes to its land, oceans and atmosphere. This is a consequence of many interrelated causes and factors notably:-

• increasing human population;
• industrial activity;
• the consumption of minerals, fossil fuels and other natural resources;
• the impact of transport and tourism whether by air, sea or on land;
• the loss of country side and forests to urban development and farming , and
• intensive farming and fishing

Beyond this the earth is subject to variations in solar activity, tectonic movement and volcanic emissions, plus the transport of energy and materials, notably water and water vapour plus substances like carbon dioxide and dust, through the interaction of the oceans, atmosphere and land. These give rise to profound effects on global and local climate that are beyond human control and inadequately understood.

A consensus is emerging that the industrialised nations must give a led by implementing a strategy of sustainable development over the next decade with a holistic approach to environment stewardship. This will entail changes in the policies and programmes of Governments and the way of life of ordinary citizens together with the reorientation of industrial, fishing and farming activities, having the aim of restoring the balance of nature and attaining a quality of life where material and non-material factors are in harmony. To achieve this an increasing degree of international co-operation and multilateral action is needed, with well directed and organised research and lifelong education for everyone on environmental issues.

There is broad but not universal agreement among scientists and that the earth is subject the global warming but argument over its extent and causes over recent decades. Most climate models envisage continued warming of the planet and assume that increased concentrations of greenhouse gases are the major cause. Other scientists content that increased solar activity is the cause of global warming in recent decades but this hypothesis is not taken seriously by most scientists. Following international agreements, action is being taken to phase out the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Some success has been achieved in developed countries in reducing emissions of nitrogen and sulphur oxides (NOx and SOx), the main cause of acid rain.

Key Issues

Of particular concern to CIWEM are the following issues:-

• the future of water resources give the impact of climate change and variations in air quality;
• the effectiveness of legislation etc, relating to the water cycle, environmental protection and conservation issues, together with the relevance of standards incorporated in law, codes of practice etc;
• the further education of politicians, bureaucrats, managers, researchers, academia, agriculturists, environmentalists, the business community and the public generally in the need for greater awareness of environmental issues and the principles of environmental management, having particular regard to the opportunity to harness the enthusiasm and idealism of the young people;
• the impact of industry and farming on cities, towns and the countryside, their inhabitants, wildlife and associated ecosystems;
• the evaluation of the potential of so-called 'clean technologies' and greater exploitation of waste minimisation techniques;
• more specifically, the degree to which water and waste water treatment operations contribute to the betterment of the environment, within the framework of integrated pollution control;
• the effect of different lifestyles, demographic factors, tourism, leisure and cultural activities on the environment;
• how and whether the information and data necessary to help clarify the above problems and others is being collected and the correct conclusions drawn;
• the question of how the precautionary principle should be applied and when risk management techniques provide an appropriate approach for deciding whether and existing or proposed activity is harmful to the environment
• how best to encourage, promote and contribute to the multidisciplinary and holistic approach needed to take the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls associated with decisions and activities bearing on the environment. By the latter are meant a wide range of considerations ranging from the formulation of new legislation; the carrying through from inception to completion of capital projects; activities including biosolids application; land extraction of minerals, tourism and national parks;
• the formulation, funding and implementation of research projects and strategic studies to elucidate mechanisms and problems relating to the environment and enhance the quality of life.

CIWEM Aims & Objectives relating to the Environment

In March 1988 CIWEM published 'Principles for Managing the Environment', a good practice guide for practitioners and non professionals alike. It provides a context for the following aims and objectives which CIWEM believes are important:-

• to offer advice and guidance to Government, Agencies, regulators, industry, local authorities, the media, and other groups interested in the environment, especially in connection with proposed legislation and topical or controversial environmental issues;
• to listen to and critically evaluate ideas and initiatives, programmes and projects relating to the environment and put forward new ideas whilst promoting best practice;
• to help advance the understanding of the various and often competing green agendas, whether from the advocates of emerging and 'clean technologies' or from the Cassandras of the environmental movement, and thus differentiate 'the wheat from the chaff';
• to encourage the development and better use of monitoring techniques and analytical methods, including microsensors and biomarkers, to quantify key environmental indicators, pollutants and trends;
• to increase awareness and encourage the use of the best and most appropriate audit and accreditation techniques, together with methods of environmental impact assessment;
• to contribute to the development and use of environmental indicators and help expose the limitations of traditional economic measures of national wealth (such as Gross Domestic Product), and advise on the creation of well organised databases containing key information on the environment;
• to encourage local initiatives relating to Agenda 21 and strategies for Sustainable Development, including the increased exploitation of renewable resources;
• to encourage the creation of forums and multidisciplinary approaches and teams for work relating to environmental issues;
• to help UK CIWEM members, environmentalists, local authorities and the Water Industry to be less Eurocentric in their preoccupations and outlook and to take a more global view of environmental issues.

Conclusion

Environmental problems, regardless of whether they are local, regional or national, require global solutions and the commitment of governments. Leadership and example is required if the support of ordinary people is to be generated and converted into practical actions which will lead to an improved environment, improved quality of life and sustainable management practices. Some local and regional environmental problems can be resolved on local and regional scales.

CIWEM welcomes the commitment of the UK Government to work more closely with local authorities and agencies in educating and supporting ordinary people and communities in good practice and environmental stewardship. The institution also urges environmental professionals to develop and use a language and terminology which ordinary people will understand and that will help them apply the principles of good practice in their every day lives.

Definitions

Precautionary Principle - The idea that an activity should not be allowed to take place unless it involves no significant risk to man or the environment.

Risk Management Techniques - A wide range of techniques for assessing the risk of a given outcome (usually adverse) from an existing or projected course of events.

Agenda 21 - A framework for initiatives on Sustainable Development frequently coordinated with respect to local affairs at local authority level, flowing from the Earth Summit in 1992.

Clean Technologies - A notion being promoted by some engineers and others, that there is a new generation of technologies having a minimal impact on the local environment.

Sustainable Development - To ensure that development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

January 2001

Note:- CIWEM Policy Position Statements (PPS) represents the Institution's views on issues at a particular point in time. It is accepted that situations change as research provides new evidence. It should be understood, therefore, that CIWEM PPS's are under constant review, that previously held views may alter and lead to revised PPS's