Workshop Backgrounds Environmental Education to Develop Management Systems for the Local Environment Workshop Series 4: Sustainable Building & Construction 8 November 2003

Analysis: Objectives, Targets and Performance Indicators for Sustainable Construction

Introduction: Environmental objectives provide the opportunity for improving the environmental performance of a local authority and the environmental quality of its surrounding area. They arise from the general environmental policy and set specific environmental goals for the local authority to achieve. Environmental objectives do not explain how the objectives will be achieved, they merely state the intention to do so.

Environmental targets are detailed performance requirements. Targets need to be set for each objective and must be measurable quantitatively or qualitatively to ensure that the local authority can demonstrate where it is making progress and identify where more effort is needed. Targets need to have a set timeframe, need to be achievable and should include performance indicators.

Environmental performance indicators (EPIs) are a measure of a particular activity against a set objective or target which can be measured quantifiably over time. They are a specific description of environmental performance within the evaluation area. EPIs can be used to measure progress over time, track environmental performance, monitor legal compliance, determine compliance with objectives and targets, compare achievements between organisations, plan continual improvement and report and communicate to the public.

Exercise: In assigned groups (local authority, citizens groups and construction companies/professionals), write a set of environmental objectives, targets and performance indicators covering sustainable construction.

Output: The output of this exercise is a one – two page set of environmental objectives, targets and EPIs for sustainable construction.

Learning Objectives: The aim of this exercise is to develop realistic objectives, targets and performance indicators that meet the requirements of an environmental management system and to develop the basis for an environmental management plan.

For more Information: Refer to Chapters 11 and 13 of the “Urban Environmental Management – Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit”. Workshop Backgrounds Environmental Education to Develop Management Systems for the Local Environment Workshop Series 4: Sustainable Building & Construction 8 November 2003

Awareness Building: Educating the Construction Industry

Introduction: Communicating an environmental management system (EMS) is not only important within the local authority, but also outside the local authority. External communication is essential to inform stakeholders and affected parties about the local authority’s EMS, to gain external support for the EMS and to inform affected parties how the EMS will impact upon their operations. External communication can provide the impetus for other organisations to implement their own EMS through the “lead by example” technique and can reduce or remove disputes from affected parties. Communication and participation should start at the definition stage of the EMS to ensure stakeholders have a feeling of ownership, to ensure a smooth implementation phase and to effectively influence stakeholder behaviour.

Implementing an EMS requires a change in personal attitudes, behaviour and thinking patterns, as well as possible changes in business processes and work practices. Therefore, all affected persons should receive appropriate training. Whilst awareness training will be adequate for some staff of a local authority, those whose work or decisions could result in significant impacts on the environment will require additional “job-specific” training. Job-specific training may extend to external stakeholders such as contractors, suppliers, etc, whose relationship with the local authority or work practices may be affected by the local authority’s EMS.

Exercise: In assigned groups (local authority, universities/NGOs an construction industry professionals), develop a communication, education and training strategy to inform the construction industry, suppliers, contractors and other stakeholders of the local authority’s EMS and the implications for their organisation and work practices.

Output: The output of this exercise is a one – two page education and communication strategy targeted at the construction industry.

Learning Objectives: The aim of this exercise is to gain an understanding of how an EMS will affect external organisations, how to incorporate them in the implementation phase and how to reduce conflicts arising as a result of the local authority’s EMS.

For more Information: Refer to Chapters 7, 16 and 17 of the “Urban Environmental Management – Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit”. Workshop Backgrounds Environmental Education to Develop Management Systems for the Local Environment Workshop Series 4: Sustainable Building & Construction 8 November 2003

Governance: Legal Review

Introduction: During the development of an environmental management system (EMS), it is necessary for a local authority to identify all of the legal and other requirements that govern its activities. Other requirements include standards; codes of practice; guidelines; international agreements; national policies; and memorandums of understanding. Legal compliance is a fundamental level of environmental performance that underpins an EMS. Where examples of non-compliance are found, strategies to become compliant need to be included as objectives and targets in the environmental management plan.

The objective of the legal review is to establish the minimum environmental performance and protection measures that are required by law, expected by others (eg suppliers, standards organisations, etc) or self imposed. A legal register recording all legal and other requirements is the outcome of a legal review. The register needs to be maintained and updated regularly. It should also identify the strategy for distributing information to relevant personnel.

Exercise: In assigned groups (local authoritym research institutions/NGOs and UN/international agencies), identify all the legal and other requirements for sustainable construction.

Output: The output of this exercise is a one page register identifying all legislation and other requirements for sustainable construction.

Learning Objectives: The aim of this exercise is to familiarise participants with the importance and process of a legal review.

For more Information: Refer to Chapter 10 of the “Urban Environmental Management – Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit”. N O T E S