environmental challenges for natural resource based industries

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FOR NATURAL RESOURCE BASED NATURAL RESOURCE BASED

INDUSTRIES INDUSTRIES

DR. STEFANOS FOTIOU

REGIONAL COORDINATOR (ASIA PACIFIC): RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

CONTENTS

The need for change

Negative Impacts and Positive Benefits

Main Environmental Challenges

UNEP’s work

THE STATE OF OUR PLANET

20% of the world’s population consumes 80% of its resources.

If everyone consumed at this level, then

by 2050 (that is to say tomorrow!)it would take four extra planets to

provide the necessary resources

THE INDUSTRY’S RESPONSIBILITIES

The environment has become a major factor in corporate decision making.

Environmental issues are more and more associated with virtually all aspects of an organisation's management, from financing to production, from marketing to corporate reporting.

THE INDUSTRY’S RESPONSIBILITIES

In this scenario, it is all the more important to have a systematic and integrated approach to questions such as

How to manage environmental issues throughout the company's activities?

How to consistently and visibly improve a company's environmental performance?

HOW DO WE RESPOND

AssessmentPrinciplesActionReport

IDENTIFYING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS

The main impacts on environmental sustainability come from industry’s:

Energy use and transportationLand useWater useEmissionsGeneration of wastes (and especially hazardous waste)

IDENTIFYING THE POSITIVE EFFECTS

The main contribution towards sustainability is based on the industry’s potential ability to:

Stimulate development and employment creation in disadvantaged, more remote or/and less-developed regions

Generate local income

AN

AS

SES

SM

EN

T

•Transportation •Land use•Water use•Use of energy•Waste

Consumption of resources

Production of goods

Production of financial resources

Consumption of goods

•Environmental conservation (?)•Development•Employment•Local income

ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT

Support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges

Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility

Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

We need evident that an economic activity has positive or at least neutral effects on sustainability

When we are not certain of the impacts we follow a precautionary approach

Think and evaluate before you act

PROMOTE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITYWho in the company currently has

authority to issue policies?Who has responsibility for

environmental issues?What are the most critical

environmental issues facing the company?

What are the main risks and opportunities associated with these issues?

PROMOTE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Which line managers are most directly affected by these issues?

What are the resource implications of addressing the risks/opportunities?

What further information is needed to develop an environmental plan?

TOOLS FOR CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Environmental Assessment Tools Environmental Management ToolsStandards and labels (ISO 14000, eco-label etch.)

Environmental Monitoring and Auditing Tools

Environmental Reporting and Communication Tools

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES

Potential Environmental and Social Benefits:

Conserve natural resourcesReduce quantity of waste and effluent generated

Reduce pollutionCreate local income Improve working conditions

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIESPotential Economic BenefitsReduce raw material, energy and water costsReduce waste disposal and transportation costs

Increase returns by selling waste materials for reuse

Reduce costs from potential liabilities, risks & accidents

Improve productivity

UNEP’S WORK WITH INDUSTRY

Objectives Increase resource efficiency and reduce pollution over product life cycles and along supply chains

Increased investment in efficient, clean and safe industrial production methods

Consumer choice favours more resource efficient and environmentally friendly products

UNEP’S WORK WITH INDUSTRY

Selected activitiesThe UN Global CompactBusiness & Industry Dialogue MeetingsVoluntary InitiativesPartnershipsTools

THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT

The Standard Business Cycle The UNGC performance model

Plan

Do

Check

Measure

Rev

iew

Vision

Enablers

Results

Report

Review

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY DIALOGUE MEETINGSAnnual meetings; provide the

opportunity for UN officials and representatives of industry and trade associations, to:

Review progress made in implementing environmental management tools

Exchange information,Discuss production and consumption issues, and Assess the state of the 2002 Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES

Various sectorsBuilding and ConstructionTourism ITCAdvertising and communicationMining

Feasibility of an environmental initiative in the elastomer industry?

TOOLS

Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit (in association with the FIDIC and ICC)

Environmental Management System Handbook

Guide to ISO 14001 for Certification / Registration

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

Stefanos FotiouRegional CoordinatorResource Efficiency

UNEP - ROAPstefanos.fotiou@unep.org