Tools and Strategies to Ease the Implementation of EMS in Local

Government

Fiona Glover, Global to Local Ltd

Helena Tinker, EMAS Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council, UK

• Introduce NEST project and partners• Tools and strategies to ease EMS

implementation• Delivery of Aalborg commitments

Background to NEST• Networking with EMAS for Sustainable Development,

EU life funded• October 2004 – October 2007

Project Aim• To develop innovative approaches and tools to ease

the implementation of EMS in small and under resourced Local Authorities

Partners Lead Partner + 10 municipalities across Poland, Hungary and Greece

Greece• Serres• Olympia• Holargos

Hungary• Miskolc• Gyor• Sopron• Dunaujvaros

Poland• Plock• Olkusz• Trzebinia

PartnersGlobal to Local – Environmental Consultancy• Technical advice and training

CEMR (Council of European Municipalities and Regions)• Communication and Dissemination of the project through Europe

Country Co-ordinators• Global to Local – Hungary• Umbrella Association – Poland• EPTA – Greece

Translation and EMS support

Aims of the ProjectAims

• Develop a simplified EMS toolkit

• Train and build Capacity in LA and member states

• Implement through a network approach

• Share good and best practice

What the Project will Deliver?• An EMS tool kit• Best Practice case studies to set European

benchmarks• Successful registration to EMAS for participating LA• Recommendations to increase participation in EMAS

across Europe• Wide Dissemination of project results and EMS

material through Europe• Demonstrate how EMS assists in meeting Aalborg

commitments

Tools and StrategiesThe EMS Toolkit

• Excel Spreadsheet- easy to use and understand• It links aspects, impacts, legislation, mgt controls and

objectives and targets onto one sheet.• Majority of the EMS records required into one document • EMS is focused on environmental performance not filling forms• A simple significance testing tool based on 3 core questions • Document controlled system• Supported by a EMS manual with required procedures and

template ‘picklists’• Avoids bureaucratic paper based documentation systems

EMAS - Systems Procedure 3 Training and Awareness Raising Version

No:

Procedure 3.1 Responsible: Applies to whom?

Environmental policy Distribute to all members

of staff Remind staff annually

about policy

Records:

Policy sent to all members of staff

Audit:

Check that policy has been distributed

Procedure 3.2 Responsible: Applies to whom?

Induction - New Staff members

Provide an induction to all new staff members on the organisation’s EMS

Assign EMS responsibilities

Records:

Attendance lists for inductions held, list of responsibilities

Audit:

Check lists

Example of system procedure

Compliance: Non compliance Frequency of procedure

Records kept

3.1Procedure followed Not followed regularly Annually File xxx

3.2 Procedure followed Not followed regularly For new entrants File xxx

Tools and StrategiesTraining and Capacity Building

All Partner Training sessions• Six full training sessions in all 4 countries,

UK, Poland, Hungary Greece• Follows EMAS implementation cycle• Experience and knowledge transferred

Country specific Training• Twice a year• Held in local Language• Address problem areas and detail

Tools and StrategiesEMS Implementation through Networks

• Networks established within Countries and between countries

• Nearby Local Authorities assist each other with EMS implementation

• Sharing experiences between and within Countries.

Tools and StrategiesSharing Good and Best Practice

• CEMR and Global to local are collecting 20-25 environmental best practice examples

• Help partners to learn from other European Local Governments

• Eight fact sheets to support the implementation of best practice will be produced covering:

Sustainable constructionBuilding managementOvercoming barriers in implementing EMSGreening offices

EMS Toolkit• Passed verification in Kirklees Council in March

2005• Now available in 4 Languages, Polish, Hungarian

Greek and English• Regular feedback from municipalities during

development• All municipalities are being verified March – June

07• Approach therefore works in different Local

Authorities each with different cultures, political make up and organisational structures

EMS Training Packages and Networks

• All EMS training packages are available in 4 languages

• Network approach has addedsignificant value in terms ofdeveloping understanding and confidences in municipalities

ConclusionsProject has helped identify critical success factors of EMS implementation.

These include:• Political and senior mgt support• Enthusiasm of lead officer• Simplicity of EMS approach• On going training and support during

implementation

EMS and the Aalborg Commitments

• Non of the partners municipalities are currently signatories of the Aalborg commitments

• We will outline how being registered to EMAS could help them meet the commitments and so encourage them to sign

Kirklees Metropolitan Council

• KMC Signed the commitments in April 2006 but have been registered to EMAS since 2000.

• We are just writing our baseline review report for April 2007 for Aalborg.

• Within 24 months (April 2008) we must have set targets to help work towards Aalborg commitments .

EMS and AalborgBaseline review should set out our current plans and targets in the 10 key themes:

• Governance• Local management towards sustainability• Natural common goods• Responsible consumption and lifestyle choices• Planning and design• Better mobility, less traffic• Local action for health• Vibrant and sustainable local economy• Social equity and justice• Local to global

Having EMAS helps us as we already have objectives/targets and monitoring systems in place covering some of key themes highlighted in in red.

ExamplesLOCAL TO GLOBAL

AIM: Develop and follow a strategic and integrated approach to mitigate climate change, and work towards a sustainable level of greenhouse gas emissions.

Performance:

Due to EMAS we already have this in place with Co2 reduction targets and a monitoring system in place.

ExamplesRESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES

AIM: Undertake sustainable procurement.

Performance: Through EMS we have developed a sustainable procurement policy and guide and its implementation is monitored through the EMS

EMS and Aalborg

• The municipalities could use the 10 key themes in the Aalborg commitments as the basis of their environmental programme.

Or

• They could use their EMS programme and extend it cover the rest of the

commitments.

More Information and ContactsKMC • Helena Tinker - Helena.tinker@kirklees.gov.ukGlobal To Local • Fiona Glover - fiona.glover@globaltolocal.comCouncil of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)• Pirita Lindholm - pirita.lindholm@ccre-cemr.org

Project Website:

www.emasnetwork.org 

Fact sheets, best practices case studies, EMS tool kit and manual will all be on the website in Spring 2007, some information is already on there also e.g. newsletters etc.