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Home: Q&A: Environmental Improvement menu

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

Heidi Smith - October 2008
environment.unit@kirklees.gov.uk


How to contact us...

by Email to environment.unit@kirklees.gov.uk
by Phone 01484 223568
in Writing to Environment Unit
Estate Buildings
23 Railway Street
Huddersfield
What is EMAS?
The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary European Union initiative designed to help organisations improve their environmental management. Its aim is to promote continuous environmental improvement by committing organisations to evaluate and improve their own environmental performance.

EMAS prescribes that participating organisations must:
  • Develop an environment policy
  • conduct an environmental review to identify its environmental impacts
  • develop a programme of actions to manage its identified environmental impacts
  • implement a management system which, defines environmental responsibilities, environmental procedures, and training programmes
  • conduct periodic environmental audits to assess environmental performance
  • Produce a statement of environmental performance and make it available to the public
  • Seek external verification of the quality of environmental management from an independent accredited environmental verifier.
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What are the benefits of EMAS?
Effective environmental management is an integral part of good local authority management. The scheme is designed to bring a number of advantages to participating authorities:
  • Environmental protection
  • Financial savings
  • Higher efficiency
  • improvements to services
  • better management control
  • Help in securing funding
  • credibility
  • demonstration of commitment
  • compliance with legislation
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How can I find out more about EMAS?
The European Commission runs an EMAS Help-desk which contains useful information on the EMAS initiative. Visit www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/emas/index.htm.

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment runs a website devoted to EMAS within the UK. The site contains useful guidance and has a register of all EMAS registered organisations. Visit www.emas.org.uk.

The EURO-EMAS project has developed a website which contains guidance on the individual elements of EMAS. It also contains case studies from other local authorities in the UK who have implemented EMAS. Visit http://euronet.uwe.ac.uk/emas/
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