Environmental compliance
Encyclopedia
Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being integrated and aligned to some extent in order to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps and gaps.
Its important that entire organization, uses a combination of management information and hierarchical management control structures. Assessing whether a company’s business practices conform to laws and regulations and follow standards and best practices, i.e., compliance management, is a complex and costly task.
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A more common philosophy and impetus behind environmental management is the concept of carrying capacity. Simply put, carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of organisms a particular resource can sustain. The concept of carrying capacity, whilst understood by many cultures over history, has its roots in Malthusian theory. Environmental management is therefore not the conservation of the environment solely for the environment's sake, but rather the conservation of the environment for humankind's sake. This element of sustainable exploitation, getting the most out of natural assets, is visible in the EU Water Framework Directive.
, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behavior. In its recognition of humanity as a participant in (not enemy of) ecosystems, the movement is centered on ecology, health, and human rights.
Compliance
means conforming with stated requirements. At an organizational level, it is achieved through management processes which identify the applicable requirements (defined for example in laws, regulations, contracts, strategies and policies), assess the state of compliance, assess the risks and potential costs of non-compliance against the projected expenses to achieve compliance, and hence prioritize, fund and initiate any corrective actions deemed necessary.
(IEC) produces international standards in the electrotechnology area.
case of reputational risk
in 2001 have highlighted the need for stronger compliance and regulations for publicly listed companies. The most significant regulation in this context is the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
developed by two U.S. congressmen, Senator Paul Sarbanes
and Representative Michael Oxley in 2002 which defined significant tighter personal responsibility of corporate top management for the accuracy of reported financial statements.
Compliance in the USA generally means compliance with laws and regulations. These laws can have criminal or civil penalties or can be regulations. The definition of what constitutes an effective compliance plan has been elusive. Most authors, however, continue to cite the guidance provided by the United States Sentencing Commission
in Chapter 8 of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides compliance assistance to areas that yield the most environmental benefit or reduce risk to human health.
Globally, the total electrical energy consumption by data centers, servers, and computers is steadily increasing. The increase in energy consumption results in increased greenhouse gas emissions as most of the electricity is generated by burning coal, oil, or gas. Countless old computers and other electronic hardware, which contain toxic materials and are discarded within a couple of years after purchase, end up in landfills, polluting the earth and contaminating its water.
The increased number of computers in use and their frequent replacements make the environmental impact of IT a major concern. Consequently, there’s increasing pressure on computer professionals to make IT environmentally friendly. As businesses and governments try to balance growth with environmental risks, computer professionals are called upon to make IT systems and work practices greener and to use IT in innovative ways to address environmental problems.
The Need of Regulatory Compliance for Environmental Sustainability
As the world’s climate heats up, causing potentially disastrous consequences, and as environmental problems become global, IT is becoming both a solution and a problem for environmental sustainability. While the use of IT has exploded in all areas of human activity, offering great benefits and convenience and irreversibly transforming businesses and society, it has also been contributing to environmental problems. IT affects our environment in several different ways. Each stage of a computer’s life—from production and use to disposal—presents environmental challenges.
"Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination."
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that, by his own estimate, he has given more than a thousand times.
Environment Act 1995
Its important that entire organization, uses a combination of management information and hierarchical management control structures. Assessing whether a company’s business practices conform to laws and regulations and follow standards and best practices, i.e., compliance management, is a complex and costly task.
.
A more common philosophy and impetus behind environmental management is the concept of carrying capacity. Simply put, carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of organisms a particular resource can sustain. The concept of carrying capacity, whilst understood by many cultures over history, has its roots in Malthusian theory. Environmental management is therefore not the conservation of the environment solely for the environment's sake, but rather the conservation of the environment for humankind's sake. This element of sustainable exploitation, getting the most out of natural assets, is visible in the EU Water Framework Directive.
Environmental movement
The environmental movementEnvironmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behavior. In its recognition of humanity as a participant in (not enemy of) ecosystems, the movement is centered on ecology, health, and human rights.
Compliance
Compliance (regulation)
In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law. Regulatory compliance describes the goal that corporations or public agencies aspire to in their efforts to ensure that personnel are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws and...
means conforming with stated requirements. At an organizational level, it is achieved through management processes which identify the applicable requirements (defined for example in laws, regulations, contracts, strategies and policies), assess the state of compliance, assess the risks and potential costs of non-compliance against the projected expenses to achieve compliance, and hence prioritize, fund and initiate any corrective actions deemed necessary.
International compliance
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) produces international standards such as ISO17799. The International Electrotechnical CommissionInternational Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology"...
(IEC) produces international standards in the electrotechnology area.
Compliance in the USA
Corporate scandals and breakdowns such as the EnronEnron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
case of reputational risk
Reputational risk
Reputational risk, often called reputation risk, is a type of risk related to the trustworthiness of business. Damage to a firm's reputation can result in lost revenue or destruction of shareholder value, even if the company is not found guilty of a crime...
in 2001 have highlighted the need for stronger compliance and regulations for publicly listed companies. The most significant regulation in this context is the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 , also known as the 'Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act' and 'Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act' and commonly called Sarbanes–Oxley, Sarbox or SOX, is a United States federal law enacted on July 30, 2002, which...
developed by two U.S. congressmen, Senator Paul Sarbanes
Paul Sarbanes
Paul Spyros Sarbanes , a Democrat, is a former United States Senator who represented the state of Maryland. Sarbanes was the longest-serving senator in Maryland history, having served from 1977 until 2007. He did not seek re-election in 2006, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ben Cardin...
and Representative Michael Oxley in 2002 which defined significant tighter personal responsibility of corporate top management for the accuracy of reported financial statements.
Compliance in the USA generally means compliance with laws and regulations. These laws can have criminal or civil penalties or can be regulations. The definition of what constitutes an effective compliance plan has been elusive. Most authors, however, continue to cite the guidance provided by the United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency of the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States. It is responsible for articulating the sentencing guidelines for the United States federal courts...
in Chapter 8 of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
What is GRC
Governance, Risk, and Compliance or "GRC" is an increasingly recognized term that reflects a new way in which organizations are adopting an integrated approach to these aspects of their business.GRC typically encompasses activities such as corporate governance, enterprise risk management (ERM) and corporate compliance with applicable laws and regulations.[1][2]Environmental compliance research
An important part of Environmental protection is Compliance and Enforcement. Compliance with the nation's environmental laws is the ultimate objective, but enforcement is a vital part of encouraging governments, businesses and other companies who are regulated to meet their environmental obligations.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides compliance assistance to areas that yield the most environmental benefit or reduce risk to human health.
Globally, the total electrical energy consumption by data centers, servers, and computers is steadily increasing. The increase in energy consumption results in increased greenhouse gas emissions as most of the electricity is generated by burning coal, oil, or gas. Countless old computers and other electronic hardware, which contain toxic materials and are discarded within a couple of years after purchase, end up in landfills, polluting the earth and contaminating its water.
The increased number of computers in use and their frequent replacements make the environmental impact of IT a major concern. Consequently, there’s increasing pressure on computer professionals to make IT environmentally friendly. As businesses and governments try to balance growth with environmental risks, computer professionals are called upon to make IT systems and work practices greener and to use IT in innovative ways to address environmental problems.
The Need of Regulatory Compliance for Environmental Sustainability
As the world’s climate heats up, causing potentially disastrous consequences, and as environmental problems become global, IT is becoming both a solution and a problem for environmental sustainability. While the use of IT has exploded in all areas of human activity, offering great benefits and convenience and irreversibly transforming businesses and society, it has also been contributing to environmental problems. IT affects our environment in several different ways. Each stage of a computer’s life—from production and use to disposal—presents environmental challenges.
Raising global environment awareness
Al GoreAl Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
"Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination."
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that, by his own estimate, he has given more than a thousand times.Premiering at the...
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that, by his own estimate, he has given more than a thousand times.
Environment Act 1995
Environment Act 1995
The Environment Act 1995 is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament which created a number of new agencies and set new standards for environmental management...
External links
- Open Compliance & Ethics Group (OCEG), OCEG is a nonprofit organization that provides numerous resources for corporate governance, risk management, compliance and business ethics.
- GRC-Resource.com, GRC-Resource provides free information and scientific publications on integrated approaches to GRC.