4.5.2　Environ mental management systems

4.5.2　Environ mental management systems

One appr oach to continual i mpr ovement of operational practices is t hr ough a f or mal environ mental management system(EMS).

I HA believes hydr o-power operators,as well as manufacturers of hydr o-electric equip ment,should adopt inter nationally recognised environ mental management systems(such as ISO 14001).The i mplementation of t hese systems is enhanced where:

There is a cor porate environ mental ethos where environ mental excellence and business excellence are t win goals;

Senior management leadership and commit ment drives environ mental understanding t hr oughout t he or ganisation;

There is a corporate commit ment to continuously i mprove environmental management systems,operating practices as well as training and awareness raising in the workforce;

Employees wor k to a common environ mental or“sustainability”goal;

There is a clear line of accountability and responsibility for environmental i mpacts;and

There is corporate recognition of employees initiating environ mental i mprovements.

The co mponents of an environ mental management system are su mmarised as f oll ows:

Management Commit ment;

Envir on mental Policy;(https://www.daowen.com)

Environ mental Aspects and Impacts;

Objectives and Tar gets;

Roles and Responsibilities;

Planning and Pr ograms;

Regulatory Compliance;

Docu ment Contr ol;

Operational and Emergency Procedures;

Training;

Monitoring and Measuring;and

Review(incl uding envir on mental audits)and I mpr ovement.

Hydropower operators should also consider incorporating their EMS as part of a br oader sustainability management and public reporting pr ogra m.Open and continuous stakeholder consultation enhances longer-ter m relationships with the local community,regulators,and sharehol ders.