The overall aim with this thesis is to create a broader understanding of how the EMS tool works in local authorities. This means to study whether EMS is a useful tool for managing the environmental impact from the local authorities' activities and by highlighting its strengths and weaknesses as a tool. EMS is a tool that is used on a voluntary basis that aims at improving organisations' environmental performance. There are several standards for designing EMSs; however, this thesis focuses on EMSs designed according to the principles of the international standard ISO 14001 and the EU regulation Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The standards are based on a wide range of requirements. If these requirements are fulfilled, the organisation can choose to get its EMS certified by a third party. The EMS tool is frequently used in the private sector, and it is sometimes argued that it is designed for private (industrial) organisations. However, local authorities worldwide have shown an increased interest in EMSs since the mid 1990s. The EMS use in the private sector has been subject to some critique. For example, there is a risk that the tool is used only to get another certificate in order to increase their legitimacy, which means that there is a risk that the environmental issues are neglected. Until now, little academic research has been conducted concerning EMS use in local authorities. Therefore, it is interesting to study what approaches local authorities have to EMSs. Mainly Swedish local authorities have been studied for this thesis. Many Swedish local authorities have been using EMSs for a fairly long time, which means that they have a certain amount of experience from this using tool. The local authorities' approaches to EMS use have been studied from several perspectives using postal surveys, interviews, and case study methodology. This means that the research has a strong empirical foundation. The EMS use in Swedish local authorities is fairly common, since almost half of them are in the process of implementing EMSs in all or some of their departments. The main reason for implementing EMSs is to improve the structure of their environmental management. The local authorities often use ISO 14001 and/or EMAS as inspiration and design the EMSs according to their local conditions and ambitions, thus certification of the EMSs is seldom an aim. Although many local authorities seem to use EMSs in a reflective and sensible way, several barriers or difficulties - for example, maintaining continuity and ensuring follow-up of the environmental improvements - have been discovered. Furthermore, the EMSs that are being implemented often exclude environmental impact related to their exercise of authority since it is difficult and abstract. Including environmental impact related to these activities is often seen as a matter of maturity. To develop the organisations' EMSs, internal and external communication and interaction is experienced as very important. Such issues contribute to the EMS maturity processes, since the local authorities find new inspiration, knowledge, and motivation to further develop the EMS processes and, as a consequence, improve their environmental performance.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2005. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

The main objective of this thesis is the description of the current actions of European graphic industry to reduce the environmental impact. The revision of the current situation is carried out by reviewing European legislation, private and public initiatives, and actions taken within the national legislation of European Union. Thus, a description of the opportunities and challenges of the European graphic industry is implemented. Moreover, a study of implementation of practices to reduce environmental impact is carried out in a graphic company, called El Tinter. Results of this thesis indicate that the European graphic industry has developed a large number of innovations in order to ensure the sustainability of the industry, but there are remaining issues which require greater accomplishment. In conclusion, it is important to note that the overall environmental impact of the European graphic industry represents the addition of the individual impacts of stakeholders involved, so the final decrease depends on the sum of collective actions.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the context of both climate change and peak oil, it is clear that the tourism industry cannot continue with a business-as-usual approach. Unfettered fossil fuel use is no longer an option and novel approaches need to be explored in order to change the configuration of energy systems. Transport is particularly energy intense and consequently, since it involves travel, so is tourism. The Drifters Desert Nature Reserve (DDNR) is probably a net carbon sink. The property is large and has thousands of long lived trees and bushes: but this would be an ‘easy out’ in an industry which is has a reputation for evading tough questions. Are there affordable techniques that can be employed by the Reserve that will reduce its carbon footprint and enable it to move toward being entirely carbon neutral, without relying on sequestration? A willingness to pay (WTP) survey investigating if clients were prepared to pay a voluntary amount towards reducing the emissions of the DDNR, thereby offsetting some of their own emissions, was conducted; 121 questionnaires were completed. The results were extrapolated out to represent the WTP of the 1055 clients that visited the DDNR in the last year. It was found that 73% of all the clients who stay at the DDNR are willing to pay toward helping the DDNR change the way its systems are configured as a means to offset some of their own emissions debt in getting to the reserve. Lodge clients were prepared to pay almost double the amount clients staying at the campsite would consider. In both cases, WTP was around 10% of the value of the accommodation package chosen. The fossil fuel use and consequent carbon dioxide debt of the DDNR was calculated and emissions were found to be in the region of 30 tonnes per annum. As per the case in the greater Namibia, transport is responsible for the bulk of the carbon dioxide output, with energy provision in this off-grid reserve being a close second. Of four potential interventions considered, two were found to be financially viable, regardless of the WTP of clientele. It is speculated that WTP on a small scale is administratively laborious and the potential contribution of a voluntary offsetting payment was perhaps not high to justify the implementation of the scheme. It was however found that reconfiguring the energy systems would definitely be a worthwhile exercise. On corporate level where efficiencies of size amplify gains, Drifters, as a group of 14 lodges and an overland company, may well find that a transparent voluntary emissions reduction (VER) payment, ring-fenced, appropriately used, and properly implemented, is worthwhile. Ethically, however, injecting VER payments into a balance sheet is problematic, especially where the payback period of the technological interventions is short and the benefits derived are long term. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van fossielbrandstowwe wat in die huidige tydsgewrig tot die opwekking van oormatige kweekhuisgasse lei is nie langer aanvaarbaar nie en innoverende opsies om die voortgesette generasie van energie te verseker, sal nagestreef moet word. Een van die grootste verbruikers van energie is vervoer, en vervolgens is dit ook die geval dat toerisme, wat swaar op vervoer staatmaak, ‘n groot gebruiker van energie is. Aangesien daar etlike gevestigde bome en bosse op hierdie woestynreservaat is, is die Drifters Desert Nature Reserve (DDNR) moontlik ‘n netto bespaarder van koolstofgasse, maar dit kan nie sondermeer daargelaat word in ‘n bedryf wat bekend is daarvoor dat dit graag die moeilike vrae vermy nie. Daar is dus gevra: is daar bekostigbare tegnieke wat moontlik by die DDBR aangewend kan word om die koolstofvoetafdruk te verminder en dit in staat kan stel om totaal koolstofneutraal te word, sonder om op ingryping staat te maak? Navorsing is gedoen en 121 vraelyste is voltooi om vas te stel of kliente gewillig sou wees om ‘n vrywillige bydrae te maak om die afskeid van koolstof te beheer en daardeur hul eie koolstofvoetafrdruk te verminder, in ‘n sg “gewilligheid om te betaal” oftewel “willingness to pay” (WTP) opname. Die resultate is deurgevoer as verteenwoordigend van die 1 055 kliente wat verlede jaar die oord besoek het. Daar is gevind dat 73% van die kliente wat die oord besoek bereid sou wees om die DDNR geldelik te help om sy stelsels te verander as ‘n teenrekening om hul eie koolstofbesoedeling op pad daarheen te vergoed. Kliente wat die losie gebruik het was bereid om meer te betaal as diegene wat by die kampeerterrein tuisgegaan het. Die hele reservaat se jaarlikse koolstofdioksied debiet is bereken, en die jaarlikse opwekking is op ongeveer 30-tonne vasgestel. Nes in Namibie as geheel is vervoeruitlaatgasse verantwoordelik vir die oorgrote meerderheid opwekking, met die voorsiening van energie by die afgelee oord kort op sy hakke. Van die vier moontlike ingrypings wat oorweeg is, is twee finansieel die moeite werd gevind, ongeag die kliente se gewilligheid om geldelik by te dra. Die bestuur van aanvraag is ook oorweeg, en hoewel dit nie gekwantifiseer is nie, is dit nes die moontlikheid van tegnologiese innovering, duidelik deel van die oplossing, Daar is gevind dat ‘n stelsel van betaling op plaaslike vlak moeilik sou wees om die administreer, en aangesien selfs die gewilliges nie oorgretig is nie, is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat dit nie die moeite sou loon nie. Ongeag bogenoemde beginsel van toersitebydraes is daar gevind dat dit ongetwyfeld die moeite werd sou wees om die energiestelsels aan te pas. Maar dit sal nie noodwendig op ‘n korporatiewe of ‘n makro-skaal werk nie, veral nie waar grote ‘n rol speel nie. As maatskappygroep mag Drifters vind dat met ‘n deursigtige, vrywillige uitlaatverminderingspaaiement, wat afgebaken, korrek aangewend en effektief bestuur word, die kool die sous werd sou wees.

Le développement industriel important, le fort accroissement démographique, l'urbanisation intensive, l'expansion des trafics de transports routiers, aériens et maritimes, sont tout autant de facteur contribuant à l'épuisement des ressources planétaires, du foncier et au dérèglement climatique. Faire face aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre et aux autres impacts environnementaux se résume le plus souvent à la conduite d'une politique complémentaire couplant les 3 piliers stratégiques du développement durable : environnement, économie et social. Une normalisation des principes de développement durable est difficile à clarifier, elle dépend du contexte et des objectifs d'un pays ou du territoire d'étude impliqué. La transition énergétique et écologique nécessite un référentiel d'éco-aménagement adapté aux spécificités et aux enjeux des espaces concernés. Ces travaux contribuent à accompagner l'aménagement d'un site en milieu périurbaininsulaire, autour d'activité des secteurs primaires, secondaires, tertiaires et résidentiels.Dans ce cadre, plusieurs outils d'analyse ont été développés pour répondre aux exigences d'un éco-aménagement, à partir notamment des analyses techniques, environnementales et de l'évaluation globale d'un éco-aménagement. Ces outils développés permettent aux acteurs d'aménagement du territoire et de construction d'espaces bâtis, d'analyser les bilans d'impacts environnementaux d'un projet et d'évaluer différentes alternatives d'aménagement. Au delà des outils d'aide à la décision, il est proposé dans cette thèse, une démarche méthodologique basée sur l'approche systémique et typologique et le cadre normatif ISO 14044 relatif à l'Analyse de Cycle de Vie. / Significant industrial development, strong population growth, intensive urbanization,expansion of road, air and sea transports are all factors that contribute to the exhaustion of natural resources, land and climate change. The combination of the 3 strategic pillars of sustainable development : environment, economy and social, in the deployment of complementary policies contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and environmental impacts.The standardization of the sustainable development principles is difficult to implement. It depends on the context of a the studied country or territory. The ecological and energy transition requires a eco-mangement frame of reference adapted to the specificities and stakes of the concerned territories. This work contributes to the development of a surburban site in a tropical islandenvironment, around activities in the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. In this context, several analysis tools have been developed to meet the requirements of an eco-management scheme, including technical and environmental analyzes and the overall evaluation of an eco-management scheme. These tools provide local and regional actors to analyze the environmental impacts of a project and to evaluate different development alternatives. In addition to the decision-supporttools, a methodological approach is proposed in this thesis, based on the systemic and typological approaches and the ISO 14044 normative framework relating to Life Cycle Assessment.

The master thesis introduces the topic of sustainable development, environmental policy and its tools as a mean of mitigating negative impact of economic activity on environment. The thesis analyzes optional tools of environmental policy as well as Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS. The analytic part studies the motives and expectations of Czech organizations before the registration in EMAS and their fulfilment after implementation. The situation in the Czech Republic and EU member states is being compared and the common trends and variety identified. The output of the thesis is a design of measures for increasing the interest in registration in EMAS.

The adoption of formal environmental management systems (EMS) according to EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) represents a voluntary approach that aims to increase corporate environmental performance. Though EMAS can offer several advantages for organizations, registration numbers are falling. In the hospital sector, the dissemination of EMAS is low. The question arises as to what hinders hospitals when planning, implementing, and maintaining such voluntary environmental management initiatives. The results from interviews with environmental managers in EMAS registered hospitals reveal problems such as high initial effort for creation of the required documents, or lacking knowledge and staff awareness. The barriers are presented in a model synthesizing the problems chronologically on the organizational, group, and individual level. The challenges for the adoption of EMAS as a voluntary environmental management approach in hospitals are discussed. This paper contributes by creating an understanding of the barriers organizations might face when implementing an EMS. Thus, measures to actively manage and overcome barriers can be developed by organizations, consultants, reviewers, policy makers, and researchers.

For decades, the peaks of Sharr Mountains had defined the border between two federal units of Former Yugoslavia, but after the political changes in Central and Eastern European Countries this massif became an intersected mountain. In this thesis work I saw of interest to analyze the status change from a massif unit as part of one state, to a cross-border mountain between two states and its affect on spatial development; - was there any cooperation on mountain management in the past; - how is the current mountain management proceeding on both sides; - which were the opportunities of cross-border cooperation in previous European experiences; - what can be expected from independent mountain side management on report to other side without any environmental assessment; and in the end to find and highlight the possible cross-border cooperation opportunities toward sustainability and eco-management of the Sharr Mountains in the future. / Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning DSP - Officer for International Cooperation Prishtina - Kosovo tel: + 381 38 517 712

The adoption of formal environmental management systems (EMS) according to EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) represents a voluntary approach that aims to increase corporate environmental performance. Though EMAS can offer several advantages for organizations, registration numbers are falling. In the hospital sector, the dissemination of EMAS is low. The question arises as to what hinders hospitals when planning, implementing, and maintaining such voluntary environmental management initiatives. The results from interviews with environmental managers in EMAS registered hospitals reveal problems such as high initial effort for creation of the required documents, or lacking knowledge and staff awareness. The barriers are presented in a model synthesizing the problems chronologically on the organizational, group, and individual level. The challenges for the adoption of EMAS as a voluntary environmental management approach in hospitals are discussed. This paper contributes by creating an understanding of the barriers organizations might face when implementing an EMS. Thus, measures to actively manage and overcome barriers can be developed by organizations, consultants, reviewers, policy makers, and researchers.