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

Partners Global 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 Project Aims 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 Strategies The 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 3Training and Awareness Raising Version No: Procedure 3.1Responsible: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 3.2Responsible: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 complianceFrequency of procedure Records kept 3.1Procedure followedNot followed regularly AnnuallyFile xxx 3.2 Procedure followedNot followed regularly For new entrantsFile xxx

Tools and Strategies Training 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 Strategies EMS 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 Strategies Sharing Good and Best Practice CEMR and Global to local are collecting 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 construction Building management Overcoming barriers in implementing EMS Greening 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 added significant value in terms of developing understanding and confidences in municipalities

Conclusions Project 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 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 Aalborg Baseline 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.

Examples LOCAL 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.

Examples RESPONSIBLE 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 Contacts KMC Helena Tinker - Global To Local Fiona Glover - Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) Pirita Lindholm - Project Website: 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.