C:\Documents and Settings\mintert\Desktop\pdfs\env_intro_ems_paper.DOC MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WORK THROUGH A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT AND

This paper describes how adopting a strategic approach to environmental management systems (EMS) will deliver a long term, lasting change to environmental performance. The paper focuses on the approach of one public sector agency, Transport SA. Whilst Transport SA has had elements of a system for environmental management in place for some time, there was a need to review the existing system in the light of a new direction for the Agency’s environmental performance. A strategic approach has been adopted to improving environmental performance and making an EMS work for the organisation. Some of the critical attributes of this strategic approach are described and contrasted with a compliance based approach to EMS