Environment management policies and practices

According to Pope Francis (2015) our planet is “beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” His critique of rubbish and our throwaway culture in a encyclical on climate change, the environment and inequality, is a challenge to political and business decision makers. His references to the impacts of pollutants such as industrial and chemical waste and greenhouse gas emissions, suggest that more than a five pence charge on plastic bags may be required. So what questions should those who manage people and resources be asking and addressing? Contemporary organisations and their stakeholders face multiple environment challenges and opportunities. Climate change will eventually impact upon most people, although some may face issues such as food and water security, flooding and coastal erosion or bio-diversity before others. Business opportunities will be created in areas ranging from clean and low-carbon technologies and sustainable and renewable energy to geo-engineering and new investment vehicles. There will be growing demands for related management, professional and technical services. Directors and those who advise and support them have a key role to play in understanding the likely impacts of changes, assessing both challenges and opportunities, discussing issues and determining responses, and ensuring that future growth is beneficial, inclusive and sustainable. Decisions taken at other levels can have positive and/or negative impacts upon both the implementation of policies and local physical, social and work environments. They can directly influence creativity, performance, satisfaction and trust. A lack of awareness, inadequate understanding and inappropriate and short-term responses, could lead to a loss of faith in markets. Tighter and more restrictive regulation might inhibit beneficial innovation. In order to see the bigger picture and grasp strategic opportunities, we may need to challenge existing arrangements and practices