Approaches in Environmental Management
Environmental management is a colossal subject. Concern for environmental management is developing so fast that picking crucial subjects is not easy. Environmental scientists making efforts to improve understanding of development and environment relations. Environmental economics is rapidly evolving. The world has accepted beyond doubt that environmental issues, environmental justice, and environmental ethics are very important. A lot of change has been taken place in understanding environmental concerns.
Though, there has been incredible progress but, despite all, tools for effective environmental management as well as environmental accounting are still far from satisfactory. Environmental laws and regulations are evolving at rapid pace but its execution is still inadequate.
It is accepted beyond doubt that what cannot be measured is difficult to manage. So, the recognition of useful indicators, the development of effective monitoring, forecasting and management decision making techniques are very important for environmental management. It requires skillful aptitude in reading the public mood to get support and establish what can be achieved. Distracted issues are more likely to attract interest in evil developments, even if these are seriously threatening. It only helps if environmental management can point to clear benefits from its actions.
Environmental managers may be conscious or supportive of technology. There is also a wide spectrum of political and philosophical stances, all of which color the approach adopted.
The approach that is developed and pursued in reaction to a specific situation is called ad hoc approach.
Systems approach revolved around problem solving tactics that follows a series of logical steps to identify problems for implementing solutions. Example are the approaches adopted for solving the issues relating to ecosystems and agroecosystems.
Regional approach is espoused mainly for the issues involving biological zones or bio geophysical units. Such regions may be international such as an internationally shared river basin as well as watersheds, coastal zones, islands, and sometimes as large as seas, if not oceans.
The issues involving intervention of specialist and professionals is called specialist discipline approach. This kind of approach is adopted to deal with the specific environmental subjects, to quote: air quality management, water quality management, land management, environmental health, urban as well as rural management, ocean management, human biology approach, tourism and hospitality management.
Strategic environmental management approach involves incorporating environmental considerations into decision making processes of organizations as well as governments. This approach aims to achieve sustainability and minimize environmental impacts while balancing economic and social objectives. The main components of strategic environmental management approach consist of developing and implementing of comprehensive policies, integration of sustainable development programs, conducting environmental impact assessment, promoting efficient use of energy sources, developing pollution prevention and control methods and adoption of climate change mitigation strategies, to quote a few.
Environmental management by encouraging and supporting by the volunteers such as NGOs, private organizations, and institutions, through private funding for research and promotion of environmental management is called voluntary sector approach.
Environmental management pursued for business and commercial public bodies is termed as commercial approach.
Political economy approach to environmental management focuses on understanding the influence of political policies and economic factors on environmental policies, resource allocation for sustainable development. This approach considers the complex interactions between the political power, economic interests, and environmental outcomes. It involves examining the government policies and regulations to shape environmental practices, analyzing economic incentives, investigating the distribution of power among various stakeholders, including governments, corporations, communities, and NGOs that effect environmental governance. It also assesses the impact of global trade and international economic integration as well as examine the allocation of natural resources.
Human ecology environmental management approach focuses on the relationships between humans and their environment. It emphasizes on how human activities impact natural systems and how these systems effect human societies. This approach integrates various disciplines such as urban landscapes, development architecture and environmental management to promote sustainable development. It evolves the understanding the perception and awareness of the environment, how people perceive and interact with their environment with implementation to control the environmental degradation and pollution.
