IEMA Vision to 2014
A new vision
Environmental issues have risen rapidly up the political agenda reflecting growing concerns for the planet and the need to treat it as a precious resource. Expectations of business and others to behave sustainably through improved environmental management and performance are now greater than ever.
It is not a passing phase. Significant growth in EU and domestic environment legislation is evidence enough, not least the UK Government’s Climate Change Act with its statutory goal of achieving a low carbon economy in the UK by 2050. There is also a growing commitment to act elsewhere across the globe.
President Barack Obama’s strong environmental message in his inauguration speech is a significant case in point. Furthermore, the current economic downturn requires improved resource efficiency more than ever to save money.
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is the environmental profession’s largest membership body. It has been successfully responding to increased demand from industry and others for professional help and advice to deal with technically complex and increasingly cross-cutting environmental issues. However, being a dynamic and forward-looking body, IEMA recognises that the profession needs to do more to deal with the challenges ahead. It has therefore developed a new vision in this document to be more inclusive across the profession as a whole and more outward looking.
IEMA wants the environmental profession to be the best trained and the most competent, to have a higher public profile and greater influence, and benefit from good governance and critical mass. We and our members are keen to see environmental considerations become a normal part of the way companies do business and how relevant political decisions are made, both here in the UK and across the globe.
I hope our vision receives widespread support from professionals, practitioners, employers, policy makers and NGOs alike - as we continue to work together to make a real difference to the environment with professional help and advice at its heart.
Ian Housley,
Chairman, (2009) IEMA
