Module: EM7501-30 - Principles of Environmental Management

Level: 7

Credit Value: 30

Module Tutor: Ian Thornhill

Module Tutor Contact Details: i.thornhill@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module

This module develops a critical understanding of environmental management principles and their importance for consultants and managers across all areas of business and industry: from construction to conservation.

It covers a wide range of environmental management principles and practices across a range of environmental management themes, including: pollution prevention and control (permits, consents & licences, exemptions), energy and carbon, natural hazards, wastes and resources (Duty of Care etc.), biodiversity, ecosystem services, and environmental change.

Understanding the tools used for measuring, managing and evaluating environmental performance is also addressed. These tools include: Environmental Management Systems (e.g. ISO14000 Series and EMAS), environmental auditing and legal compliance, supply chain evaluation, Environmental Impact Assessments (and Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment), Life Cycle Assessment, sustainability practices, resource management, environmental hazard management and ecosystem services. These tools are widely adopted in the UK and across the world, working to internationally recognised standards or standards widely applied by international funders or multinational companies.

Experience in applying environmental principles and practices will be gained through simulated scenarios based on case study material. There is a strong focus on 44 understanding the needs legislative compliance and other drivers for improvement, as well as the wider benefits of adopting best practice approaches.

The ethical dimension of environmental management will also be discussed in this module.

Standard reporting protocols will be used for coursework items.

2. Outline Syllabus & Teaching & Learning Methods

Your understanding of key concepts and approaches to environmental management will be developed through a blended delivery comprising in-class workshops and selected readings and other on-line resources (via Minerva).

Initial sessions will address how environmental systems function, and how they can be lost or abused by development and exploitation. Building on this, later sessions will introduce and develop your understanding of concepts such as environmental change, resource use, waste and pollution, the circular economy, and ecosystem services.

The module will then move on to evaluate key tools available to environmental managers, including: Environmental Management Systems (e.g. ISO14000 Series and EMAS), environmental auditing and legal compliance, supply chain evaluation, Environmental Impact Assessments (and Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment), Life Cycle Assessment, resource management, environmental hazard management and ecosystem services. A working knowledge of tools, legislation and policy will be developed using a case study-based approach.

Summative assessment comprises two items, the first of which is a critical review of selected environmental management principles. You can negotiate the scope of this work to suit your areas of interest and work, however you are expected to compare the relative aims of two key tools and consider how they can complement or interfere. The output from this review will be presented as a wiki for a specified audience. The second assessment is based on the application of a tool to a specific scenario (e.g. review of an impact assessment, implementation of an environmental audit) and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the tool in informing environmental performance or decision making.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Coursework
• Description: Critical review of key principles and approaches used in environmental management (3500 -5000 word equivalent wiki)
• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Coursework
• Description: Application report based on a tool or approach used in a selected scenario (3500 – 5000 word report using industry standard format)
• % Weighting: 50%