Environmental auditing

Summary

This video discusses the importance and process of environmental auditing, emphasizing its role in assessing and improving environmental outcomes within existing operations. It outlines how to become an accredited environmental auditor, including training costs and certification. The speaker highlights the benefits of audits in demonstrating compliance, reducing risk, and enhancing operational efficiencies. Real-world examples illustrate the consequences of non-compliance and the significance of thorough auditing in mitigating environmental impacts. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to explore more about environmental audits and consider their value in various organizational contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Environmental auditing is a systematic examination of operations to assess environmental risks and opportunities.
• 👩‍🎓 Becoming a certified environmental auditor typically involves training programs that can be costly but offer valuable career benefits.
• 📈 Environmental audits can enhance job prospects, as illustrated by Christoph Speer's success in obtaining a significant role due to his auditing experience.
• 📝 The objectives of environmental auditing include reducing pollution, improving working conditions, and developing environmentally friendly products and services.
• 🔍 Auditing follows a structured process: planning, stakeholder engagement, data collection, evaluation, and reporting.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Independent third-party audits often yield better outcomes compared to in-house assessments, providing more credibility and objectivity.
• ⚖️ Environmental audits serve not only compliance purposes but also help demonstrate due diligence in case of incidents or accidents.
• 💼 Different types of audits can be triggered by various factors, including regulatory requirements, internal efficiency interests, or external requests.
• 📋 The implementation of audit results is best supported by embedding them within an environmental management system, ensuring ongoing compliance and improvement.
• 🚨 Real-world examples highlight the consequences of environmental non-compliance, including substantial fines and legal repercussions for organizations.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of environmental auditing?

The main purpose of environmental auditing is to systematically examine an organization's environmental performance to ensure compliance with regulations, identify risks, and improve operational efficiencies.

How does environmental auditing differ from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

Environmental auditing focuses on measuring current activities and assessing compliance of existing operations, while EIA predicts potential environmental impacts before a project is developed or expanded.

What are some common triggers for conducting an environmental audit?

Common triggers include regulatory requirements from environmental protection agencies, internal requests for operational assessments, achieving compliance with permits, and identifying opportunities for resource savings.

What are the typical steps involved in conducting an environmental audit?

The typical steps include planning the audit, identifying stakeholders, collecting relevant data, evaluating findings, and writing a report with recommendations for improvement.

Why is independent third-party auditing often preferred?

Independent third-party auditing is often preferred because it can provide more objective evaluations and typically results in better environmental outcomes.

What are the potential benefits of becoming an accredited environmental auditor?

Benefits include gaining expertise in environmental regulations, enhancing job prospects, and contributing to improved environmental practices within organizations.

What is the estimated cost and duration of formal training to become an environmental auditor?

Formal training programs, such as those offered by PricewaterhouseCoopers, can cost around $3,000 and typically last for four and a half days.

What role do environmental audits play in demonstrating due diligence?

Environmental audits help organizations demonstrate due diligence by providing documentation of their environmental management practices, which can be crucial in case of incidents or regulatory inquiries.

How do environmental audits contribute to continuous improvement?

Environmental audits identify areas for improvement, track compliance, and establish best practices, thereby facilitating ongoing enhancements in an organization's environmental performance.

What are some examples of significant fines associated with environmental breaches?

Examples include fines against companies that improperly discharged waste into waterways, which can range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the breach and the size of the organization.