1 INTRODUCTION A city perspective on suitability of EMAS to the local and regional authorities The CHAMP project supported European cities to implement an Integrated Management System (IMS) for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Almost 60 cities in four countries Finland, Germany, Hungary and Italy piloted the IMS for local climate change response in the project. The Integrated Management System for Climate Change was developed on the basis of experiences gained from cities during the CHAMP project and two preceding projects ENVIPLANS (2004 2006) and Managing Urban Europe 25 (2005 2008). The idea and development of the IMS has been based on EU policies on sustainable urban development. The work done around IMS has been continuously communicated to relevant national and EU bodies (EMAS, ISO 14001) in order to build on existing structures and practices. As the reasoning for IMS is that EMAS is necessarily suited for local authorities, a short survey among CHAMP pilot cities was conducted. The aim was to find out what are the views of local and sub regional authorities on the suitability of EMAS for their organisation. The question was sent out to 58 piloting organisations, including municipalities, (sub )regions and one company, of which 45 replied (response rate being 78 %). The detailed national reports are attached in Annex 1. The survey consisted of five questions in a following way (see Annex 2. The questionnaire): Does your municipality have EMAS certification? If not, for what reason? If yes, do you think that EMAS is a good basis for Sustainability Management? How should EMAS be developed to make it more attractive for the local and regional authorities? Does your city organisation or part(s) of it use any other certified environmental management systems? Results of the survey EMAS CERTIFICATION IN THE MUNICIPALITIES 10 of the responding 45 municipalities have EMAS certification for the whole organization, and further 2 have parts of their organization EMAS certified. 28 of the respondents are not interested in EMAS certification. In diagram 1 the reasons for not being interested are defined in more detail.
For those respondents using EMAS, 10 replied that EMAS is a good basis for Sustainability Management, whereas 3 said no. EMAS was said to be a great basis because having the management structures and allowing good coordination of many topics. However, many of the respondents stated that a system recognizing the specific needs of a municipal organization is needed. Diagram 1. Reasoning for not being interested in EMAS. DEVELOPING EMAS TO BETTER FIT THE ORGANISATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES The main points suggested by the respondents were: EMAs should be simplified. At the moment it s sometimes unclear what the added value of EMAS is, when compared to the additional work load they cause. Also, the option of using so called light versions of EMSs should be marketed as a way to EMAS.
Widening the scope from environmental management to sustainability management is necessary. Incentives to implement EMAS (prerequisite for receiving EU project funding, advantages to obtain credits, permits etc.) are needed. Financial support for the EMAS implementation period was also suggested. More information about EMAS is needed, especially in Hungary. This would mean raise awareness of EMAS by free training courses and the establishment of a ministerial Assessment Centers. USE OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 12 municipalities use a certified EMS, of which ISO 14001 (9 municipalities) is by far the most common one. 10 municipalities use a non certified EMS. 2 CONCLUSIONS It can be clearly seen that EMAS is not best suited for local and sub regional authorities and that a more wide approach, covering sustainability aspects is needed. The responding municipalities cannot clearly see the added value of using EMAS compared to the additional work load it causes, and some other EMSs, like ISO14001 seem more tempting. Besides that it is important to improve guidance and training on EMAS, which would also increase the awareness of the added value of using it in a municipality. This alone does not necessarily increase the interest among local and sub regional authorities but tangible incentives of certifying an organization are also needed.
3 ANNEXES Annex 1. SURVEY REPORTS FROM FOUR COUNTRIES FINLAND 8 municipalities responded to the Finnish EMAS questionnaire: Municipality Number of inhabitants Joensuu 73 400 Espoo 252 400 Helsinki 588 549 Lahti 102 200 Tampere 210 000 Oulu 142 000 Riihimäki 29 013 Salo 56 000 EMAS certification in the municipality (8 replies) Only 1 of the responding municipalities is aiming to have EMAS certification to the whole city organization, whereas the rest of them are not interested in EMAS certification. Reasoning for not being interested in EMAS certification (choosing multiple options is possible) (7 The reason that the municipalities are not interested in EMAS certification is that EMAS certificate does not give added value to our organisation (5 replies), there are Too much costs related to implementation of EMAS and Too big work load (each 3 replies). 5 respondents chose option Other, most of them stating that their municipality already has a working system of managing environmental issues and there is no need for another one. For those using EMAS: Is EMAS a good basis for Sustainability Management? (1 respondent) The only municipality using EMAS replied No, sustainability needs specific management structure, arguing that EMAS is clearly not designed for municipalities. The municipal organisation has many different activities, and fitting those together under one system does not result in a well functioning nor practical model for operating. A system designed for
municipalities should recognise the ways of working in a municipality and from thereon support municipalities to develop more sustainable ways of working. How should EMAS be developed to make it more attractive for the local and regional authorities? (6 The main issue raised by the Finnish respondents was to simplify and make it easier to include EMAS as part of the normal activities of municipalities. The added value of EMAS is many times unclear compared to the additional work load they cause. Furthermore, the option of using so called light versions of environmental management systems (such as Ekokompassi in Helsinki) should be more marketed and used as a way to EMAS. Certified environmental management systems (such as ISO 14001) in general are seen more usable for public utilities. Does your city organisation or part(s) of it use any other certified environmental management systems? (8 Three of the municipalities use a certified EMS, all of them ISO 14 000, and only for parts of the city organisation, mainly public utilities. Three municipalities use their own, non certified environmental management systems, mainly based on ISO 14 000 or EMAS. Two of the municipalities do not use any EMS. HUNGARY 10 municipalities, 1 regional agency and 1 company responded to the Hungarian EMAS questionnaire: Municipality/regional agency Number of inhabitants Balatonalmádi 9424 Balatonföldvár 2400 Balatoni Intergációs Kft. (LBDCA) 275000 Budapest XVI. District 72000 Fonyód 5400 Keszthely 20300 Siófok 24916 Taktaharkány 3825 Tatabánya 72000 Veszprém 63400 Zamárdi 2600 Company Number of employee
Balaton Shipping Company 250 EMAS certification in the municipality (13 replies) Two of the responding organizations have EMAS certification for the whole organization. Further 5 of the responding municipalities are aiming to have EMAS certification to the whole city organization, and the remaining 5 municipalities are not interested in EMAS certification. Reasoning for not being interested in EMAS certification (choosing multiple options is possible) (5 The reason that the municipalities are not interested in EMAS certification is that there are Too much costs related to implementation and Too big work load and EMAS certificate does not give added value to our organisation (each 1 reply), there are two replies Too much costs related to revalidation. 5 respondents chose option Other, because the municipality administrations are re organization in Hungary (according to the new regulation) and the municipality has already a working quality management system and there is no need for another one. For those using EMAS: Is EMAS a good basis for Sustainability Management? (2 The two organizations who are using EMAS replied Yes, it is, why. The local government can greatly assist the implementation of these aspects through local regulation, and serve as a model for residents, businesses, companies with its environmental education. The EMAS system allows integration of several areas with which an organization must dealing. With regard to the sensitive environmental system of the Lake Balaton, the sustainable regional management and planning activities are important for the harmonization and monitoring of developments. How should EMAS be developed to make it more attractive for the local and regional authorities? (9 To promote the flow of information into people to be familiar with the EMAS system, or at least hear about it, there are many people still have not heard about it. To be more simpler and more practical more opportunities for supporting the introduction of EMAS providing free information providing free training courses The system should be simplified. The EMAS certification provides more recognition, advantages for the organizations for example by tender evaluation receiving more value, obtaining of environmental license easier.
For small organizations (non profit) should be able to obtain the certification with cost effective versions which means the cost of verification should be lower than their savings. Does your city organisation or part(s) of it use any other certified environmental management systems? (12 Two of the organizations use a certified EMS, all of them EMAS. One municipality uses its own, non certified management system, mainly based on ISO 9001:2009. The rest of the other respondents do not use any EMS. GERMANY 12 municipalities responded to the German EMAS questionnaire: Municipality Number of inhabitants Singen 45.000 Donaueschingen 21.000 Neu Ulm 53.000 Opfenbach 2.300 Kaiserslautern 99.800 Öhningen 3.638 Ludwigsburg 87.000 Ascha 1.600 Tübingen 89.000 Stadt Ellrich 6.000 Nordhausen 44.124 Friedrichshafen 59.000 EMAS certification in the municipality (12 1 of the responding municipalities has a EMAS certification to the whole city organization, and another municipalities has a certification for the Departments of Urbanization, two public kindergartens and the public Secondary School and the public service companies (waste water treatment, cemetary and public green spaces maintenance). One municipality is aiming for a EMAS certification for four public schools. 9 municipalities are not interested in EMAS. Reasoning for not being interested in EMAS certification (choosing multiple options is possible) (9 Two municipalities did not think about EMAS. One municipality considers that EMAS is too much work load and 3 municipalities stated that EMAS certificate does not give added value to the organisation. Five Municipalities gave other reasons such as: We are participating in the European Energy Award and do not have capacities for other structures, not enough resources especially personnel, we were 6 years EMAS certified and maintain the EMS but not the certification.
For those using EMAS: Is EMAS a good basis for Sustainability Management? (5 3 municipalities responded yes, because EMAS is a good basis because of the management structures and management documentation. The concept and the cycle are the same and it would be possible to integrate aspects like social or cultural issues. The main problem would be the involvement of local political decision makers, because normally their main orientation is the election period and not a long term view. 2 municipalities responded no because To much formalism within EMAS. Sustainability Management for schools would be difficult because of various levels of competences and too much decision makers. How should EMAS be developed to make it more attractive for the local and regional authorities (3 There should be a financial support during a longer period for the implementation of EMAS and there should be tangible advantages for municipalities with EMAS (e.g. advantages to obtain credits, regarding subventions and financial support for projects, advantages regarding permits.). The focus on environmental aspects is too narrow. Municipalities need a sustainability management system where environmental aspects will be integrated. A sound communication campaign on EMAS Does your city organisation or part(s) of it use any other certified environmental management systems? (11 Two of the municipalities use the European Energy Award Certification. One municipality implemented Ökoprofit and another ISO 14001. Two municipalities use a sustainability management system elaborated within the Managing Urban Europe and one municipality has EMAS but without re certification. Four municipalities don t have an environmental management system. ITALY 3 Provinces and 10 cities responded to the Italian EMAS questionnaire: Municipality Province of Bologna City of Reggio Emilia 170.000 City of Ferrara 135.444 City of Mantua 48.600 City of Mantua 48.600 Province of Siena 273.000 City of Caltanisetta 61.000 Number of inhabitants
City of La Spezia 98.000 City of Padova 214.286 City of Padova 214.286 City of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa 7.800 City of San Vincenzo 7.023 Provincia di Pisa 400.000 EMAS certification in the municipality (13 replies) Only 5 of the responding municipalities have already an EMAS certification for the whole city organization, whereas 7 of them are not interested in EMAS certification. One municipality replies that the local authority is interested in having the EMAS Certification for one specific department (Public Works Department). Reasoning for not being interested in EMAS certification (choosing multiple options is possible) (6 The reason that the municipalities are not interested in EMAS certification is that there are too much costs related to implementation of EMAS (4 replies), there are too much costs related to revalidation (3 replies) and Too big work load (4 replies). 2 respondents stated that the municipality hasn t taken into consideration the possibility to have EMAS certification while 1 respondent chose option Other, stating that their municipality already has another Certification (ISO 14001:2004). For those using EMAS: Is EMAS a good basis for Sustainability Management? (5 The respondents coming from the municipalities using EMAS replied that it is a good basis for Sustainability Management. The reasons provided for that are the following: it provides a tool for coordination and synthesis for the majority of activities/plans/tools with effects on the environment the IMS allows to find inter linkages between internal good practices, to control them and to implement them more gradually and continuity The municipality should start from its sustainable policies, for then having coherent policies on the territory Because it helps the harmonisation of the whole structure How should EMAS be developed to make it more attractive for the local and regional authorities? (9 1) The Province of Bologna has been the biggest local authority that has obtained the EMAS Registration (winner of the EMAS Award 2006)
After 6 years of certification, it has been noticed that this tool wasn t no longer able to bring improvements in the environmental management. Currently the efforts in the registration process and maintenance are much more than the returns (such as wider visibility, tourist appeal etc). Furthermore, in order to get the EMAS certification, it is necessary to have many and demanding exams that cannot disseminate and properly valued as long as the tool is not that widely known. 2) It is necessary to: demonstrate that, together with a sustainability added value, it helps the work organisation and the reduction of management costs 3) - simplify the certification process and the EMS process - to focus on a gradual approach, allowing the certification of some parts of the organisation - to provide some Guidelines tailored for Local Authorities - to award the local authorities that has already and EMAS registration - to better define the potentials coming from EMAS in terms of internal and external communication 4) By giving the message that with EMAS it is possible to reduces the management costs, with also a raise awareness activities on the municipal staff and planning and that EMAS allows a more manageable implementation of environmental laws at local level. 5) By organising a public Forum, listening to the proposals coming from the citizens and sharing with them the solutions adopted. 6) It should bring an added value to municipal policies on sustainability (access to fundings) 7) By disseminating it amongst people coming from other sectors through tailored specific actions and promotion by EU and Italian Ministry of Environment 8) By setting up a ministerial Assessment Center free or with limited costs. Does your city organisation or part(s) of it use any other certified environmental management systems? (13 5 of the municipalities use a certified EMS, all of them ISO 14 000, 1 has ISO 14064, 1 will have ISO 50001. 3 municipalities use a non certified environmental management systems, such as the accounting system CLEAR and the SEAPs (Sustainable Energy Action Plans, 2 replies)
Annex 2. The questionnaire A city perspective on suitability of EMAS to the local and regional authorities Name and e mail: Name of the City: Number of inhabitants: Country: EMAS certification in your municipality: The whole organisation has EMAS certificate At least one of the departments has EMAS certificate, which: We are aiming to have EMAS certification to the whole organisation We are planning to have EMAS certification at least to one of the departments, which: No, we are not interested in EMAS certification If you answered no, please indicate reasoning (choosing multiple options is possible): Too much costs related to implementation of EMAS Too much costs related to re validation Too big work load EMAS certificate does not give added value to our organisation Other: If you use EMAS, do you think that EMAS is a good basis for Sustainability Management? Yes, it is, why No, Sustainability needs specific management structure, why How should EMAS be developed to make it more attractive for the local and regional authorities:
Does your city organisation or part(s) of it use any other certified environmental management systems? Yes, which: No, but we use non certified environmental management system(s), (based on)which: No