Environmental management systems "must measure green performance

Environmental management systems "must measure green performance"

The EU’s Environmental Management scheme (EMAS) should become a "standard of excellence" by rating organisations’ actual environmental performance as well as their management systems, four NGOs have told the European Commission.

The Commission is preparing to review EMAS, which has attracted far fewer organisations than the international environmental management system (EMS), ISO 14001. Green groups criticise both for doing too little to improve environmental standards. EMAS can have a better future if it takes the green high ground, they argue. NGOs also want greater rewards for EMAS-registered organisations. Its use could be rewarded by incentives including tax reductions, lower insurance premiums and “preferential treatment” in public procurement, the groups say. Also, EMAS reports should be made more understandable by the general public, they add. Performance claims should be compared with clearly defined key indicators to make them easier to interpret. The European Commission intends to make firm proposals during 2007. Further details can be seen at: www.anec.org/attachments/ANEC-ENV-2006-G-047.pdf