ISO 14000

ISO 14 000 is a global business initiative of the International Organization for Standardization. Pretty dry stuff, you might think, but some say it could have the potential to revolutionize the world economy. It aims to create voluntary agreement worldwide on environmental management systems and provides tools for businesses to boost efficiency. ISO 14 000 may become the global passport for environmentally responsible business, just like ISO 9000 set the standard for Quality Management. But beware, standards buffs are quick to distinguish between management systems and actual product or performance standards. ISO 14 000 certification may mean clear environmental goals and regular performance reports, but it is no guarantee of clean and efficient practices on the ground. That is, the standard is about management systems not about environmental pollution prevention or clean-up. Companies can still choose to use the new green badge inappropriately. So what's the benefit? Certification is an instrument for increasing corporate accountability. Businesses can be asked what environmental goals they have established - and, more importantly, met. Two draft documents are critical - ISO 14 001, the core standard, and ISO 14 004, practical guidelines for implementation. (Look for the final versions later this year.) ISO 14 000 aims to avoid trade barriers but some criticize the process for favouring large companies and rich countries. The travel cost of attending ISO meetings, for example, can be prohibitive. Proponents hope the hands-off regulatory attitude will eventually win over smaller firms and poorer countries. The danger, however, is that ISO 14 000 will scare them off with big fees and bureaucratic requirements. In any case, look for a slew of consultants and training courses in the months to come. [environmental management systems for global business]

EMS n. environmental management systems for corporations, the success of which requires strong management buy-in

Tibor, Tom with Feldman, Ira. ISO 14 000: a Guide to the New Environmental Management Standards. Chicago: Irwin, 1996. 240 p.

Coming Soon: IISD's Global Green Standards.

NOT HOT

- Over-regulation

Getting the right balance between strict regulations and voluntary schemes can be a tricky business. The time it takes to set regulations - and the litigious system this creates - does not always help protect individuals, communities or the environment. As Mendeloff argued in 1988 (in The Dilemma of Toxic Substance Regulation) over-regulation can in fact lead to under-regulation. This suggests that voluntary and co-operative approaches such as ISO 14 000 (see above) have an important role to play in the global and local policy mix. Another debate focuses on regulating ends versus means. When flexibility allows companies to choose the means of achieving goals, efficiency may be improved.

ISO 14000- information about the emerging set of standards.